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What You Need to Know About Botox

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Botox injections are now one of the most popular cosmetic treatments in the world and celebrities are rumored to use this procedure for aesthetic purposes.

How does Botox work?

Botox treatment works by blocking the nerve signals to the affected muscles around the injection site. The muscles become more relaxed and their activity is reduced, in turn reducing wrinkles and signs of aging

History

Botox was discovered as a beauty treatment by accident. In the late 80’s eye specialists were using Botox as treatment for lazy or wandering eye. A side effect of the treatment then was that the area around the eye appeared much more relaxed and wrinkles were significantly less prominent.

Approval for the toxin was granted to be used for cosmetic purposes in 2002 and it has since become a popular anti-wrinkle treatment around the world. In 2006 it was declared the most popular cosmetic treatment in the United States. Other uses include the prevention of underarm sweating and the treatment of migraines, although treatments in these areas are still awaiting approval by the FDA.

The Procedure

When injected into the problem area, Botox freezes muscle movement by blocking neuro-transmitters for a period of 4-6 months, so the treatment needs to be administered a few times a year to maintain, but that can be a blessing in disguise. Another benefit is the temporary nature of the procedure is, unlike a facelift, if you are unhappy with the results once the Botox treatment is stopped the muscles will begin to function normally again.

Botox treatment should be undertaken by a qualified medical professional (preferably a cosmetic surgeon) as it is very important to get the right amount in the right area to avoid asymmetrical results, muscle drooping, frozen expressions and potentially dangerous consequences.

Not Just for Wrinkles

It can be used on humans for many reasons and is very helpful in the treatment of many medical conditions such as eye problems and excessive sweating from the hands and underarms. However, for beauty and cosmetic purposes, it has become well known as a safe and effective wrinkle treatment aiming to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and lines in our faces.

New uses for Botox are being researched and discovered all the time, the most well known popular cosmetic use is as a safe and effective wrinkle treatment. Over time, the muscles we use on our face to create facial expressions, sun damage and the human ageing process can carve out grooves, lines and wrinkles in the skin which do not disappear when the muscles are relaxed. Botox relaxes the muscles and skin appears more youthful and less wrinkled.

Side Effects.

Administered properly there are not many known problems associated with the treatment. The side effects of Botox are rare and are associated risks of any treatment or procedure, many patients have it in their lunch hour and return to work immediately afterwards! The effects of Botox on the muscles become apparent within a few hours, however the main effects will appear after about a week.

Cratos Receives 2015 Best Businesses of Colorado Springs Award

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Cratos has been selected for the 2015 Best Businesses of Colorado Springs Award in the Weight Loss Centers category by the Best Businesses of Colorado Springs Award Program. Each year, the Best Businesses of Colorado Springs Award Program identifies companies that we believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and our community. These exceptional companies help make the Colorado Springs area a great place to live, work and play. Various sources of information were gathered and analyzed to choose the winners in each category. The 2015 Best Businesses of Colorado Springs Award Program focuses on quality, not quantity. Winners are determined based on the information gathered both internally by the Best Businesses of Colorado Springs Award Program and data provided by third parties. About the Best Businesses of Colorado Springs Award Program The Best Businesses of Colorado Springs Award Program is an annual awards program honoring the achievements and accomplishments of local businesses throughout the Colorado Springs area. Recognition is given to those companies that have shown the ability to use their best practices and implemented programs to generate competitive advantages and long-term value. The Best Businesses of Colorado Springs Award Program was established to recognize the best of local businesses in our community. Our organization works exclusively with local business owners, trade groups, professional associations and other business advertising and marketing groups. Our mission is to recognize the small business community’s contributions to the U.S. economy.

Keep your Brain in Shape

Can anti aging treatments help your brain work better?

Getting older means losing sharpness and mental acuity. As we age the connections between the neurons in our brains weaken, damaging how the brain functions and causing cognitive decline. To ensure cognitive health we can actually defend our brain against the mental effects of aging. One of these ways is to make healthy lifestyle choices such as eating healthy and getting enough exercise.

For years, brain researchers have been looking for a safe and natural  increase the brain’s performance for a healthy, focused, mind. In addition to improving your memory and recall abilities, you will learn how to promote better cognitive function and your brain’s health overall.

EHT® encourages better cognitive health by optimizing the activity of the master protein regulator, PP2A. By optimizing PP2A EHT® can ensure better synaptic connections between neurons leading to increased brain performance for a better and more focused mind, improved memory and recall, increased focus and alertness, enhanced natural energy stores, and a boosted immune system.

Signum Biosciences has partnered with Nerium International for an exclusive worldwide right to the EHT® patent, making it completely unique to Nerium.

Want to improve your mental performance? Call Cratos to schedule a consultation today!

Want to learn more:

New anti aging product now available at Cratos!

Can Anti Aging treatments help you?

Getting older means losing sharpness and mental acuity. As we age the connections between the neurons in our brains weaken, damaging how the brain functions and causing cognitive decline. To ensure cognitive health we can actually defend our brain against the mental effects of aging. One of these ways is to make healthy lifestyle choices such as eating healthy and getting enough exercise.

For years, brain researchers have been looking for a safe and natural  increase the brain’s performance for a healthy, focused, mind. In addition to improving your memory and recall abilities, you will learn how to promote better cognitive function and your brain’s health overall.

EHT® encourages better cognitive health by optimizing the activity of the master protein regulator, PP2A. By optimizing PP2A EHT® can ensure better synaptic connections between neurons leading to increased brain performance for a better and more focused mind, improved memory and recall, increased focus and alertness, enhanced natural energy stores, and a boosted immune system.

Signum Biosciences has partnered with Nerium International for an exclusive worldwide right to the EHT® patent, making it completely unique to Nerium.

Want to improve your mental performance? Call Cratos to schedule a consultation today!

Want to learn more:

Is Dadbod Dangerous?

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Are your weight loss goals at risk from dad bod?

Move over Chris Hemsworth and Hugh Jackman a new male standard of attractiveness is taking the world by storm. If you’ve been on the internet in the last month, you’re probably aware that “Dadbod” is the latest craze.  That’s right women seem to want their men with a little jiggle around the middle.

While “Average Joe’s” across America are thrilled, doctors and health specialist are not as keen on this new trend. In general, that belly fat they keep around their middles is known to be unhealthy and linked to increased risk of heart disease and diabetes. Additionally, it will not help with your weight loss goals.

Experts are warning people to not cancel their gym membership and pig out on pizza. While it is important to have a positive body image, this new ‘ideal’ can pose a threat to your health if you neglect fitness and healthy eating in favor of this latest fad.

Dr. Life has the low down on why men age (and why you don’t have to accept it!)

mens health     New York Times Best Selling Author Dr. Life stated in his book The Life Plan, “We are all going to age, but we don’t have to get old….When I discovered my own hormone levels were deficient, traditional medical professionals said that declining testosterone is not a disease, so it shouldn’t be treated.  They were wrong then, and even more wrong now.”

Can Testosterone Help ‘Manopause’?

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Men by the millions are finding themselves in their 30s, 40s and 50s feeling run-down, lacking in energy and vitality.

The term Manopause has been coined by some, describing the symptoms men experience starting in their late 30s or 40s.

In a recent article by Time Magazine, the issue of Manopause, the normal slow and gradual decline in testosterone production that happens in men as they age, has come to the forefront.

Testosterone therapy, can help mood, weight loss and improve sexual performance and is being hailed as a cure for Manopause. Testosterone Therapy was originally prescribed for adult males who suffer from “medical conditions associated with a deficiency or absence of endogenous testosterone.  Recently however Testosterone Therapy in men with low testosterone levels may help improve their overall quality of life.

“A man in his 50s or 60s or 70s finds himself feeling sluggish and low. He’s eating or drinking too much, and his body doesn’t burn calories as fast as it used to. Next thing he knows, he’s overweight. The combination of mood and weight makes it difficult to stir up the energy for exercise, while lack of exercise only worsens his other problems. This dismal cycle wreaks havoc on his libido too. Testosterone represents new hope and a fresh start. For the first time in years, he expects to feel happier and more energetic. .. The dismal cycle reverses. Soon all sorts of systems, from head to heart to groin, begin operating at a higher level.”- Time Magazine, ‘Manopause?! Aging, Insecurity and the $2 Billion Testosterone Industry’

It is has yet to be proven if testosterone therapy is the fountain of youth man has been searching for, but more and more men are choosing an edge that keeps themselves fit and active as they age.

Read the article here: http://time.com/3062889/manopause-aging-insecurity-and-the-2-billion-testosterone-industry/

The Truth About Low Testosterone

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Written by Jeffry Life, M.D., Ph.D. – courtesy of Huffpost Healthy Living

Study after study has shown how traditional medicine continues to get the facts wrong on supplementing testosterone for men with naturally low levels of the hormone. It is discouraged by most of the medical community who believe it is “unnatural” and puts men at risk for disease.

Why is taking care of your health “unnatural”? If you had a broken arm, would you go have it set, or would you leave it dangling to “naturally” repair by itself? The most recent scientific studies prove that men who don’t treat their testosterone deficiency are the ones at risk for a very naturally occurring disease: death.

A few weeks ago I was invited to appear on the CBS “Sunday Morning” news program, and I was followed by a doctor who did not support testosterone replacement therapy for men. He cited the only study that exists that takes issue with testosterone replacement therapy, which was published in 2010 in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine. Yet he forgot to mention the details of this study — and why it is irrelevant for most men.

The study agrees that testosterone supplementation has been shown to increase muscle mass and strength in healthy older men. The goal of the study was to determine whether this same therapy could yield similar benefits for those who were already infirm. The study was performed on — and designed for — men in an assisted living community who had high rates of heart disease, obesity, diabetes and hypertension, and substantial limitations in mobility.

The study concluded that the small size of the trial (only 209 participants of which only 104 received testosterone gel) and the uniqueness of their existing illnesses should prevent any broad conclusions about the safety of testosterone therapy for other populations of men. For this elderly and sick group of men, the study did find that there was a slight increase in the number of adverse cardiac events within the test group.

And what happens if your testosterone is low? The study pointed out that there have been other disease studies that have shown that low testosterone levels are an independent risk factor for death from cardiovascular and other causes. In fact, at the end of my book, “The Life Plan,” I list more than 50 independent studies that have been published over the past 10 years that support the importance of hormone replacement therapy for men who have low levels of testosterone.

You can naturally increase your own testosterone through diet, nutritional supplements and exercise. But when these options are not enough, I believe that natural hormone supplementation is the only way for men to stay healthy as they age.

So what should you watch out for? The first signs of declining levels of testosterone are: diminished energy levels, increased irritability, decline in mood, decline in cognitive performance and loss of early morning erections.

At this point many of you might be thinking, “well Dr. Life, those are just the signs of aging.” But they aren’t. I believe that you don’t have to get sick as you get older. And you certainly don’t have to live with a declining sex life. While decreased libido and erectile quality are often the symptoms most frequently connected with falling testosterone levels, they are actually some of the last to occur, which means that by the time you’re worrying about your libido, the rest of your health has already suffered.

Men with “low t” have a 33 percent greater death risk over their next 18 years of life compared with men that have higher levels of testosterone. Low testosterone also puts men at risk for debilitating conditions caused by osteoporosis, such as hip fractures. In addition to declining bone density, “low t” is linked with muscle loss.

Testosterone replacement therapy has been linked with a host of health benefits. It has been connected with the reduction of coronary artery disease (CAD) and hypertension risks, as well as with improving cardiac function in patients with preexisting heart disease. Some older men treated with testosterone have shown decreases in total cholesterol and the “bad” LDL levels. Testosterone is associated with keeping your thinking sharp, lowering dementia risk and decreasing symptoms of depression, anxiety and panic disorders. It sounded good to me eight years ago, and I still think it’s the way to go for guys who can benefit from it.

Five years after winning the 1998 Body-for-LIFE contest, I was beginning to gain body fat and lose strength — even though I was still eating clean and exercising vigorously. Then I was introduced to the Cenegenics Medical Institute and realized that my testosterone levels were at the bottom of the normal reference range. My age management physician started me on testosterone therapy and I’ve never looked back.

Within two months, I began feeling a remarkable change: more strength, better muscle mass, improved sexual function, higher energy levels, reduced cholesterol, good blood sugar control, clearer thinking and a renewed zest for life. I know that there’s no way I could accomplish all that I do today at 72 without correcting my hormone deficiencies, eating healthy and exercising right.

Now you might be thinking, “Dr. Life, you do look great, but I don’t need to be so buff; I just want to be healthy.” And my answer to you is simple: testosterone is NOT the reason I am so fit. I exercise religiously and follow a very clean — almost vegan — heart-healthy diet. But I can tell you that without correcting my deficiency, I wouldn’t have the energy to exercise as much as I do.

You might want to find out if you have “low t” like I did. I must also emphasize that only a skilled, experienced physician who monitors blood testosterone levels and performs digital rectal exams along with PSA tests to screen for prostate cancer, should administer your testosterone therapy. In my mind, these few tests are well worth feeling better and protecting my health.

So discuss your current health status with your doctor and bring him or her into the 21st century. And if they still have questions about testosterone therapy, have them call me.

Jeffry Life, M.D., Ph.D., has a thriving age management medicine practice in Las Vegas, Nevada. His book, “The Life Plan,” published by Atria Books, a division of Simon and Schuster, is available wherever books are sold. For more information, visit his website at www.drlife.com or follow him on Facebook and Twitter.

University Study Finds Testosterone Therapy Not Linked To Heart Risk

149012428 Over the last few years you might have heard commercials offering treatments for Low Testosterone, often referred to as Low T. Testosterone is a hormone that naturally occurs in the body, and is the hormone that is associated with male vitality.  Low testosterone levels can result in various physical, sexual and psychological problems, including weight gain, loss of muscle mass, low bone density, erectile dysfunction, loss of sex drive, infertility, low energy, weakness, depression, insomnia, lack of motivation, low self-confidence, and issues with memory and concentration. As with many medical treatments there are risks involved, but as a recent study suggests, heart problems are not one of them.

A growing concern, in the U.S. and internationally, that testosterone therapy increases men’s risk for cardiovascular disease, specifically heart attack and stroke lead Jacques Baillargeon, to conduct the study. His work concluded along with a large body of evidence that is consistent with the findings of no increased risk of heart attack associated with testosterone use.

This University of Texas Medical Branch study of more than 25,000 older men shows that testosterone therapy was not associated with an increased risk of heart attack and, in fact, the group with the highest probability of cardiovascular problems showed a decrease in heart attack rates.

It is still too soon to claim that testosterone therapy may be good for your heart, but this news is helpful to the millions of men suffering from Low T symptoms who may have been on the fence about seeking treatment.

If you are thinking about seeking treatment for Low Testosterone (Low T),  or if you just have questions, schedule an appointment at Cratos Health Clinic, Call (719) 487-7777 to discuss with their experienced medical staff.

Original Article, posted by WSJ
http://online.wsj.com/articles/testosterone-use-doesnt-increase-heart-risk-study-finds-1404423497