Hormone Therapy Evaluation and Programs

Hormone Therapy Evaluation and Programs

At the time of your scheduled consultation you will meet with our exercise physiologist and with Dr Gargiulo. A thorough evaluation of your medical history, current concerns and goals will be reviewed. Our two programs, Gold and Silver, will be explained to you. Extensive testing will be done depending on the type of program you have chosen (see below). A week late, blood work and the result of all your testing will be discussed. Dr Gargiulo will discuss with you his findings and his recommendation that will address your concerns and any new findings. Finally, your medications will be ordered from the compounding pharmacy with the recommended doses to meet your needs.

Monitoring hormone therapy at AgeFocus is our main concern. It takes a few weeks of therapy to start noticing results. The hormonal decline and the effect in your body did not occur suddenly. Follow up blood work will show also these changes and it will help Dr Gargiulo to optimize your treatment. Optimization means reaching the highest normal values. Abnormal high values are cause of side effects and they should be avoided. Other abnormal findings and the response to treatment will also be followed by blood work.

Our facility offers a wide range of medical testing to help us evaluate your current health and determine risks factors.

Blood Lab Testing (Platinum and Gold Program)

Before you see the physician and begin your AgeFocus experience, it is essential that we acquire a full panel of lab work measuring more than 90 parameters. This will evaluate blood count, kidney and liver function, heavy metals, hormone levels, cholesterol and risk of cardiovascular disease, risks of prediabetes, presence of autoimmune disease, vitamins and antioxidants (omega 3 and Vitamin C levels), inflammation in the cardiovascular system, infectious disease. Additional tests will be order based on personal needs.

DEXA Body Composition (Platinum and Gold Program)

Body composition measurement consists of a full body scan, using state-of-the-art equipment known as the GE Lunar Prodigy Dual X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA). This test gives a true, accurate, and precise measurement of your body composition, which includes; fat tissue mass, lean tissue mass, and body fat percentage. This will provide us with a detailed outline of what areas of your body require specific attention. Body composition provides important total body, as well as regional information. Obesity is linked to many debilitating and life-threatening disorders. Body Mass Index (BMI) gives a simple measurement of obesity.

A DEXA scan provides a very accurate and reproducible measurement compared to bio-impedance scale measurement, which can produce great variations in results during the course of the day, depending on the amount of water in our body at that specific time, proving inconsistent.

Knowing your body composition is important before starting an adequate treatment plan to prevent disease. But it is also important for sports medicine applications. For highly trained athletes, even a small change in body composition can significantly affect performance. Body composition monitoring provides valuable information that athletes and their trainers can use to adjust diet and training regimens. Body composition helps to establish a starting point and a target, helping any athlete pursue a specific goal. An image fat analysis will be provided in the report along with all the measurements.

Exercise Testing (Platinum and Gold Program)

An extensive evaluation is performed by our Exercise Physiologist to test cardio-respiratory performance, strength, flexibility and balance. This evaluation is very important to identify weak areas and address them in a customized work out program. This is essential to the training athlete that wants to improve performance in his field. The FMS testing helps to identify areas of weakness or imbalance and allows to target them with the proper exercise so overall performance will improve. This testing, by showing areas of weakness, will also help to prevent injuries. This test can take up to 30 minutes.

Max. VO2 Test (Platinum Program)

Our VO2 test will be able to precisely identify your fuel usage through your entire exercise heart rate range. By the end of the test, you will know exactly the amount of fat and glucose you are burning at all stages of your exercise regimen. A detailed report that identifies your optimal training heart rate for both endurance and speed training will be provided. This test can take up to 30-40 minutes and should be done first thing in the morning before any caffeine or heavy meal. No exercise for 48 hours prior to this test.

RMR (Resting Metabolic Rate) (Platinum Program)

Once your resting metabolic test is complete, the information will be used to calculate your Target Caloric Zones. With these Zones you can learn what it means to eat to your metabolism! You will be able to eat the maximum amount possible and still lose weight. Your body will be healthy, happy and satisfied, and the pounds will melt off! And keeping the weight off is no longer a struggle, because this time you have listened to your body tell you what it needs to succeed. This test takes only 20 minutes and should be done first thing in the morning while fasting (and no caffeine!). Exercise should not be done 48-72 hours prior to this test for best results.

Bone Density (Platinum Program)

This technique is the gold standard for the measurement of bone density. It involves the use of two X-ray beams aimed at the bone. DXA is a valuable test for monitoring bone mineral density changes over time, as well as a person’s response to osteoporosis treatment. Measuring the bone density at the spine and both hips, the test takes about 20 minutes and involves a low radiation exposure. The results are given as T-score, which reflects how much the bone mineral density is above or below normal.

Neurocognitive Testing (CNS) (Platinum Program)

This battery of tests is a precise computerized assessment of neurocognitive status, which measures the speed and accuracy of nine basic mental functions: composite memory, verbal memory, visual memory, processing speed, executive function, psychomotor speed, reaction time, complex attention and cognitive flexibility. These mental functions are indicators of the health and integrity of the brain higher functions. The test takes 25 to 30 minutes.