Mark S. Foster MD

Progesterone is known by several aliases, including the "feel-good hormone" and the "happy hormone." So, when a hormone bears aliases like these, you know it really is important. But what exactly is progesterone, and what does it do?

Anxiety and Depression

Progesterone is synthesized in the central nervous system and is known to affect certain nerve functions that impact our mood and calmness. It also reduces feelings of anxiety and depression.

It is known to further enhance the already-stellar effect of gamma-aminobutyric acid, or GABA, a neurotransmitter that helps regulate communication between brain cells. Progesterone's anti-anxiety effect is similar to the effect of benzodiazepine drugs – without the possibility of addiction!

When Progesterone Is Lost

For many people, aging feels like a runaway train that we can do nothing about. We might not feel in our hearts and souls that we have aged and continue to age, but our reflection in the mirror and the aches and pains in our bodies say otherwise. Men and women have even died on their quests for the fountain of youth or any way to stay young forever. Finally, researchers may have just discovered the medical field’s version of the fountain of youth in fat stem cells.

Fighting Aging with Fat

Before you run out and start eating the most fattening foods you can find in order to look younger, hear us out. The fat itself doesn’t help with aging, but what is found inside that fat could! Adipose stem cells are found in the body’s fat, especially around the abdomen and back. These stem cells can be used to repair tissue damage and even help treat skin from the inside out by helping form new, healthy skin cells. 

What Is Adipose Stem Cell Therapy?

Adipose stem cell therapy is actually a lot less invasive than it sounds. Using liposuction, fat is removed from around the abdomen or back and then spun in a centrifuge to extract as many stem cells as possible. Then, the stem cells are injected into the area of injury or treatment and begin working to regenerate and repair cells right away. The procedure is all outpatient, meaning you can return home the same day.

If you’ve ever found yourself in a stressful situation - and chances are you have at some point in your life - you may have noticed some surprising physical symptoms, such as sweaty palms or a sick feeling in your stomach. This is because stress doesn’t just affect us mentally or emotionally - it also affects us physically.

Acne and Skin Issues

It’s true, stress does trigger acne in some people. It can also trigger psoriasis and other skin issues.

Weight Fluctuations

There are several ways stress can interfere with weight gain, weight loss and appetite. Everyone is affected differently by stress, but one of the most common concerns with stress is fluctuation of weight caused by emotional responses like overeating or even overeating caused by an imbalance of the stress hormone cortisol.

One of the most promising areas of today’s stem cell clinical trials and research is treating arthritis and other degenerative conditions. Although there is still much to discover about stem cells, their ability to communicate with other cells in the body to stimulate tissue growth and healing is invaluable to modern medicine in many different areas.

What Is Stem Cell Therapy?

Stem cell therapy is a form of regenerative medicine that seeks to help the body heal itself. There is still much to be discovered about how stem cell therapy works, but it’s believed that the body’s stem cells communicate with other cells in the body to reverse damage and potentially repair injuries, illnesses and diseases.

Why Is Arthritis So Hard to Treat?

The term arthritis actually refers to about 200 different conditions and diseases that cause a range of symptoms and interfere with daily quality of life in varying degrees. There is still no cure, so treatment revolves around managing symptoms and controlling pain. Part of the reason for this is that experts still don't know much about the cause of arthritis. Current treatment usually includes medications to help control inflammation and stop the progression of joint damage, as well as physical therapy and lifestyle changes.

One of the biggest struggles women face as they age is trying to maintain their weight as they face perimenopause and menopause. What many don’t realize is the fluctuation of hormones and imbalance that is likely occurring could be causing weight-related problems. By balancing hormones, these issues can often very easily be corrected. So, what are the four hormones most closely related to weight?

Estrogen

Estrogen levels tend to decrease during menopause, but even though they are decreasing, you could still be gaining weight due to estrogen dominance. How? Estrogen dominance occurs when estrogen levels are higher than progesterone levels, and if your progesterone levels are decreasing more rapidly than your estrogen levels, this could be the problem. It’s very common.

Leptin

Leptin is the hormone responsible for telling your brain that you're full when eating. Modern diets full of sugar and too much fructose, commonly found in many popular foods, often lead to an excess of leptin. This could cause your body to become leptin resistant and unable to tell when you're full.

Are you experiencing hair loss that begins at the temples or crown of your head? Is your hair line receding in an "M" shape? If so, you may be struggling with male pattern baldness.

Also known as androgenic alopecia, male pattern baldness is the most common form of hair loss among men, and more than 50 percent of men over the age of 50 will be affected in some way by this hair-loss condition.

In most cases, the condition is genetic. In fact, research suggests that genetic factors are at least 80 percent to blame for the condition. It’s not just the maternal side that factors into play, either, even though that’s a common misconception. Because the condition is believed to be polygenetic, or involving more than one gene, it can come from either side of the family, and having immediate family members with baldness increases your risk by up to 50 percent.

Dr. Foster specializes in helping men get their youthfully full heads of hair back using a process called FUE, or follicular unit extraction, hair transplant. It’s currently the most modern and advanced technique when it comes to hair transplantation and involves extracting hair follicles from a donor site, typically the back of the neck, using a specialized instrument. The follicles are transplanted into the recipient area with the use of grafts to create a natural and realistic hair pattern. Once complete, the hair begins to grow in its new home.

To learn more about FUE hair transplants or to schedule a consultation with Dr. Foster, call us today at 442-227-0827.

​ After years of working hard, you've finally retired and now get to enjoy working on your golf game and spending as much time on the green as you want. Everything was going great ... until the extreme joint pain hit. If this story sounds familiar, you aren't alone. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, arthritis is proj...

Our bodies use our hair, nails and skin to give us clues about our overall health. Check out what each of these signs could mean and how you can help identify when there is a problem. What Your Hair Says About Your Health A thick, shiny and soft head of hair is coveted by many because it's not only a sign of beauty, but also an underlying sign of h...

​ Our hair, skin and nails are some of our favorite features to primp when we're trying to look our best. That's why when something is off, we tend to notice it right away. In many cases, our bodies use our hair, skin and nails to signal when something is wrong, so keeping an eye out for any problems in these areas is a good way to monitor your ove...

If you've found yourself feeling overwhelmed, forgetful or just mentally foggy lately, you may be looking for ways to improve your mental clarity. Ask yourself these four questions to find some solutions that could help get you thinking clearly again. How Are You Handling Your Stress? Even though stress often just feels like a mental battle, it can...

​ Americans are stressed. In fact, one Gallup poll determined that eight out of 10 Americans report feeling frequently or sometimes stressed in their daily lives. The two biggest contributors to high stress levels, according to participants in the study, were work and children. So, does stress cause hair loss? Science says yes! In fact there are th...

​ For most men who golf, their love of the game only deepens with age. So when arthritis hits hard, it can be frustrating. There's no reason you have to stop playing anymore due to joint pain. Not only are there several product lines available for just this problem, but there are also some tips and tricks you can implement into your game to help yo...

​ The internet has given us such a wealth of information and resources right at our fingertips. It's never been easier to learn about new things or research facts, tips and tricks about any variety of subjects. But sometimes, the hardest step is getting a loved one to acknowledge a problem they're having before they can even get to the part about r...

​ One of the most common complaints we get from patients coming in to see Dr. Foster is extreme fatigue and exhaustion. Many patients chalk it up to busy schedules and a hectic work, family and social life balancing act. But, how do you know when your exhaustion is just due to your busy lifestyle or when it could be due to a hormone imbalance? When...

As we age or go through certain periods of transition in our lives such as pregnancy or childbirth, one area of our bodies that often goes through changes is our hair. It can be scary and frustrating when hair becomes noticeably thinner or starts to break or fall out in larger-than-normal amounts. In many cases, a simple adjustment of diet is all w...

It's many people's favorite time of the year — summertime! Break out the bathing suits, oversized sunglasses and giant beach towels because it's time to relax and soak up some rays (safely with sunscreen, of course!). Before you get too relaxed, make sure to read these tips on how to protect hair from the side effects of summer. Tip #1 If you're hi...

Not feeling like yourself lately? When testosterone levels drop below normal levels, it can cause a steady decline in your quality of life. If you're experiencing any combination of these symptoms, it's time to have your levels checked. Fatigue Aging is not reason enough to feel fatigued or experience a decrease in energy on a regular basis. Althou...

It's the most frustrating part of getting healthy and losing weight, especially for women. Belly fat always seems to be the last to go no matter how hard you work out or how strict your health-conscious diet is. What many women don't realize is that sometimes hormones may be the cause of that extra layer on the stomach that won't seem to budge. As ...

It can be heartbreaking, the moment you first notice your hair beginning to thin or your hairline beginning to recede. But for two-thirds of men age 35 and older, it's a reality they've had to face. By the time they reach age 50, 85 percent of men are facing hair loss or thinning. So, what should you do when you first notice this happening? You don...

​ Golf is not only great exercise, but for many players it's also a wonderful way to relieve stress. When an injury or joint pain interrupts your game, it can be frustrating to say the least. Many times physical therapy, pain medication and eventually surgery are the only solutions offered for joint pain and injuries common in golf. However, Dr. Fo...