Saturday, March 07, 2009

Balancing Testosterone and Grey Matter

A Kadir Jasin

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AFTER my “Not A Very Clever Gurindam” and the lengthy Mini Budget postings, I think you and I are entitled to a respite.

So while waiting to the Deputy Prime Minister cum Minister of Finance, Mohd Najib Abdul Razak, to spell out his RM10-billion Mini Budget this Tuesday, we shall not talk about our deep emotional traumas and even deeper holes in out pockets.

Political and economic turmoil is taking tolls on all of us. Hopefully, an efficient and cost effective implementation of the package will avert the recession and make our lives less miserable.

So for this posting we shall talk about testosterone, yes, tes-tos-terone.

Now don’t get me wrong. I am not getting all charged up and ready to roll. At my age, any rolling that I do is, inevitably, downhill.

The testosterone I am talking about, however, has something to do with the “koro” syndrome we talked about in the June 17, 2008 posting.

Yes, most of us tend to relate this noble, versatile hormone to sexuality, manliness and manhood. In short it’s about libido or “mojo” according to fictional British secret agent Austin Powers.

That’s not incorrect. Testosterone is a male sex hormone.

My doctor agrees fully with the literary description that testosterone is “the most important male sex hormone.”

One such literature I read says testosterone is responsible for a boy’s development into a man during puberty and is necessary throughout his life for maintaining health and quality of life.

As the name suggests, testosterone is produced in the testes (or by the testes). From there it gets into the blood system and reaches its target organs – yes, organs.

Testosterone not only stimulates men’s sexual desire. It also acts and affects a whole spectrum of organs and activities.

In fact, for an Afghan man to be a true Taliban, he has to have the correct amount of testosterone otherwise his facial hair will not grow normally. What is a Taliban without facial hair?

And to win a war, he has to be positive. Again he need testosterone as the hormone is important for mental balance and for prevention of negative moods.

And what good is Arnold Schwarzenegger without those gigantic muscles and growling voice? Without testosterone he won’t have those muscles and threatening voice.

According to pamphlet from Bayer, the giant German pharmaceutical company, the following are examples of testosterone’s functions:-

1. Voice – responsible for the voice breaking and for the man’s voice to be deep;

2. Skin and hair – responsible for the formation of the typical male hair over the whole body, and for maintaining it, and especially for the growth of the beard. (It’s here the Taliban comes in);

3. Bones – building and maintaining healthy bone structure;

4. Blood – assists the formation of the red blood cells and consequently for the transportation of oxygen in the blood;

5. Muscle – forming and maintaining strong muscles (Arnold Schwarzenegger comes in);

6. Mind – important for mental balance and for preventing negative moods. It is also responsible for memory, orientation, coordination and concentration;

7. Sexuality – regulates the desire for sex and for a large number of sexual functions; and

8. Physics – responsible for male physique.

But whether one is Taliban or Arnold Schwarzenegger, old age and illnesses reduce the production of testosterone resulting in diminished libido and, in the case of Austin Powers, “mojo”.

It also causes erectile dysfunction, muscle atrophy, increase in body fat, feelings of depression and ill temper, anemia and osteoporosis.

That explains why some older people are ill tempered and grumpy.

Don’t despair. Modern medicine and health care have the answers. It costs money of course. Personally, I believe that healthy lifestyle and a lot of ulam-ulam kampung are as good as pills and hormone injections.

What does all this teach us then? For me it is yet another example of the miracle of creation --- that two small inconspicuous organs the size of a large marble produce such an important hormone.

Yes, no hidden meaning and no hidden agenda here. There’s no need to read in between the line.

I am not alluding or accusing anybody of lacking testicular gumption or fortitude due to testosterone deficiency.

With our politicians challenging and taking each other to courts almost on the daily basis, I am sure none suffers from the infliction.

On the contrary, I think they are well on the top of things in as far as testosterone is concerned. All that they need is to balance it with the production of the grey matter.

21 comments:

The Botak Man said...

Sdr. A Kadir Jasin,

Interesting article...

I would read your last paragraph as "lack of brains or brain power" written in a very witty way...!

But without "sufficient" grey matter would a person be able to understand your last paragraph? Or am I the one that lacks the grey matter for reading the para "differently"?

Sekian.

Anonymous said...

Salam Dato'

To increase the grey matter, try juggling, yes, the 3 ball-juggling. It's documented in the Nature journal. Serious!

Hakimah

Anonymous said...

Dato' I can only laugh.
Dalam Bahasa Melayu apa terjemahan perkatan tu Dato'?
I am still laughing, surely I can feel it. dh9753.

sawit futures trader said...

Salam Dato',

And yet again, people of old are proven to be wise.

They may not had the science during their time, yet they could come up with those phrases that relate men with their balls.......

Anonymous said...

Salam Dato' AKJ

Rasa-rasanya hormon ini tidak boleh dikitar semula macam plastik. Maka orang politik yang nak kitar semula dirinya pun harus sedar aras testosterone dalam tubuhnya pun tidak mengizinkan dia kuat sebagaimana ketika mudanya. Yang terlebih testosterone pun jadi masalah juga, terutama kalau yang perempuan. Jadi yang dah lama tertangkap dan yang terlibat dengan yang baru kena tangkap dengan duit dalam beg itu patutlah sedar diri dan menarik diri. Kalau menang pun merugikan parti, apa gunanya bertanding, apatah lagi menyandang jawatan.

Tapi topik testosterone ini bahaya sikit kalau nak dikaitkan dengan Pemuda UMNO. Satu aja yang nampak macam cukup testosterone bagi jawatan KP, atau mungkin terlebih testosterone, yang dua lagi nampak macam kurang. Itu kalau nilai di kepala, kalau bilang pada anak, lainlah ceritanya, mungkin gray matter punya hal pulak.

Banyakkan selawat dan salam atas Junjungan (s.a.w) sempena Maulidul Rasul.

affendi hussain said...

Dato' ..
I'd came across somewhere that intelligent women in average (not due to genes factors) have a bit more hair due to higher testostrone level in their body..testostrone is also responsible for our IQ capability..

Even men biologically have a bit of estrogen (women) hormone in their body..the excess of it result in womenly behaviour..

That's probably why 'perempuan berdahi licin kulit licin halus mulus' majorly become artist & model...good attraction..

Good for bedtime partner, but not as good as a resourceful companion or life-partner.

p/s: our politicians nowdays are all girls..to much influenced by hormones.. bunch of PMS & menopaused people..we are doomed with these worthless politicians!

Maybe its about time we segregate the power to absolute democracy principle... separate the legislative & executive powers from these clowns..like the case of USA..the senates & the secretaries..only the President have both powers..unlike Malaysia..a half baked English style nation..everybody thinks they are legion of super heros with the two powers...

left alone for them the legislative & they can have all the constitutional debates until cows come home and the sun go supernova..

meanwhile..let somebody in full time & capacity run & navigate this country properly..

(",)

flyer168 said...

Dear Datuk Kadir,

I would like to share this with you and your readers....

At this "Junctture" I believe that ....

This nation Desperately needs Intelligent, Time Proven Pragmatic Successful modelled, Financial & Politiical "SOLUTIONS" NOW, to mitigate the IMPENDING Political & Financial fallout.

The Hartal in 1947 by the Malayan citizens (Malays, Chinese, Indians, etc together) then, against the Colonial Administration's exploitation & abuse of power....was a Peaceful Protest of Disobedience that produced results - Relevant to the situations then !

The later group - British educated & trained (Oxford, Cambridge, etc) Intellectuals & Professionals

- In 1957 this great nation and its rayaat FINALLY gained our Independence from the "Colonial British Rule" through the citizen's "concerted" struggle & the Leadership of our Bapa Malaysia Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra & his Malaysian cabinet of TRUE TUANS managing the system of Wesminster style Democracy & with the Rule of Law in 1957,

That was the old UMNO (led by Tunku), MCA (lead by Tun Tan Cheng Lock) & MIC (lead by Tun Sambanthan) under the banner of the "Alliance" government.

Is not that the "Better & Smarter" choice by the Leadership of our Bapa Malaysia Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra & his Malaysian cabinet of TRUE TUANS managing the system of Wesminster style Democracy & with the Rule of Law in 1957....

Through Intelligent Political negotiations & INTELLIGENT POLITICAL SOLUTIONS leading to a "Bloodless" handover & the Independence of Malaya!

It proves a point that Educated, Intelligent, Smart & Wise leaders do not have to resort to Threats, Militancy & unnecessary Battles with collateral damage & bloodshed to the citizens!

I was there at the Dataran Merdeka to witness the occassion on 31st August 1957 - the joy, tears & jubilation of Tunku, his cabinet & every Malay, Chinese, Indian, etc citizen of Malaya !

So let us ALL accept the fact that our forefathers suffered but persevered & did not give up the struggle for Independence...until it was achieved !

Let us ALL also learn to APPRECIATE this fact that ....Tunku & his Malaysian cabinet of TRUE TUANS, EARNED the RESPECT, TRUST & SUPPORT of ALL the Malayan citizens.

Malaysia badly needs "Role Model" established Leaders & Politicians of HONOUR with Calibre, Maturity & Tolerance without Fear or Favour.

May I say it again....

This nation Desperately needs Intelligent, Time Proven Pragmatic Successful modelled, Financial & Politiical "SOLUTIONS" NOW, to mitigate the IMPENDING Political & Financial fallout.

mekyam said...

tok scribe,

some call that balancing need the perpetual struggle for oxygen.

Anonymous said...

Salam DAKJ

Wow!! Complete. Susahlah saya nak cari makan lepas ni Dato. In medicine, if you know the physiology (normal), then the pathology (abnormal) will be easy. I just want to add a few facts. The effect of the testosterone deficiency basically depends on the specific time frame. For instance, if it occurs during the first trimester, the newborn will presented with ambiguous genitalia. If it occurs during the third trimester(before delivery), then the baby will have micropenis. If it occurs before puberty, the patient will have delayed puberty where the secondary sexual characteristic will be absent. If it occurs at the later age, the patient will have a disease which is called ADAM (androgen deficiency in adult syndrome). The syndrome includes sexual dysfunction (loss of libido), decrease muscle strength (tak kuat), increase abdominal fat (buncit), decline in the bone mineral density (tulang reput), cognitive impairment (dementia) and metabolic syndrome (diabetes mellitus). Beware!!!
If you notice, testosterone hormone is derived from cholesterol. So, you need to eat cholesterol to stimulate testosterone production. However if you take too much cholesterol, it will cause cardiovascular complications such as heart attack and stroke. On the other hand, if you take anti cholesterol drugs, it will reduce not only your cholesterol but also the testosterone production. So, you have to choose which one is more important; either your sex libido or your brain and heart. Quite a difficult decision to make. (Don’t worry, it was reported as non significant in most of the lipid lowering study.)

I will give you another example of injustice in medicine. Have you heard of Rule Of 9, Basically it is a medical rule to predict severity of burn in percentage according to the site and area of burn and it will predict the prognosis later on. The problem is, it only translate a patient physically not psychologically. Can you imagine if your genitalia involved in burn and a doctor said to you “Don’t worry the burn involve only 1% of your body area and you won’t die from it”.

There is a statement said that life begins at 40. The truth is, beginning of the age 40, our testosterone level starts to decline ranging from 0.4%(total testosterone concentration) and 1.3%(free testosterone concentration) a year. The decline will be accelerated in obesity and in premorbid history. That’s why lots of people experienced ‘koro’ after 40.
For the treatment, nowadays, we have testosterone replacement therapy in form of oral, transdermal implantations, local applications and intramuscular injection. Don’t forget to check your testosterone level first because it is indicated only after review the result. Be careful, if the testosterone level is very high after treatment, it may cause testosterone dependent disease such as prostate cancer.
Hai, Macam-macam. Lebih tak boleh, kurang pun tak boleh. TQ

Anonymous said...

Dato'

Kan lagi baik kalau kita ni bodoh. Macam orang dulu-dulu. Sakitlah apapun, akhirnya kata kena sampuk atau buatan orang. Jadi berbomoh dan berdukunlah mereka sampai papa kedana, langgar akidah dan sudah-sudahnya mati.

Sekarang banyak sangat orang Melayu pandai. Jadi doktor, jadi chemidst, jadi biotechnologist. Jadi kalau sakit kita tahu diagnosis dan prognosisnya.

Agaknya inilah agaknya bebab para pejuang bahasa tu mahu kita belajar bahasa Melayu saja supaya kita hanya baca cerita hantu dalam Mastika dan majalah hiburan.

Dato' tulislah sikit cerita hantu tok supaya pencinta bahasa boleh baca dan hayati.

Dato' budak kampung tentu pernah jumpa atau tengok hantu.

Cakap pasal testosterone dan menopouse, rocket science dan hormone ni buat pening kepala je tok. Cerita hantu la tok.

Mastika Hati

Anonymous said...

Hello Dato';
Your brillance is beyond comprehension.Be it a serious topic,comedy,satire, analogy and poetry...you've excelled without DOUBT.Your opinion being at your age and going downhill is inaplicable to say the least.Your grey mass and testoterone still numbers in the majority. Could be the ulam ulam that defies all Bayer medications and multivits...
Love your blogs love your brains... :]It is still in good working order...err I mean the testoterone in you...no worries, you are definitley goin uphill.No doubt.

the girl said...

funny! and apt too. i just hope they read this.

Tok Mila said...

Dato' AKJ

So clever. But alas, I fear that the (our) politicians might just say, in response to your brilliant piece, "I have enough grey matter/stuff/things and I've gotten them dyed black to their original glory!!!!"

Our politicians DO NOT HAVE any grey matter at all - sad state of being -, sadder still for us fools.

samurai melayu said...

SALAM DAK
IZINKAN,

As the name suggests, testosterone is produced in the testes (or by the testes). From there it gets into the blood system and reaches its target organs – yes, organs..emm, I SAY MAN, APPEARS YOU WERE TRYING VERY HARD TO EMPHASISE ON THE HIDDEN ORGAN. NO HIDDEN AGENDA, EH?
WOW! EXCLAIMED MEKYAM.. A DOCTOR OR A PHAMARCIST, PERHAPS?

NOW WE KNOW WHY WE CAN 'HARDLY' RECITE 'SADAKALLAH' ONCE A MONTH. HE HE..

ALFATIHAH, AMIN.
ps. We still remember the first time we were expose to sex education, watching the movie 'Sex and Life' at Pavilion theatre, KL with an Indian classmate. He cud'nt control himself and just BLURT out loud.. AYOYO, KADAWALLEK!

Unknown said...

Dato'

Jika dilihat dari segi faktor faktor yang dato' tampilkan, nampaknya sesetengah ahli politik kita yang telah mula berumur masih belum kekurangan Testosterone; Contoh Anwar Ibrahim dan Khir Toyo. Anwar saya kurang pasti tapi Khir Toyo mengaku mengguna Tempei untuk kehalusan kulit beliau. Adakah ini bermakna Tempei boleh menghindar dari kekurangan Testosterone? Kedua dua mereka masih belum dapat mengimbangkan Testosterone dengan Grey Matter!!

Anonymous said...

Dato'

I wonder if Gingko and Kismis yang diiringi doa help in the production of grey matter?

Melati

Anonymous said...

can't help smiling ... that bring me to Ruud Gullit who had once said, young strikers (high testosterone) tend to run all over the place, but matured strikers (more gray ...) tend to understand the nature of the game and put himself at the right place ...

affendi hussain said...

Dato' AKJ,
mohdaffendi rebranding himself to affendi hussain..

mohdaffendi was so full of hot gas nowdays..too much testostrone perhaps..and to add to worst was the induced adrenalin running in the blood..ready to explode anytime especially at the time of this global economic PMS..

thought wanna start blogging..but still my grey matter not reaching the threshold volume for ideas to cultivate..

p/s: to those who viewed my profile & visit my 'emptiness' blog..don't waste your time on a nobody..better wish a happy 30th b'day to me..shoosh..i want to make my blog for 'syiok sendiri' only.

("/)

Anonymous said...

Salam DAKJ

Saya nak tukar topic sikit. Cerita politik sedap sikit dan ramai orang suka. Apakata Dato’ ulas sekali lagi tentang PPMSI. Bagi saya kalau kerajaan tengah kuat masa zaman Tun dulu bolehhlah buat pembaharuan. Sekarang dah nak kalah masih nak tunjuk berlagak lagi buat apa. Kalau di Jepun, pembaharuan yang dibuat oleh pemimpin dan tak disuka rakyat, perdana menterinya terus letak jawatan (Isu menswastakan penjagaan kesihatan)
Satu lagi, sepatutnya kajian dan pembentangan yang teliti dibuat sebelum perlaksanaan. Ini dah terantuk baru nak sibuk. Dan akhir sekali tentang statistic yang dikeluarkan tolonglah secara profesional sedikit. Kalau setakat ‘descriptive statistic’ iaitu berkenaan min, max, mean tu, budak sekolah rendah dah belajar dah. Memanglah kalau kita menurunkan “Normal distribution” ramai dapat A. Kalau dibentang pada scientific meeting, ianya bolehlah dibuang dalam tong sampah (sorry terkasar sedikit). Tolonglah bentangkan secara ‘analytic statistic’, bandingkan secara kaum, bandingkan secara bandar dan luar bandar, ketegori sekolah. Barulah betul. Insyaallah, kalau dibuktikan betul, tiada siapa yang akan mempertikaikannya. TQ.

samurai melayu said...

SALAM DAK,
IZINKAN,
WE HAD ERRONEOUSLY QUOTED 'MEKYAM' INSTEAD OF 'OKJ' IN OUR EARLIER COMMENTS.
WOW! OUR EYESIGHT'S BETRAYING US DUE TO LACK OF TESTOSTERONE, PERHAPS.

TO SDR. AFFENDI HUSSAIN, HAPPY BIRTHDAY.
SEMOGA ALLAH SWT MEMBERKATI SEGALA USAHA ANDA DAN MENJADI SEORANG MELAYU YANG BERJAYA DAN TAK MUDAH LUPA..AMIN.

ALFATIHAH, AMIN.

Anonymous said...

YBhg Dato` Kadir

Oleh kerana Dato` telah mengingatkan untuk tidak mencari erti tersirat dalam posting ini, maka kita pun bercakap tentang testostrone yang sebenarnya.

Terima kasih kepada Dato dan beberapa pembaca kerana memberi penerangan tentang peranan testorone dalam dunia lelaki.

Tanpa kajian klinikal, orang Melayu dahulu mengaitkan keberanian dengan organ pembiakan lelaki. Orang yang pengecut dipanggil TAK ADA TELO. Hari ni dibuktikan bahawa keberanian itu berpunca dari hormone testorone yang dihasilkan dari testes aka telo.

Tapi benarkah keberanian itu berpunca dari testorone. Dalam sejarah Melayu, pahlawan-pahlawan Melayu dibacakan Hikayah Abu Hanafiah untuk menaikan semangat keberanian menentang Portugis. Orang Serbia di Bosnia juga dibacakan satu teks yang saya terjemahkan " Mengayam Bulan" untuk menaikan semangat bagsa Serbia untuk membunuh bangsa Bosnia. Dilaporkan selepas membaca teks ini, keesokkannya beribu-ribu bangsa Bosnia dibunuh Serbia yang mendengar teks ini.

Kalau dapat, Dato`, OKJ atau sesiapa saja yang ada pegetahuan dapat menerangkan hormone apa pulak yang dihasilkan dalam badan manusia selepas mendengar teks-teks seperti ini.

Sekian .

About Me

My photo
I was born in 1947 in Kedah. I came from a rice farming family. I have been a journalist since 1969. I am the Editor-in-Chief of magazine publishing company, Berita Publishing Sdn Bhd. I was Group Editor NST Sdn Bhd and Group Editor-in-Chief of NSTP Bhd between 1988 and 2000. I write fortnightly column “Other Thots” in the Malaysian Business magazine, Kunta Kinte Original in Berita Harian and A Kadir Jasin Bercerita in Dewan Masyarakat. Books: Biar Putih Tulang (1998), Other Thots – Opinions & Observations 1992-2001 (2001), The Wings of an Eagle (2003), Mencari Dugalia Huso (2006), Damned That Thots (2006), Blogger (2006), PRU 2008-Rakyat Sahut Cabaran (2008), Komedi & Tragedi-Latest in Contemporary Malaysian Politics (2009) and Membangun Bangsa dengan Pena (2009).