Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 3: Collaborate with your doctor
• Method 2 of 3: Lifestyle changes
• Method 3 of 3: Safe adjustments
• Tips
• Warnings

Healthy hormone levels are important for the quality of life in many areas. Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is one of the most important hormones in the body, as it regulates the production of androgens and estrogens. To lower your DHEA levels, you need to eat a healthy diet, exercise a lot and get enough sleep. Consult with your doctor to have your values ​​checked over time. Be careful with any medications you use, and you should start to notice the positive results after a while.

To step

Method 1 of 3: Collaborate with your doctor

1. Talk to your doctor. Make an appointment with your doctor or endocrinologist, a specialist who treats hormone disorders. They will ask about your medical history and may draw blood to determine DHEA levels. Bring a list of questions to make the most of your appointment.
   • Your doctor may suggest measuring your DHEA levels using a saliva, blood, or urine test.
   • These tests are also used to rule out serious problems with your adrenal glands, such as Addison's disease.
   • Your doctor will probably tell you that it is important to lower your DHEA levels, as high levels can cause aggression and irregular blood pressure, among other things. Fortunately, these problems usually disappear when the values ​​go down.
2. Take a zinc supplement. Certain minerals, such as zinc, can reduce swelling and inflammation throughout the body. If you've been feeling bloated lately, and you know your DHEA levels are too high, zinc can help. Always consult your doctor before taking supplements.
3. Keep a close eye on existing conditions. Your DHEA levels can directly affect other areas of your health, including existing illnesses that you are currently dealing with. You can arrange with your doctor to keep an extra close eye on diabetes, liver disease or cancer while trying to lower your DHEA levels. This is a proactive approach that will keep you healthier in the longer term.
4. Be aware of possible drug interactions. Certain medications have the side effect of increasing DHEA levels. If you're trying to lower your levels, talk to your doctor before starting any new medications. And also discuss any medications you are currently taking.
   • Medicines for diabetes, such as metformin, are often associated with elevated DHEA levels.
5. Stop taking synthetic DHEA supplements. Talk to your doctor about whether you should slowly taper off certain hormone medications or if you can stop all at once. It is almost impossible to lower your DHEA if you are on medication to increase it.
   • Be aware that taper off can take months. Be patient and you will eventually see positive results.
6. Discuss whether surgery is necessary. If the elevated DHEA levels are related to a tumor, the doctor may suggest surgically removing it. Talk about the risks and benefits before making a decision. The benefit of surgery is that you can probably lower DHEA levels very quickly.

Method 2 of 3: Lifestyle changes

1. Consult your doctor before making any changes. If you want to try to lower your DHEA levels with the help of diet and exercise, it is good to talk to your doctor first. He / she may be able to give you additional tips and advice on what works and what doesn't. You can therefore have your DHEA measured immediately, so that you know to what extent you need to change your lifestyle.
2. Eat the right foods. To be clear, food does not contain DHEA. But by eating certain foods, you can stimulate your body to produce more or less DHEA and other hormones. If you want to lower your levels, don't eat foods that increase DHEA, such as potatoes, sugars, grains and dairy products. Instead, follow a diet that emphasizes foods with anti-inflammatory properties, such as tomatoes, olive oil, and salmon.
3. Move. Exercising at least three times a week can help keep your DHEA levels under control. For best results, alternate between cardio and strength training. When you exercise, you burn fat and build muscle.
4. Stay at a healthy weight. Look up your BMI so that you have a general guideline of a healthy weight in relation to your height and age. When your body carries extra weight, the fat cells produce more estrogen, DHEA and other hormones.
5. Get plenty of sleep. To better control your hormones, try to sleep eight hours a night. Set up a sleep schedule that works for you and stick to it. There are studies showing that sleeping a little less is better if you want to lower your DHEA levels.
6. Reduce stress. Your body is very sensitive to stress and can respond to it by producing more hormones, such as DHEA. To control your DHEA levels, you need to find ways to relax. You can do yoga, both at home and at work. Do breathing exercises. Eat outside at least once a day to get fresh air. Go to a movie or take drawing lessons with a friend.
   • You can also ask your doctor to check your blood pressure in addition to your DHEA levels. If you do activities to reduce stress, you will likely see an improvement over time.

Method 3 of 3: Safe adjustments

1. Know that values ​​naturally decline with age. DHEA levels are usually highest around age 20, when a person is fully hormonally and physically mature. After that, the amount of DHEA decreases, until almost nothing is left around the 90th year. Talk to your doctor about how to monitor the age-based decline in DHEA levels while taking action, such as making dietary adjustments.
2. Be careful not to get the values ​​too low. If you're trying to lower your DHEA levels, make sure your doctor does regular blood tests. If DHEA production is altered too much, serious conditions such as type 2 diabetes and certain cancers can develop.
3. Minimize the intake of cortisol. Cortisol injections have been associated with increased DHEA levels. If you need to take medications that contain cortisol, which is a hormone itself, talk to your doctor if you have any concerns. Your doctor can also prescribe cortisol correctly if your DHEA levels are too low. This is often the case with athletes who have to train very hard.
4. Choose birth control without hormones. The substances in the pill or contraceptive injection can increase DHEA levels. Read the insert for your pill to see if it contains testosterone and talk to your doctor. If you are considering the contraceptive injection, discuss the hormonal effects with your doctor or gynecologist before making a decision.
   • Non-hormonal contraception, such as the copper IUD, has the same benefits without the risks of progestin. Many people get migraines or hair loss from the hormones, and find these products without hormones a good alternative.
5. Don't change anything. If you have no symptoms of the high DHEA levels, and if you are not showing any symptoms, you can also choose not to do anything about it. Maybe you can live a healthier life and see how that goes. In some cases, even tumors that secrete DHEA are left alone, because the surgery causes more problems than the high hormone levels.

Tips

• Try to be as patient as possible. Hormonal changes can be very slow, and you better be careful when it comes to your adrenal glands.

Warnings

• Smoking has also been found to increase DHEA levels. Quitting smoking helps your body maintain DHEA levels better.