By: Ryan Schulteis, M.D., Carolina Longevity
The Future of Wellness: A Smarter Approach to Hormones and Healthy Aging
Longevity medicine isn’t about chasing youth. It’s about preserving strength, clarity, and independence for as long as possible.
Hormones influence energy, sleep, metabolism, mood, muscle mass, bone density, and cardiovascular health. Yet hormone replacement therapy (HRT) remains surprisingly underused in traditional settings. In many cases, time constraints limit detailed evaluation and close laboratory follow-up. In other cases, treatment is reserved only for severely low lab values rather than meaningful symptoms.
I believe symptoms matter.
Fatigue, brain fog, weight gain, declining strength, poor sleep, and low libido are not things patients should be told to simply accept. In my practice, we evaluate thoroughly, discuss risks and benefits clearly, and carefully prescribe and titrate therapy when appropriate with ongoing lab monitoring and direct physician oversight.
Hormone therapy is not appropriate for every patient. Proper screening, individualized dosing, and close follow-up are essential to ensure both safety and effectiveness. These decisions should always be made in partnership with a physician who carefully weighs the potential benefits and risks.
Our approach is also highly data-driven. We utilize DEXA scans for body composition and bone density, VO₂ max testing for cardiovascular fitness, strength assessments, and continuous glucose monitoring when helpful. We combine lifestyle medicine with medically supervised weight management to reduce cardiometabolic risk while preserving muscle.
For patients who feel their concerns haven’t been fully addressed in traditional settings, a more proactive and individualized model of care may be worth exploring.
About the Practice:
Carolina Longevity is a concierge medical practice in Chapel Hill led by a board-certified Internal Medicine physician. The practice integrates traditional primary care with preventive and longevity-focused medicine.
About the Doctor:
Dr. Ryan Schulteis, M.D., is committed to helping patients go beyond simply avoiding disease. He believes that healthspan — the years lived in strength, vitality, and independence — is as important as lifespan. Every patient receives both a comprehensive medical and laboratory evaluation and an integrated assessment with physical therapy and manual therapy teams. The goal is not just to prevent decline, but to maximize function, resilience, and quality of life. Learn more about his practice at https://www.carolinalongevity.com.
Dr. Ryan Schulteis, M.D., Carolina Longevity
