WHAT IS HORMONE IMBALANCE?
The healthy human body functions like a well-oiled engine and our hormones play such an important role in ensuring our body functions to it’s capacity. It’s such a beautifully organized system yet a very complex web of organization.
Hormones are our body’s chemical messengers that intensely affect our health, mentally, physically and emotionally.
These chemicals flow in our body via our blood telling tissues and organs what to do and what not to do. Also, it is these powerful chemicals that control many of our body’s processes.
Hormones help to regulate:
- Metabolism
- Appetite
- Heart rate
- Sleep cycles
- Reproductive cycles
- Sexual function
- General growth and development
- Mood
- Stress levels
- Body temperature
Too much or too little of a hormone in the bloodstream leads to hormonal imbalances and as they play an important role, even a little imbalance can have a significant effect in our bodies.
With today’s fast paced lifestyle, hormonal imbalances have become increasingly common in addition to the awareness of certain hormones declining with age.
Both men and women can be affected by hormonal imbalances in insulin, steroids, growth hormones and adrenaline. While men are more likely to experience imbalances in testosterone levels with age, women may experience imbalances in estrogen and progesterone levels as they age. Some people experience more imbalances than others.
WHAT ARE THE CAUSES AND SYMPTOMS OF HORMONE IMBALANCES?
There are many possible causes for a hormonal imbalance and they differ depending on the hormones or glands that are affected. Common causes of hormonal imbalance include:
- Diabetes
- Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid)
- Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid)
- Hypogonadism
- Cushing syndrome
- Thyroiditis
- Hyperfunctioning thyroid nodules
- Hormone therapy
- Tumors (benign or cancerous)
- Congenital adrenal hyperplasia
- Eating disorders
- Medications
- Stress
- Adrenal insufficiency
- Pituitary tumor
- Injury or trauma
- Cancer treatments
Reproductive hormones in women can be associated with many causes of hormonal imbalance.
Common causes include:
- Menopause
- Pregnancy
- Breastfeeding
- PCOS
- Premature menopause
- Hormone drugs
- Primary ovarian insufficiency
Some common symptoms that affect hormonal conditions in both men and women may include:
- Weight gain
- Fatigue
- Increased sensitivity
- Constipation or more frequent bowel movements
- Dry skin
- Bloating
- Weight loss
- Increased or decreased heart rate
- Muscle weakness
- Frequent urination
- Increased thirst
- Muscle aches, tenderness and stiffness
- Pain, stiffness or swelling in your joints
- Thinning hair
- Increased hunger
- Depression
- Decreased sex drive
- Nervousness or anxiety
- Blurred vision
- Sweating
- Infertility
- Purple or pink stretch marks
Symptoms of women-specific hormonal imbalance include:
- Heavy/irregular/missed/frequent periods
- Excessive hair on the face
- Acne
- Thinning hair or hair loss
- Trouble losing weight
- Darkening of the skin
- Skin tags
- Vaginal dryness
- Vaginal atrophy
- Pain during sex
- Night sweats
In the adult male, symptoms include:
- Development of breast tissue
- Breast tenderness
- Erectile dysfunction
- Loss of muscle mass
- Decreased sex drive
- Infertility
- Decrease in body hair growth
- The loss of bone mass
- Difficulty concentrating
- Hot flashes
Girls and boys during their puberty start producing sex hormones. While it happens naturally for most, many children suffer from delayed puberty causing hypogonadism. Symptoms of hypogonadism include:
In boys:
- Muscle mass doesn’t develop
- Voice doesn’t deepen
- Sparse growth of body hair
- Penis and testicular growth is impaired
- Excessive growth of the arms and legs compared to the rest of the body
- Development of breast tissue
In girls:
- Period doesn’t begin
- Breast tissue doesn’t develop
- Growth rate doesn’t increase
CAN I TREAT HORMONE IMBALANCES WITH HOLISTIC HEALTH TREATMENT?
Always discuss your health concerns with a medical professional.
Treatment for hormonal imbalances may vary depending on the cause and the lifestyle of the person.
People have been adopting alternative treatments to prevent and treat hormonal imbalances for thousands of years. Healthy lifestyle behaviors including a nutritious diet, regular exercising, avoiding substance abuse may help improve your hormonal health while feeling your best.
Acupuncture, naturopathy, homoeopathy and traditional chinese medicine are some of the common fields of holistic health treatments that many people with hormonal imbalance find beneficial.
The right holistic treatment along with lifestyle changes may help reduce the likelihood and symptoms of hormonal imbalances. Small changes in your lifestyle will start showing huge impact. You can start with:
- Maintaining a healthy body weight
- Eating a nutritious and balanced diet
- Exercising regularly
- Practising good personal hygiene
- Avoiding triggers that cause hot flashes
- Reducing and managing stress
- Practising yoga or meditation
- Limiting carbohydrates
- Avoiding packaged foods
Have a question about Hormonal Balances? ASK A PRACTITIONER or FIND A PRACTITIONER today.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog or in any linked material is not intended and should not be considered a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. For holistic health advice and consultation, visit https://www.mywellself.ca/.
