Hormonal Imbalance is a serious problem . Don’t you know ?
“To control your hormones is to control your life.” – Barry Sears
“When life hurls lemons at you make lemonade” heard of it? Yes, many of us have. But when you’re thrown off balance due to some hormones what can you do? Firstly we need to know more about Hormonal Imbalance the signs/symptoms and the remedies to prevent or control it.
Hormones play the role of “chemical messengers” in the body that send signals to cells and organs and help the body to communicate better. They are very important in the overall functioning. Hormones are a mix of oestrogen and testosterone in men and women. An imbalance in the hormones causes health problems. It can be caused by many factors diabetes being on the forefront. Others include lifestyle changes, thyroid problems, pregnancy menstruation, menopause and certain medicines. They are secreted by various glands like the pituitary, thyroid, adrenal, pancreas, ovaries, and testicles.
Signs of Hormonal Imbalance
Some of the most common symptoms of Hormonal Imbalance are:
Weight gain – Being sad, irritated, anxious land you with a plate of unhealthy food. Drop in oestrogen levels create havoc to Leptin, a hormone that regulates food intake.
Sleep problems – low progesterone can lead to sleep problems and low oestrogen trigger hot flashes and night which in turn will not allow for a good night’s rest.
Chronic Acne – Acne or two is not a worry, nonetheless if it’s a persisting issue it can be a symptom of hormonal imbalance. Excess androgen overwork the oil glands clogging the pores creating breakouts.
PMS (Pre Menstrual Syndrome)– PMS is a time when women notice severe hormone imbalance.
Irregular periods – If the periods skip some months or doesn’t arrive at the same time every month its likely to be a hormone problem or in most cases Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)
Headaches – As it is seen oestrogen is the main hormone in keeping the body fit and dips in oestrogen first results in a headache.
Vaginal Dryness – Oestrogen keeps the vaginal tissue moist. An imbalance will result in vaginal dryness, and irritation.
Breast changes – Hormone imbalance can make or break breast tissue. Lumps or cysts can be a diagnosis.
Depression or mood swings – Depression is a state of mind which makes u feel irritated, sad, anxious all at the same time for no fault of yours. Stress is the main culprit. There’s major mood swings seen during this time. The imbalance in the hormone affects the brain chemicals.
Fatigue – Tiredness is often mistaken as laziness. Being tired all the time need to be checked. Low levels of thyroid hormones rob you of your energy and make you sleepy.
Loss of libido – Low testosterone is equal to less interest in sex.
Hair loss or hair thinning– Stress can cause hair loss or thinning.
Digestive issues – the symptoms that crop up can be nausea, diarrhoea, bloating, and stomach pain.
Foggy memory – A fluctuation in the hormones creates a blur in the brain like a fog hence the term foggy memory. Although it’s common during menopause it can be an underlying symptom of other hormone related issues.
Hormonal Imbalance Treatment
Make peace with your hormones. It’s easier said than done. Nevertheless there are various treatments, including natural therapies, life style changes, medication that can address this issue.
Let’s see some of them below:
HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy) – The most common treatment for hormone imbalance introduces synthetic hormones that help to mimic the effect of natural hormones.
Some natural methods include:
Eating healthy
Exercise
Better sleep patterns
Limit caffeine
Take supplements
Consume Omega 3 fatty acids
Vitamin D for the body
Natural / organic skincare products
Hormone Imbalance in Men
It’s normal to find hormonal imbalance signs in both men and women. However, hormonal changes are always associated with women on periods or in menopause. Men too experience hormonal imbalance though it’s not as prominent as women.
Same as elderly women experience menopause older men experience a drop in testosterone known as andropause or male menopause. Men find a decrease in testosterone and increase in oestrogen as they get older. High oestrogen can lead to prostrate problems and low testosterone is associated with obesity, diabetes, cardio vascular and psychological disorders including depression, anxiety in men.
Symptoms seen in men:
These are the Hormonal Imbalance symptoms in men :
Weight gain – When testosterone levels are low the body weight increases. High stress also triggers the stress hormone which in turn accumulates fat cells and increases weight.
Hair loss – high levels of testosterone increases the chances of balding.
Growing male breasts – when hormone imbalance occurs the male body produces more oestrogen, the female sex hormone and breast enlargement takes place.
Low semen, low libido, and erectile dysfunction – in a normal person the follicle stimulating hormone and the luteinizing hormone work together in the reproductive system. In this case the imbalance creates infertility due to low sperm count and mobility.
Fatigue
Depression
Muscle weakness
Osteoporosis
Diabetes
Infertility
Heart problems like stroke or heart attack
Prostate cancer
Treatment for men:
Hormone replacement with synthetic hormones
Homeopathy – this is a fast growing industry that helps with hormone imbalances. Consult with a good homeopath for positive results.
Aromatherapy – creating a calm environment with candles and sweet smell too can help in hormone imbalance. Lavender oil is one of them.
Relieve Stress – A light massage of the foot and shoulder can work wonders and provide great relief from stress and depression
Getting adequate sleep – 7-9 hrs of sleep is necessary for proper weight and normal blood sugar levels.
Acupuncture & Acupressure – focusing on the acupressure points can rebuild organs to function properly.
Conclusion
The young, the old, men, women anyone can experience hormone Imbalance at any point in time. Being able to cope with it and take the necessary actions is what is most important. Having a healthy lifestyle, with proper food and exercise can bring the person back to his normal routine.
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