Women are no strangers to what hormonal changes can feel like. Hormones impact way more than just a woman’s sexual and reproductive health and when they are out of control, it can make many women feel like aliens in this world.
The various hormones that help your body function work in sync as the levels of one affect the level of others. When one or more hormones are too high or too low, it can cause another to go berserk which is known as hormonal imbalance.
Hormonal imbalance is not all illness but it is an explanation for what could be causing you to feel less than your best. The hormones most likely to make you feel crazy are estrogen, progesterone, thyroid, testosterone, and insulin.
But if you are feeling any of the following, and can’t pinpoint any particular reason you should be, hormones might be the source of your woes:
- Fatigue
- Sugar cravings
- Trouble losing weight
- Fluid retention
- Headache
- Anxiety
- Insomnia
- Hair Loss
- Skin changes
- Mood Fluctuations
Sometimes, hormonal induced symptoms can be a sign of a larger problem or illness. Changes in weight, energy levels, and mood can be signs of a problem with your thyroid gland, which produces wide-acting hormone that regulates metabolic processes.
Thyroid issues typically must be managed with treatment. Problems with insulin can be caused by the development of insulin resistance and potentially a predisposition to type 2 diabetes and obesity. And fluctuations in the reproductive hormones estrogen and progesterone can be linked to something as basic as your menstrual cycle to reproductive system conditions such as Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). All of these conditions are something you should see a doctor about.
Women need to know that even basic lifestyle factors can mess with their hormones and cause an imbalance. Issues such as chronic stress, poor diet, lack of sleep, nutritional deficiencies, and chronic diseases can all throw off the natural balance of hormones. This can happen both suddenly and over a period of time.
Hormonal imbalance can happen to anyone, at any point in life, but the younger you are, the more easily your body can deal with hormonal fluctuations.
The way out include getting enough sleep, eating healthy foods, drinking enough water, exercising regularly, and reducing stress are all essential to keep your bodies and hormones healthy and balanced.
