Do You Have An Hormone Imbalance?

Your Hormones--Your Health If you're feeling bloated, irritable, or not your best--maybe it's a hormonal imbalance. Hormones are chemicals in your body called "messengers" that impact your cells and organ functions. It is normal for your levels to shift at different times in your life; for example, before or during your period, pregnancy or during menopause. Some medications or health issues can cause them to go up or down too. Irregular Periods Most women's periods come every 21 - 35 days. If it doesn't arrive the same time every month--too much or too little hormones--estrogen and progesterone could be the problem; 40's/early 50's (periomenopause: before menopause); Irregular periods could be symptoms to health problems like polysystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). It is important to talk with your doctor. Sleep Problems If you're not getting enough sleep, or sleep isn't adequate--it could be your hormones. Progesterone--the hormone released by ovaries--helps with sleep. If your levels are lower than usual, it could be harder to fall asleep. If estrogen triggers hot flashes--or night sweats--it could be tougher to get adequate rest. Chronic Acne A breakout before or during your period is normal; but an excess of androgens ("male hormones: both men and women have them) can cause oil glands to overwork. Androgens can affect skin cells in and/or around hair follicles to both clog pores, causing acne. Memory Fog Experts are not sure how or why hormones impact the brain, but they do know that changes in estrogen or progesterone can make head fell "foggy"--or hard to remember things. Some think that estrogen impacts brain chemicals called neurotransmitters. Attention or memory problems are common during perimenopause or menopause. Thyroid disease is a symptom of hormone-related conditions. Let your doctor know if you are having troubling thinking clearly. Belly Problems Gut-lined tiny cells called receptors respond to estrogen or progesterone. These hormones have a higher or lower than usual changes in how food is digested. Diarrhea, stomach pain, bloating, nausea can crop up or get worse during your period. Digestive problems, acne or fatigue, and hormone levels are off. Ongoing Fatigue If you are tired all the time: Fatigue can be a common symptom of hormone imbalance. Excess progesterone can make you sleepy. If the thyroid--the butterfly-shaped gland in your neck--makes too little thyroid hormone, it can sap your energy. A simple blood test to the thyroid panel can tell your doctor if your levels are too low. If they are too low, there is treatment. Mood Swings and Depression Researchers believe that drops in hormones, or fast changes in these levels can cause moodiness or the "blues". Estrogen affects key brain chemicals like serotonin, dopamine and norepinepherine. Other hormones that travel the same path as neurotransmitters also play a role in how you feel. Appetite and Weight Gain If you're feeling blue or irritated--it can be when estrogen levels dip--and may want to eat more. It might be whydrops in hormone are linked to weight gain. Estrogen dips also impact the body's levels of leptin--the hunger-revving hormone. Headaches Lots of things can trigger heachaches, but drops in estrogen can also bring them on. It is common for headaches to strike right before or during your period, when estrogen is down. Regular headaches--the ones that surface at the same time every month--can be clues to the levels of hormone shifting. Vaginal Dryness This is normal occasionally. If it is often dry or irritated down there, the reason could be low estrogen. Estrogen helps vaginal tissues to stay moist and comfortable. Estrogen drops because of imbalance, reduce vaginal fluids that cause tightness. Loss of Libido Most think testerone is a male hormone--but women make it too. If testerone levels are down--there is less interest in sex than usual. Breast Changes A drop in estrogen makes breast tissue less dense. An increase ih the hormone thickens breast tissue that causes new lumps or cysts. It is important to talk with your doctor if you notice breast changes, even if none of the symptoms concern you. Source www.webmd.com/women/ss/slideshow-how-hormone-imbalance.