How To Control Hormone Imbalance

Many of the body disorder in both men and women are hormonal related. However, women are more sensitive towards this imbalance.

Hormonal imbalances can cause fatigue, hair loss, acne, weight gain, and irregular periods, but the good news is that these imbalances can be controlled. In women, polycystic ovarian disease is often responsible for hormonal imbalances, but other conditions, like thyroid disorders and pituitary tumors, also cause hormonal discrepancies. The key is getting a proper diagnosis for your particular hormonal imbalance.

1.      Make an appointment to see your general physician if you develop new symptoms out of the blue, such as fatigue, acne, excess facial and body hair, depression or irregular periods. Request a full blood test that will check your T3 and T4, TSH, as well as your cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose and iron levels.

2.      Take the medication your doctor prescribes. If your blood test results show you have an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism), a hormone replacement pill like levothyroxine should be taken daily. An overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism) can be treated with anti-thyroid medication like Tapazole, or radioactive iodine taken by mouth. In extreme cases, thyroid surgery might be required.

3.      Change your diet if you suspect you have polycystic ovarian disease, because this hormonal imbalance is often linked to insulin resistance. Opt for lean proteins, vegetables and whole grains, and avoid refined sugar. Other food like soybeans, fish high in omega 3 fatty acids (e.g. salmon) and flax seed oil can also help regulate hormones.

4.      See a reproductive endocrinologist (RE) if you are female and your symptoms continue. An RE specializes in female hormonal imbalances and can run tests to see if your ovaries are producing the correct amount of hormones. Birth control pills are effective when trying to control symptoms like hirsutism, acne and irregular periods; but if you are trying to conceive, your doctor might put you on medication for insulin resistance like Metformin.

Looking at the effects of Hormone Imbalance

We are going to look at the effects of Hormonal Imbalances today that would affect both men and women.

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Hormonal imbalances in the body can cause a wide variety of illnesses and symptoms in men and women. There are many different types of hormone imbalances caused by different hormones and glands in different parts of the body. Often one hormone affects the other so you often have more than one hormone that is not function correctly. This will be a general overview of different types of hormonal imbalances and how the results affect the physiology of a woman.

Significance

1. A hormone is a chemical produced in the human body that travels to different parts to convey or get a certain result. Hormones work together not alone in the body. They have a big effect on the immune system that protects the body from disease and infection. An imbalance in the thyroid or adrenal hormones can produce illness in people. Reproductive hormones like progesterone, estrogen or testosterone can produce serious problems in our body when out of balance. Too much or too little of a hormone is when problems result.

Function

2. Although hormones are only present in small amounts they act on every cell in a person’s body. They interact with each other and often cause imbalances. They are produced by a group of glands called the endocrine system. These glands are located in different parts of the body but are considered part of the same system. They are powerful substances secreted into the bloodstream from these glands. But only the cells that use the hormone will respond. The pineal gland helps regulate sleep and the pituitary gland regulates growth. The other glands included in the system are the thyroid, pituitary, thymus, parathyroid, adrenal, ovaries pancreas and testes. Hormone imbalances result from emotional and physical stress and aging. Often if one hormone does not work more than one is released to compensate. So hormone imbalances often involve one or more hormones. They cannot be stored in the cell so often are released only when needed.

Types

3. There are female hormones produced by the ovaries. These hormones are estrogen, progesterone and testosterone. In women, these hormones regulate the menstrual cycle during her reproductive years. The male hormone produced is testosterone. It is about 95 percent produced by the testes and the rest the adrenal glands. When man gets older the testosterone drops and estrogen rises. The adrenal glands produce three types of steroid hormones. One is cortisol it helps the body react to stress. Alderstrone balances salt and water in the human body. Androgens secreted by the adrenals gland supply the DHEA for men and women. Thyroid hormones control the body’s metabolism. Insulin is secreted by the pancreas it converts sugar to energy. The growth hormone GH controls a child’s height. Most of these hormones have imbalances associated with them that cause disease and problems in the human body.

Features

4. Female hormone imbalances cause breast disease, ovarian syndrome, menstrual irregularities and other symptoms. Some symptoms of the imbalance are bloating, bone loss, low libido, nervousness, mood swings, hot flashes and many others. Male hormonal imbalances can cause bone loss, muscle problems, and body composition. There are many symptoms similar to female hormone imbalance. An adrenal hormone imbalance leads to problems with the immune system, blood sugar irregularities and high androgen levels. Some symptoms are high blood sugar, memory lapses, bone loss and sugar cravings. Thyroid hormone imbalance causes problems with the body’s metabolism. It often causes problems in different parts of the body. An insulin imbalance often causes high blood pressure, diabetes and coronary disease. It has many other symptoms.

Identification

5. Hormone imbalances can be detected by medical testing. There are different types of tests. Saliva testing is one method that often tests for hormones like progesterone, testosterone and cortisol. Other methods are blood spot testing and urine tests that can test for almost any hormone imbalance imaginable. These methods can really narrow down the problem a person may be having. Once you find the cause of the hormone imbalance then you can find a treatment or way to deal with it. Different hormonal imbalances may have different treatments such as diet, medications, injections, exercise and reducing stress. It is advised if you have a hormone imbalance seek out a doctor for testing and treatment

How to Treat Hormone Imbalance

Tragically we see men and women who are staggering through life in a semi-dazed condition. They are not aware of the hormonal imbalance that they are going through and they do not seek medical help.

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Different factors contribute to a hormone imbalance, and this can cause a variety of conditions such as low libido, acne, fatigue and headaches. While a common issue with women, an imbalance can affect both males and females. Fortunately, there are ways to balance hormones and relieve symptoms.

Things You’ll Need:

• Herbal medication
• Body cleansing program

1. The first thing to do is to eat a balanced diet. Often times, lack of proper nutrition can result in a hormone imbalance. For example, people who suffer from an eating disorder generally develop an imbalance. However, it is good to understand that adopting healthy eating habits typically restore hormone balance. 
2. Take herbal medications, it has many good benefits. Prescription medications are available to help balance hormones. If you don’t want to take prescription drugs and deal with side effects, talk to your doctor or an herbalist and discuss natural remedies.

Detoxification of the body

Herbal Sauna to remove toxins

3. Start a body cleansing routine. Over time, harmful toxins can develop in our internal organs, which cause a hormone imbalance. The only way to quickly rid the body of toxins is to adopt a body cleansing routine. These can cleanse the bowels, liver and kidneys.
4. Exercise at least three times a week. Another natural way to balance hormones is to exercise. It’s best to exercise three times a week for twenty to thirty minutes. Ideal exercises include dancing, running, power walking and aerobics.
5. Let your body sweat. Sweating is a good way to remove toxins from the body. Daily workouts produce regular sweating. In addition, you can sit in a hot tub or sauna, or drink hot tea.
6. Eliminate stress. Nervousness and tension can create a hormone imbalance. Learn how to cope with life’s problems, and find ways to unwind.

Treating Hormone Imbalance

Today we will look at the options for treating Hormone Imbalance.

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A hormone imbalance can have many negative effects on your life, ranging from a lowered sex drive to general fatigue. While both men and women experience hormone imbalances, they are more common in women. Other symptoms of hormonal imbalance include headaches, depression, hair loss, hair growth, dull skin, acne and weight gain. Thankfully, there are a variety of treatments that can correct hormonal imbalance issues.

Instructions

Things You’ll Need:

• Dong quai
• Soy
• Black cohosh
• Nettles
• Zinc

1. Get your hormone levels tested. Since testosterone, cortisol and progesterone are all present in blood, urine and saliva, your doctor can perform a variety of tests to determine if you are suffering from imbalances. By pinpointing the exact imbalance, you’ll be in a better position to treat it.
2. Ask your doctor about prescription medications to treat your hormonal imbalance. You may need to take pills that contain the specific hormones you are lacking. Your doctor can also administer hormonal injections if necessary.
3. Consume a well-balanced diet, rich in nutrients and vitamins. Poor nutrition can both lead to and exacerbate hormonal imbalances. Consume fresh, natural foods as regularly as possible.
4. Exercise. Consistent exercise helps to regulate hormone levels, helping to correct imbalances. Get at least 30 minutes of cardiovascular exercises three to four times a week.
5. Consider herbal treatments. Various herbs such as dong quai, soy, black cohosh and nettles are regularly used to treat hormonal imbalances. Talk to your doctor before you begin any herbal treatment plan.
6. Meditate. Stress and anxiety can lead to hormonal imbalances and worsen existing conditions. Eliminate excess stress from your life with daily meditation. Yoga and massage are also effective means for stress relief.

Hormone Imbalance In Women

In recent times, I have seen some women who have been suffering from depression and body changes without understanding what they are going through and why they are suffering from it. We will try and discuss the various conditions they go through.

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During a woman’s lifetime, she will experience hormone imbalances. Most automatically think that hormone imbalances are due to menopause, but there are other factors that can throw a woman’s body off and cause hormone imbalance.

Premenopause

1. Women in their 20s and 30s can experience the “joys” of hormone imbalance, in a process termed premenopause. Premenopause is the time prior to menopause, when women still have their menstrual cycles, but cease ovulating. When a woman ceases to ovulate, her body will not produce the hormone progesterone, which helps keep estrogen in check. When progesterone is not produced, estrogen will build up and cause a hormone imbalance.

Menopause

2. While menopause doesn’t tend to be recognized until women are in their 40s and 50s, some women can go into menopause as early as their 30s. Menopause is when women cease to cycle, which causes two of the three primary estrogen hormones and testosterone to not be produced. After a period of time, when the ovaries are not producing these hormones, the menses will cease, causing the body into hormone imbalance.

Regulation of Hormones

3. The hormones are produced by the endocrine and pituitary systems located in the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus is a primary system within the brain that controls specific nerve functions. Its control of the impulses to the pituitary glands assists the glands in the proper hormone production. When the impulses are disrupted, due to damage or age, hormones can begin to cease.
   
   The hypothalamus regulates the hormone production, which means that it is responsible for regulating blood pressure, thirst, hunger, body temperature and metabolism. With the hypothalamus so closely tied with such major functions, the symptoms of hormone imbalances becomes understandable.

Symptoms of Hormone Imbalance

4. When the hypothalamus is malfunctioning, particularly in menopausal women, women will see weight gain, hot flashes and night sweats, among other symptoms. Since the hypothalamus is responsible for the regulation of body temperature, a hormone imbalance will result in the sudden onset of hot flashes and night sweats, as the body is responding erratically to hormone imbalance.
   
   Hormone imbalance also contributes to sudden weight gain in women. With the hypothalamus responsible for metabolism and body temperature, when the hypothalamus isn’t functioning properly, metabolism can slow, causing the thermogenic process for fat burning to slow as well, causing significant weight gain.

Other Hormone Imbalance

5. Some women can experience a hormone allergy which can cause a hormone imbalance. Prepubescent girls can experience a hormone allergy or sensitivity, which can cause weight problems, fatigue, severe skin problems, thinning scalp hair, arthritis, chronic fatigue syndrome and migraines. Hormone allergies are the body’s reaction when the hormones begin to cyclic produce. Once a girl hits puberty, the symptoms can become more severe and cyclic. Most doctors do not recognize the symptoms as symptoms of hormone allergies, and consider it symptoms of menses.

Remedies for Hormone Imbalances

6. When hormone imbalances occur in premenopausal and menopausal women, doctors will address the issue with hormone replacement therapy. Premenopausal women may have or be given birth control pills which are higher in estrogen and progesterone to insure that the hormones are in balance. Menopausal women will receive hormone replacement therapy to increase the hormones and alleviate the menopausal symptoms.