Hormonal imbalance is the body's signal that your overall health is not up to the mark.
With the pandemic of coronavirus growing worldwide.
Health optimization should be the ideal approach, rater than disease management.
Let us deep dive to understand hormonal imbalance and its causes
What are hormones & their role in the body?
Hormones are like chemical messengers of the body.
The Endocrine system in the body produces hormones.
They are required for correct and all round development of the human body.
Hormones are essentially required for performing body functions.
In other words they help regulate body processes like
Hunger
Sleep
Blood pressure
Sugar levels
Growth
Sexual desire
Reproduction
Moods
Body weight
Digestion
Heart health
Hormonal Imbalance-
Happens when there is too much or less of growth hormones in a blood stream.
So, it becomes important for the body to optimize its condition and stay healthy.
Causes of Hormonal Imbalance
Heavy Medications or drugs
Insomnia
Hyperthyroidism
Tumors
Cancer treatments - Chemotherapy
Weak Immune system
Other Auto Immune diseases.
Common signs in Men & Women
Less sleep and hormonal imbalance
Lack of sleep is connected to hormonal imbalances
Sleep is an essential pillar for good health.
Likewise the other two are exercise and quality nutrition.
Sleep regulates and improves the functioning of different body hormones.
We all need that 7-9 hrs of peaceful sleep at night for daily activities execution.
It has been observed that people sleeping less are often exposed to hormonal imbalances
In addition it may show high levels of cortisol (stress) hormone in the body.
Brain Fog
This condition can make create confusion, limit thinking and decision making
In addition it may also affect understanding simple tasks
Moreover, remembering events and poor concentration
As a result the person may feel less sharper and remain confused.
Brain Fog can happen due to stress, lack of sleep, depression or illness like diabetes
Studies (4)
Digestion and hormonal imbalance
Gut health needs to be optimum for health management.
Healthy digestion play a key role in reducing hormonal imbalances.
Your gut also contains neurotransmitters like the ones in brain
Therefore, stress, anxiety and depression are also corelated to digestion.
Hormones can promote the growth of healthy bacteria in our intestines.
These bacteria can help in the digestion process.
However, hormonal imbalance can hamper the healthy bacteria growth.
As a result you may face issues like constipation, diarrhea and bloating.
Moreover this may add to other stomach disorders as well
Studies - (5)
Tired and lack of energy
Hormone imbalance in the body can cause energy expenditure.
As a result making the body feel tired with lack of energy.
Tiredness is one of the common symptoms of hormonal imbalances
Reasons of physical or mental fatigue include
Less Sleep
Mentally exhausted
Any underlying illness
Workplace stress
Obesity
Excess or lack of physical activity
Menopause in women
Certain Medications
Stress, Anxiety and Depression
Lack of sexual interest or desire
Mood swings
Frequent Headaches
Brain Fog
In women the the production of progesterone(pregnancy hormone) can cause tiredness.
Therefore excess of this hormone can make her feel sleepy and too little will keep her awake and irritated.
In addition, when there is less production of the thyroid hormone in the body.
Also known as hypothyroidism this can make you feel tired and exhausted.
Studies - (6)
Unexplained Weight gain or Muscle loss
Hormones play an important role in metabolism and regulating body weight
Low testosterone and estrogen levels can result in skeletal muscle loss
In men and woman respectively.
As a result this may add to slow muscle recovery from injuries
Therefore hormonal imbalance can cause rapid weight gain or muscle loss
Most importantly, when the thyroid gland is underactive to create the thyroid hormone.
This may contribute to weight gain because of poor metabolism.
In women PCOS and irregular menopause may also add to body fat
Sometimes, weight gain may also be due to the cushing syndrome.
Cushing syndrome
It occurs when the body has high level of cortisol (stress) hormones for a long time
Obesity may also add to problems like diabetes, infertility, heart disease and breast cancer.
Read-
10 habits that are making you fat
Cravings and hormonal imbalance
When you feel that unstoppable desire to eat a particular food it is called craving.
Food cravings are signs that there are some missing nutrients in your diet.
Fiber is an essential nutrient that comes from green veggies and fruits.
To clarify it keeps you fuller for a long time and helps in weight control.
Therefore managing food cravings for the entire day.
These cravings may also be due to physical and mental disorders
Poor diet
High stress levels
Lack of physical activity
Less sleep
Hair loss
This is a common cause of hormonal imbalance in both genders.
In Men low testosterone (Male growth hormone) is a prime cause of hair loss
High levels of DHT hormone in men can cause hair to become weak and fall faster.
Most men experience the male pattern baldness which means loss of hair from the scalp
In Women- Hair fall may be due to irregular or heavy menopause cycles.
For some women this may also be due lower production of estrogen (Female growth hormone).
Likewise lower levels of progesterone hormone can be another cause.
Cushing syndrome and Nutrient deficiencies like lack of protein in the diet.
May also contribute to hair loss as you age.
Mood Swings
This is another common cause of hormonal imbalances
Irritability Male Syndrome (IMS) is the term that describes mood swings in men
Low or changing testosterone levels and high stress levels
Often lead to mood swings in men
Likewise low or changing estrogen levels in women during PMS or otherwise.
May lead to mood swings and behavioral change.
Signs of changing moods can be seen in a woman with premenstrual syndrome (16)
Moreover women may experience mood changes also during pregnancy
Common behavior changes observed in both genders would be-
Anger
Stress
Depression
Irritability
Anxiety
Impatience
Frustrated
Defensive
Sad
Argumentative
Tensed
Withdrawn
Lost sense of humor
You may add more to this list.......
Acne and hormonal imbalance
It is a skin condition that is often common in teenagers.
However it may also happen to adults as well
As a result of androgen hormonal changes in the body
Hair follicles are plugged with oily and dead skin cells covered with skin bacteria.
Therefore, leading to pimples, blackheads or whiteheads.
It happens on face, shoulders, chest, back and neck
In adults this may happen due to different reasons.
For example an underlying medical condition, high stress levels.
Irregular menstruation cycles in women or other factors.
It is better to consult an expert to find the exact cause.
Low Libido
This means less interest in sexual activity.
Low libido in mainly experienced in adults after 40.
However, this can be experienced by young adults as well.
Hormonal imbalance can be a prime cause of low libido
Low levels of Estrogen hormones in women and testosterones in males.
Therefore contribute to low libido.
Factors that may further drive low libido are-
Pre-menopause or menopause
High levels of cortisol(stress) hormone
Non-compatibility with the partner
Less availability of partner
Illness or pain
Medications
Sleep
Alcohol or drug use
Signs seen only in women
Headaches
The most common neurological disorder is migraine in men and women.
To clarify it is 2-3 time more common in women compared to men
In women fluctuating hormonal levels can be a prime cause of headaches
This may happen at the time of menopause, pregnancy or changing diet patterns
Low level of estrogen hormone can result in headaches and migraines
To clarify menstrual or hormonal migraines are same as regular migraine.
Vaginal Dryness & Breast tenderness
Its is the most common sign of hormonal imbalance seen in women.
Vaginal dryness is often seen due to low or changing levels of estrogen hormone in the body.
Likewise during pre-menopause a woman may experience estrogen fluctuations.
This hormonal imbalance may cause the breast to get tender and soar.
Hot flashes & night sweats
It is an unexpected feeling of warmth around your neck, face and chest.
In addition to continuous and excess sweating during menopause at nights
This can be one unexpected red flag of hormonal imbalance
In other words low estrogen levels during perimenopause and menopauses.
May be the cause for hot flashes and night sweats
Moreover, Alcohol consumption and smoking may also lead to this problem
PCOS and hormonal imbalance
Polycystic ovary syndrome(PCOS) is a common hormonal imbalance for women at reproductive age.
This hormonal disorder is caused due to enlargement of ovaries and small cysts on the outer edges
Symptoms of PCOS may include
Irregular menstrual cycles
Obesity
Acne
Excess hair growth
Let's talk Solutions!
Regular Exercise
Physical activity like cardio + strength training should be done for an hour daily
This as a result will help boost your hormonal levels and balance them as well.
Exercise can help in managing mood swings, energy balance, libido, muscle gain and weight loss.
It may also prove beneficial in managing illnesses like diabetes, cancer and controlling your thyroid hormone.
An hour spent on yourself is a key to healthy life style
Also read -
Myths of women strength training
How to burn calories with day to day activities?
Nutrition and hormonal imbalance
A balanced nutrition plan and healthy eating can help to control hormonal imbalance
This should be a well balanced ratio of macro and micro nutrients in the diet.
Avoid liquid calories, sweets and refined carbs as they can add to weight gain.
Add more fiber enriched food like green veggies and fruits to your plate.
These should be supported by quality protein like eggs, whey, lean meat and fish.
So, let us see how should your ideal plate look like-
US department of agriculture (USDA) can help you calculate your food plan
Read-
25 foods for weight loss and fitness
You may also check our Nutrition section to know more on diets and food groups
Rest and recover
We have already discussed earlier in the article how less sleep can affect hormones.
Optimum sleep and rest is required to boost mental and physical health.
It can minimize the impact of many illness and other health disorders.
In addition, sleep can also reduce stress levels and boost performance
Less sleep in women may affect their menstrual cycles as well **
Question-What should be the ideal sleep requirement as per your age ?
Answer - We strongly recommend you to read
Studies (35**)
Talk to an expert
Hormonal imbalances can be sometimes be due physical and mental disorders.
If you think taking an expert advise can help you.
This will be a great step in moving towards good health
It is important to speak to an expert when you encounter this problem.
To clarify some illnesses put you on heavy medications.
However, sometimes the doctor's do not have any other option.
You may still discuss with the doctor and look for alternatives.
Lifestyle changes can bring a huge shift in disease managment.
It can certainly help you curb your physical and mental issues.
Stress Management
Stress ,Anxiety and Depression are caused when you overthink about events/people.
Cortisol-The Stress hormone is an effective mechanism the body uses as a fight or flight response
However, high level of cortisol hormone for a long time may have its ill effects
This may increase your sugar levels, blood pressure, affect heart health and contribute to low libido.
Moreover, it may add to unexplained weight gain and weak muscles.
This is also known as the Cushing Syndrome
Read-
SAD Syndrome- Stress, Anxiety and Depression
Eating behavior may cause hormonal imbalance
We are all aware of the ill effects of bad eating behavior
Bad eating habits can often toss your hormonal balances.
Food is often considered rewarding and chosen to improve our moods and emotions.
However, sometimes we often step the line and engage in unhealthy eating habits.
Over a period of time we realize that it has affected our health in the form of illness or obesity
Bad Eating behavior are
Eating too much
Binging
Eating too little
Practicing mindful eating can certainly help you overcome eating disorder
Read - How to know the right eating behavior?
Quit Alcohol and Smoking
Alcohol is not required by the body to perform its daily functions
1 gm of alcohol has 7 calories which is as high as 1 gm of fat that is 9 cals
Moreover alcohol in excess can affect hormones and vital organs as well.
Chronic alcohol consumption may affect coordination between nervous, endocrine and immune system.
As a result disturbing your physiological and behavioral levels.
Therefore adding to health disorders like
Increased stress levels
Infertility
Irregular menstrual cycles
Weak Immune system
Growth defects
Cancers
Bone disease
The below studies speak about this in detail
Smoking can be equally damaging and can affect your hormones and overall health.
It causes the release of hormone epinephrine.
This may further provide a "Kick" to the nervous system.
As a result achieve feelings of pleasure and overtime addiction.
However, It may raise the levels of cortisol hormone(stress) in the blood.
As a result increasing your blood sugar levels, blood pressure and cancer
It also affects your thyroid hormone levels and pituitary glands
In addition it lowers your metabolism and fertility.
Further, adding up to unexpected weight gain and weak immune system
Smoking may also affect menstrual cycles in women.
The Summary
Hormonal imbalance is caused due to the fluctuation of growth hormone.
Testosterone in men and estrogen in women.
Non-performance of these hormones may affect overall well being
In other words affecting physical and mental health
Adopting a healthy life style can be one of the best ways for disease management.
If you face these imbalances for a long time its always best to seek professional guidance.
Let us know what are you doing to maintain your hormonal balance
Stay fit stay happy!!