Causes & Symptoms Of Hormone Imbalances
Hormones are natural chemicals in the body that influence certain behaviors, moods, and functions in the body. Sometimes a person's body starts producing too much of one hormone and/or too little of another. Women tend me be especially susceptible to this. This will cause a hormonal imbalance in the body. Here are causes for hormone imbalances in women and symptoms you may experience from them.
Hormone Imbalance Causes
Lifestyle changes
Common lifestyle changes can cause your hormones to become imbalanced. These lifestyle changes include:
- Reduced exercise
- Poor diet
- Change in sleep pattern
A healthy exercise and diet allows your hormones to produce properly. Healthy fats and good cholesterol produce hormones. Eating processed foods and high calorie diets will change the way your hormones are produce. Too little or too much sleep and exercising less than usual can cause a problem too.
Chemicals at home or work
If you work with pesticides or other harsh chemicals, it may be disrupting your hormone production. Even household chemicals can change the way they are produced. If you spend your days cleaning with harsh chemicals, they may be the issue. Try making natural cleaners and pesticides. If you're working with the chemicals, there isn't much you can do to change that, but proper personal protective gear will assist in keeping the chemicals out of your system.
Menopause
Menopause is one of the main reasons why a woman will experience a hormone imbalance. The lack of ovulation causes estrogen levels to plummet dramatically. If you are going through menopause, the previously mentioned reasons for hormone imbalances such as diet and exercise are more important than ever, because it can make the menopause symptoms much worse.
Pregnancy
Pregnancy is another leading cause of hormone imbalances. Carrying a new life inside of you changes how your entire body functions. Your body will begin producing more hormones since it's working harder to grow a baby. The excess hormones often cause mood swings. You may find yourself angry or crying over something that would have never bothered you before.
Hormone Imbalance Symptoms
Weight gain
Many people gain weight as they age and don't think much about it. You probably think your metabolism slowing down is part of age. While that does tend to happen, gaining 20 or more pounds can be a sign of something much more serious. Thyroid issues are common and will slow down your metabolism. When this happens, your pancreas will conserve fat when it's unnecessary to do so, usually in the stomach and buttocks.
Fatigue
Another symptom that's often linked to thyroid issues is fatigue. Everyone gets tired, but chronic fatigue can be a serious issue. You may never feel rested no matter how much sleep you get. Other times, you might become so exhausted you can barely keep your eyes open in the middle of the day.
Change in libido
A hormone imbalance can cause a change in your libido. While a high sex drive is possible, hormone imbalances usually result in a low sex drive. Medications and even low-dose vaginal creams can help libido issues.
Night sweats
Hot flashes and night sweats are a typical symptom of hormonal imbalances. This is a common symptom that women experience when they go through menopause. It's often caused by either low estrogen, or an imbalance of the estrogen and progesterone levels.
There are many different types of hormonal imbalances. Some hormone issues have several of the same symptoms as others, with a mix of different symptoms as well. It can be difficult to know exactly what is going on without seeing a doctor. Here is a checklist that can give you an idea of a possible hormone imbalance. If you think you have one, make an appointment to see your primary care doctor. Some imbalances require hormone replacement therapy, while others can be resolved with lifestyle changes. For more information, check out sites like http://www.genemedics.com.