Signs of hormonal imbalance

Pregnancy, menopause, poor diet, lack of sleep, stress, taking certain medications, diabetes, thyroid problems… All of these can cause our “hormone factory” to malfunction. But how to understand that something is wrong with the hormonal background? What symptoms should draw our attention?

What are hormones and hormonal balance

Hormones are responsible for maintaining balance in the body. Both physical and emotional. Hormonal disorders can manifest themselves with a variety of symptoms. In women, it can be a violation of the menstrual cycle, nervousness, and in men, erectile dysfunction. It is estimated that about 70% of women of childbearing age suffer from premenstrual syndrome, which is also a sign of hormonal imbalance. And in men after 30 years, testosterone levels can drop by about one and a half percent every year, which also affects the amount of other hormones produced by the body.

Hormones are substances produced by the endocrine glands of our body. Researchers have counted about 70 hormones that are responsible for its vital functions. When it comes to hormonal imbalance, many people think of the thyroid gland. But the endocrine system consists not only of it. The hypothalamus, pituitary, pineal, parathyroid, thymus, pancreas, adrenals, ovaries in women, and testicles in men are all involved in hormone production.

Hormones are responsible for most of the processes in the body. They play a regulatory function and have a significant impact on our appearance, physical and emotional state, weight. They spread throughout the body with blood, so these substances easily enter all organs, stimulating and coordinating their work. Hormones regulate metabolism, heart rate, menstrual cycle and lactation in women. But in order for all processes to proceed as they should, hormonal substances in the human body must be present in a certain amount. This is how balance is created. Changing the amount of one of the hormones, as a rule, affects the proportions of others. Take at least the female body. You should not try to restore the balance of estrogens, while ignoring the amount of other hormones, such as progesterone or substances produced by the thyroid gland, because everything in the body is interconnected.

When a hormonal imbalance occurs in the body, the body usually signals with different symptoms. Some hormonal disorders cause excessive hair growth, dermatological problems (acne, rashes, changes in skin color and texture, early appearance of wrinkles), decreased libido, weight changes. Disorders in the endocrine system are often manifested by mood swings, blurred vision, and sudden hair loss. Too much or too little of certain hormones can cause abdominal pain or inflammation.positive processes. In women, hormonal disorders are very often manifested by cycle disorder, severe menstrual pain, and problems with conception.

Causes of hormonal disorders

The reason for the failure of the endocrine system is often a genetic predisposition. In some cases, hormonal imbalance occurs as a result of stress, which is accompanied by the release of cortisol. But there are many other reasons leading to an imbalance in our “hormone factory”.

Violation of the natural biorhythm, lack of proper rest, as well as excessive contact with a computer, mobile phone, TV or other source of electromagnetic fields can cause a lack of progesterone.

The use of products containing hormones. In many countries of the world, such products are banned. And not in vain. If they are abused, then soon a hormonal imbalance occurs in the human body. In particular, studies have shown that meat and dairy products obtained from animals fed with hormones affect the production of sex hormones in male and female bodies.

Alcohol abuse. Everyone knows that excessive alcohol consumption harms the liver. But besides it, the endocrine system also suffers from ethyl alcohol. Drinkers often have trouble producing adequate estrogen and testosterone.

Taking certain medications. Oral contraceptives and drugs for hormone replacement therapy directly affect the hormonal background of the body, so you can’t take them without a doctor’s prescription.

Wrong diet. If the diet lacks vitamin B6 and magnesium, then estrogen metabolism can be disturbed in the body. In addition, excessive accumulation of this hormone can occur against the background of frequent overeating.

You should also be aware that hormones can be affected by chemicals such as xenobiotics and xenoestrogens found in plastics, pesticides, and some food additives. In particular, xenobiotics contribute to the development of insulin resistance, and hence the onset of diabetes and obesity.

How to recognize a hormonal imbalance

Accurately determine the level of hormones in the body can only be based on the results of laboratory tests. But for a person to suspect that something is wrong with him and seek help from a doctor, something must alert him. Hormonal imbalance is never asymptomatic. The lack of each of the hormones usually has its own characteristic symptoms. Knowing them, you can not only understand that a hormonal imbalance has begun, but also preliminarily (before laboratory confirmation) determine which substance disrupts harmony in the body.

Menstrual disorders, lack of menstruation, problems with conception

Menstrual irregularities and fertility problems in women can be caused by polycystic ovary syndrome. The reason for this pathology serves as a hormonal imbalance. More precisely, the disease causes an imbalance of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). The first stimulates the growth of the follicle in the ovary, and the second regulates the release of the egg from the follicle. If there is an imbalance of these hormones, there is no ovulation. As a result, the corpus luteum cannot form, and the amount of progesterone in the blood also does not increase. Deficiency of the latter hormone leads to irregular menstruation. In addition, hormonal imbalance in the female body can be caused by excessive production of androgens – male sex hormones.

But not only an imbalance of sex hormones can cause disruptions in the menstrual cycle. The cause of problems with women’s health can be a disease of the thyroid gland. Excessive production of thyroid hormones can cause irregular cycles, poor menstrual discharge or complete absence of menstruation (amenorrhea).

Women’s diseases can also be caused by adrenal disease, such as Cushing’s syndrome. This is a condition in which the adrenal cortex produces an excess of steroid hormones and glucocorticoids.

Failures in the menstrual cycle are also possible when the female body produces too much prolactin. This usually happens due to sudden weight loss, excessive physical activity or against the background of chronic stress.

Decreased libido and impaired potency

If the blood of a man or woman contains too much prolactin, this may be the cause of a decrease in libido. The fact is that prolactin is closely related to testosterone: an increase in one hormone leads to a decrease in the other. An increase in prolactin levels is especially dangerous for men, since a lack of testosterone leads to disruption of the reproductive system. Such men have erection problems, decreased libido and signs of gynecomastia (female-type breast enlargement).

In women, a decrease in interest in sex is usually caused by an imbalance of estrogen and progesterone. If the female endocrine system is working properly, then in the days before ovulation, estrogen predominates in the body, which increases the craving for sex (this is the period when the chances of getting pregnant are highest). After ovulation, when conception is impossible, the hormone progesterone comes to the fore, “pacifying” the libido. But if the system fails, a woman may completely lose interest in sex.

Abrupt mood swings

Excess prolactin, an imbalance in the estrogen-progesterone bond, and thyroid dysfunction can cause persistent irritability, nervousness, anger, and depression. This often happens to women during menopause, when estrogen levels drop sharply. And this, in turn, leads to a decrease in dopamine and serotonin, which are responsible for a good mood and a sense of satisfaction. In addition, mood instability may depend on the work of the adrenal glands.

Sometimes such patients are prescribed phytopreparations, if they do not give a result, they begin treatment using hormonal drugs.

Dermatological problems: acne, spots, seborrhea

Acne, age spots on the face, neck, or upper back are often the result of elevated prolactin levels. Conversely, abnormal levels of estrogen in the body can lead to skin discoloration and the formation of white patches. If the body accumulates an excess of male sex hormones androgens, this leads to increased production of sebum, which clogs the skin pores and causes acne.

Excessive hair growth

If a woman notices signs of male-pattern hair growth on her body (on the face, chest, abdomen, thighs, buttocks, lower back), this may be due to an increase in androgen levels. The more male hormones in the female body, the stronger and darker the “extra” hair.

Hair loss

Hormonal imbalance can also lead to excessive hair loss. The cause of baldness is often called a violation of the level of testosterone, dihydrotestosterone and thyroid hormones.noah gland.

Weight gain or loss

Obesity in humans often occurs as a result of hormonal imbalance. Usually extra pounds accumulate in the presence of insulin resistance. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas. It is responsible for regulating blood sugar levels. Resistance is a state of reduced sensitivity of the body to this hormone. In such cases, the pancreas is forced to produce more insulin than it should. necessary to keep sugar at the right level. As a result, excess insulin makes it difficult to burn fat. In addition, a large amount of insulin leads to fluctuations in sugar levels, which causes hunger, which also does not contribute to weight loss.

increase excess weight is not always the result of malnutrition. Sometimes uncontrolled weight gain can be caused by hypothyroidism. This is a condition when the thyroid gland produces too little thyroxine and triiodothyronine. These hormones affect metabolism, as they are responsible for fat burning. Therefore, their deficiency leads to weight gain.

In turn, rapid weight loss for no apparent reason can be the result of hyperthyroidism. People with an overactive thyroid can eat constantly and still lose weight. Sometimes losses of up to 30 kilograms per month are possible.

Interestingly, people who feel lonely tend to accumulate excess weight. Their body usually reacts with reduced sensitivity to leptin, the hormone that is responsible for satiety. When a person eats food, the level of leptin in the body rises, which means that hunger is replaced by a feeling of satiety. If the secretion of leptin fails, this leads to the development of obesity. Another hormone that affects your weight is ghrelin. It is responsible for the feeling of hunger. If the amount of ghrelin in the blood is higher than normal, hunger persists even after eating. By the way, scientists from Stanford University found that an imbalance of leptin and ghrelin can occur due to chronic sleep deprivation. If you sleep less than 8 hours a day, the body begins to produce about 15% more ghrelin and the same amount less leptin.

In addition, sometimes it can be difficult for a person to lose weight due to excessive accumulation of cortisol, the stress hormone, in the body. If obesity is caused by cortisol, then excess accumulates mainly in the abdomen. But what is dangerous, excess cortisol leads not only to weight gain, but also to disruption of the immune system.

Problems with digestion

Three hormones are responsible for the digestive process. These are gastritis, secretin and cholecystokinin (pancreozymin). They optimize the digestive process, prevent inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract and promote proper absorption of nutrients. An imbalance in any of these three hormones can lead to unexplained abdominal pain and indigestion.

Sleep disturbance

Sleep disorders can be caused by various factors, including hormonal imbalance. Insomnia, for example, is often the result of abnormally low levels of melatonin and serotonin. Melatonin is a hormone that regulates circadian rhythms (the desire to sleep at night and stay awake during the day). With age, the human body produces less and less melatonin, so it is important to maintain its balance with a proper diet. For example, cherry juice has been proven to be a good source of this hormone. Serotonin is the so-called hormone of good mood and happiness. Its deficiency makes a person anxious and worsens the quality of sleep. In addition, insomnia can occur in women during menopause, when progesterone levels decrease. To improve sleep quality, many experts advise practicing yoga and eating foods rich in tryptophan.

Memory problems

If lately it has become difficult for you to remember words, dates, events, it is difficult to concentrate your attention, you do not remember new information well, it is possible that you have a hormonal disorder. In particular, in women, impaired secretion of estrogen and progesterone affect the functioning of the brain. For this reason, memory problems most often occur during menopause. In addition, the ability to memorize is reduced due to problems with the functioning of the thyroid gland, as well as due to excessive levels of the stress hormone in the blood.

Migraine

Nowadays, experts have several theories regarding the causes of migraine headaches. One of them is based on the fact that migraine occurs due to hormonal imbalance. In particular, due to a violation of the proportions of estrogen and progesterone, therefore, women suffer from migraines more often than men.

Excessive sweating

This often happens to women during menopause. The reason for this condition experts call a decrease in estrogen levels. At this stage, this symptom is not considered a pathology. But if excessive sweating bothers a young woman, she may not be all right with her hormonal balance, including her estrogen levels. In this case, it is useful for women to eat foods rich in phytoestrogens and isoflavones.

Chronic fatigue

We all feel like a squeezed lemon from time to time. But if such a condition is caused by excessive physical activity, then, as they say, there are no questions. Give your body time to rest, and everything will return to normal. But if the state of fatigue accompanies you constantly, even in the morning after a completely satisfactory night’s rest, then there is reason to think. Perhaps the cause of poor health is a hormonal disorder. In particular, it may be an excessive increase in blood cortisol. Another possible cause of weakness is a decrease in the hormonal activity of the thyroid gland. By the way, if it secretes hormones excessively actively, then a person, on the contrary, becomes too restless and “twitchy”, sweats a lot and notices signs of an accelerated heartbeat.

Diet to restore and maintain hormonal levels

Emotional state and diet play an important role in maintaining hormonal balance. In such cases, food that can disrupt metabolism should be avoided. It is not recommended to consume foods containing many preservatives of salt, saturated fatty acids and sugar. It is also helpful to limit the consumption of alcohol and foods that can cause allergies.

There is a diet to restore hormonal levels. True, this is rather not a strictly scheduled nutrition plan, but a lifestyle that maintains the good health of the whole organism, provides it with all the necessary nutritional components. But in order to create the right nutrition program, it is important to understand what dietary habits can cause disruptions in the endocrine system.

Low calorie diet. Long-term adherence to a low-calorie diet causes disruptions in the endocrine system. If proper nutrition is not restored in time, hormonal problems will only get worse.

Lack of fat and cholesterol in the diet. This factor also does not benefit the endocrine system. Fat is a building material for steroid hormones, and its deficiency causes disturbances in the hormonal system.

Unbalanced intake of carbohydrates. Too high or too low portions of carbohydrates in the diet also negatively affect hormonal balance. In particular, the pancreas that produces insulin can be affected.

Nutrient deficiency. Insufficient calcium intake can lead to an increase in the concentration of parathyroid hormone, which ultimately causes an incorrect concentration of calcium in the blood and bone tissue. Magnesium is also important for the production of this hormone. Iodine deficiency negatively affects the production of thyroid hormones, although an excess of the mineral also adversely affects the functioning of the thyroid gland.

In addition, disruptions in the endocrine system are possible due to a deficiency of selenium, zinc, iron, and B vitamins.

Intestinal dysbacteriosis. The gut plays an important role in maintaining hormonal balance. It has been proven that bifidobacteria living in the intestines are involved in the process of producing serotonin. Therefore, at least occasionally it is useful to pamper your body with biokefir and natural yogurt with beneficial bacteria.

Abuse of foods rich in phytoestrogens. We are talking primarily about soybeans, which contain many organic compounds that resemble human estrogen in structure and function. This type of food can be useful for women during menopause, but at a younger age, as well as in the male body, it can cause hormonal disorders.

Products with toxins. The consumption of foods and water contaminated with heavy metals has a dangerous effect on the endocrine system. The thyroid gland suffers the most from such products.

Vitamin D deficiency. This vitamin in the human body acts on the principle of a steroid hormone, which affects the parathyroid gland, pituitary gland and other glands of the system. The production of parathyroid hormone and calcitonin, which are responsible for calcium metabolism and bone density, depends on it. In addition, a lack of vitamin D often causes thyroid dysfunction.

Based on the foregoing, we can conclude that the most useful diet for hormonal imbalance is a balanced diet that includes an adequate amount of calories, fats and carbohydrates. In addition, it is important to ensure that the diet contains a sufficient amount of vitamin D and B, mineral elements such as selenium, zinc, iron, and regularly consume foods containing bifidobacteria.

And of course, you should not abuse food rich in phytoestrogens and chemical additives.

Hormonal processes play a key role in maintaining our health. They regulate important processes such as growth, metabolism, and the functioning of the reproductive system. Hormones govern many of the physical and mental changes our bodies go through at different stages of life. However, we often forget about it and ignore the warning signals that the body sends us.

Any hormonal disorder can lead to the development of serious diseases. Unfortunately, many do not pay attention to the signals of the body, considering them not so serious as to rush for medical help. Therefore, it is important, at least in general terms, to navigate the most typical signs of hormonal imbalance in order to help yourself in time and prevent more serious complications.