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SYMPTOMS OF A HORMONE IMBALANCE
• Weight Changes
• Mood Swings• Brain Fog
YOUR HORMONES, YOUR HEALTHFeeling bloated, irritable, or
just not your best? A hormone imbalance could be to blame.
Hormones are chemical “messengers” that impact the
way your cells and organs function. It’s normal for your
levels to shift at different times of your life, such as
before and during your period or a pregnancy, or during
menopause. But some medications and health issues
can cause them to go up or down, too.
IRREGULAR PERIODSMost women’s
periods come every 21 to 35 days. If yours doesn’t arrive around the same time every month, or you
skip some months, it might mean that you have too much or too
little of certain hormones (estrogen and progesterone). If
you’re in your 40s or early 50s -- the reason can be per menopause -- the time before menopause. But
irregular periods can be a symptom of health problems like
polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Talk to your doctor.
SLEEP PROBLEMSIf you aren’t getting enough shut-eye, or if the sleep you
get isn’t good, your hormones could be at play.
Progesterone, a hormone released by your ovaries,
helps you catch Zzz's. If your levels are lower than usual, that can make it hard to fall
and stay asleep. Low estrogen can trigger hot flashes and night sweats, both of which can make it tough to get the
rest you need.
CHRONIC ACNE
A breakout before or during your period is normal. But acne that won’t clear up
can be a symptom of hormone problems. An excess of androgens
(“male” hormones that both men and women have) can
cause your oil glands to overwork. Androgens also affect the skin cells in and around your hair follicles. Both of those things can
clog your pores and cause acne.
MEMORY FOGExperts aren’t sure exactly how
hormones impact your brain. What they do know is that changes in estrogen and
progesterone can make your head feel “foggy” and make it harder for you to remember things. Some experts think
estrogen might impact brain chemicals called
neurotransmitters. Attention and memory problems are especially common during pri -menopause and menopause. But they can also be a symptom of other
hormone-related conditions, like thyroid disease. Let your doctor
know if you're having trouble thinking clearly.
BELLY PROBLEMS
Your gut is lined with tiny cells called receptors that respond to estrogen and
progesterone. When these hormones are higher or lower than usual, you might notice
changes in how you're digesting food. That’s why
diarrhea, stomach pain, bloating, and nausea can
crop up or get worse before and during your period. If
you’re having digestive woes as well as issues like acne and fatigue, your hormone
levels might be off.
ONGOING FATIGUE
Are you tired all the time? Fatigue is one of the most common symptoms of a
hormone imbalance. Excess progesterone can make you sleepy. And if your thyroid -- the butterfly-shaped gland in your neck -- makes too little thyroid hormone, it can sap your energy. A
simple blood test called a thyroid panel can tell you if your levels are too low. If
they are, you can get treated for that
MOOD SWINGS AND DEPRESSION
Researchers think drops in hormones or fast
changes in their levels can cause moodiness and
the blues. Estrogen affects key brain
chemicals like serotonin, dopamine, and
norepinephrine. But other hormones, that travel the
same paths as neurotransmitters, also play a part in how you
feel
APPETITE AND WEIGHT GAIN
When you’re feeling blue or irritated, as you
can be when your estrogen levels dip, you may want to eat more.
That might be why drops in the hormone are linked to weight
gain. The estrogen dip can also impact your
body’s levels of leptin, a hunger-revving
hormone.
HEADACHES
Lots of things can trigger these. But for some women, drops in estrogen bring them on. That’s why it’s common for headaches to strike right before or during your period,
when estrogen is on the decline. Regular headaches or ones that often surface
around the same time each month can be a clue that
your levels of this hormone might be shifting.
LOSS OF LIBIDO
Most people think of testosterone as a
male hormone, but women’s bodies make
it, too. If your testosterone levels
are lower than usual, you might have less of an interest in sex than
you usually do.
BREAST CHANGES
A drop in estrogen can make your breast
tissue less dense. And an increase in the
hormone can thicken this tissue, even
causing new lumps or cysts. Talk to your
doctor if you notice breast changes, even if you don’t have any other symptoms that
concern you.
VAGINAL DRYNESS
It's normal to have this occasionally. But if you often notice that you're
dry or irritated down there, low estrogen may
be the reason. The hormone helps vaginal tissue stay moist and comfortable. If your
estrogen drops because of an imbalance, it can reduce vaginal fluids and cause tightness.
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