Content Overview:Hormones are the precursors in our body. They can alarm the beginning of some disease process in the body. They are synthesized and created in the glands in our body and are powerful chemicals that are responsible for and contribute to almost all functions in our body and the functioning of all organs. They travel through the circulatory system and tell the organs and tissues what to do and how to function properly. When one unit of this complex endocrine system is not working properly, the whole body suffers. This is a so-called hormonal imbalance. A hormone imbalance occurs when the human body produces too much or not enough of a hormone. Even the smallest changes can have an effect on the whole body.
Since hormones play a key role in the processes throughout the body, it is not surprising that with a hormone imbalance we can observe a number of symptoms and signs to tell us what is wrong. This symptomatology and the extent to which it affects our health depends on exactly which hormones are the problem, and to what extent the workings of the glands are affected.
Some of the most common symptoms in hormonal imbalance in both men and women are as follows:
Weight gain, often sudden and without explanation
Formation of a fatty hump between the shoulders over the back
Fatigue
Weakness in the muscles
Pain in the joints
Rapid or slow heartbeat
Excessive sweating
Extreme sensitivity to cold or heat
Constipation
Frequent urination
Increased thirst
Increased sense of hunger
Decreased libido
Depression
Easy irritability and increased anxiety
Sterility
Thinning, dry and falling hair
Dry skin
Puffy face
Pink or purple-coloured stretch marks
In the female body, certain specific hormones predominate that are in much smaller amounts in the male body. These are hormones that play a key role in a number of processes that are specific exclusively and only to the female body and the different stages it goes through. In a woman's reproductive years, one of the most common examples of hormonal imbalance is polycystic ovary syndrome. The fact is that a woman's monthly cycle often changes, influenced by the natural changes in the body during the different stages - puberty, pregnancy, lactation, menopause.
Heavy or irregular periods
Hirsutism - excessive hair in the facial area, chin, other parts of the body
Acne on the face, upper back, chest
Hair loss
Areas of darkened skin, especially in the neck creases, under the breasts, groin area
Vaginal dryness
Vaginal atrophy
Pain during sexual intercourse
Night sweats
Headache
In both women and men, there are sex hormones that are naturally contained in higher amounts in the male body. When an imbalance occurs in these male hormones, certain symptoms occur, including:
Gynecomastia or excessive development of breast tissue
Sensitivity in the breasts
Erectile dysfunction
Accelerated beard growth and body hair
Loss of muscle mass
Osteoporosis or loss of bone mass and density
Difficulty concentrating
Hot flashes
The causes of hormonal imbalance can be many. The causes vary depending on which hormone is having a problem and how the glands and their workings are affected. Some of the most common causes of hormonal imbalance in the body are:
Hormone therapy
Taking certain medications
Cancer treatment, for example, chemotherapy
Tumors
Stress
Eating disorders
Trauma
There are also disease conditions that are initially the result of a hormone imbalance, but in turn can exacerbate it and cause other hormones to become imbalanced. These are:
Diabetes of both types
Hypofunction of the thyroid gland
Hyperfunction of the thyroid gland
Hyperfunctioning thyroid nodules
Cushing's syndrome
Addison's disease
The good news is that conditions in which hormones are out of balance can be managed so that they do not interfere with quality of life, and in some cases can be completely cured. But before deciding what is the right treatment according to the condition it is necessary to do the necessary research to find out which hormones and the work of which glands are affected, to what extent.
The most common tests to identify hormone imbalances in the body are:
Blood tests - most of the hormones and their increased or decreased numbers can be detected by blood tests
Examination by a gynaecologist - it is of utmost importance for ladies to visit a gynaecologist at least once a year to have a pap smear taken
Ultrasound examination
Biopsy
Thyroid scanner
X-ray
Sperm count test
Hormones are responsible for all functions in our body, and if they are out of balance - the body suffers. Symptoms of hormones not being in balance can vary and be different. To prevent a number of conditions from worsening, it is important to consult your doctor regularly.
