Table of Contents
DESCRIPTION
- Hormonal imbalances occur when there is too much or too little hormone present in the bloodstream.
 - Hormones have an essential role in the body, even small hormonal imbalances can cause side effects throughout the body.
 - These hormones are produced by glands present in the endocrine system.
 - Hormones travel through the bloodstream to the tissues and organs, pass the messages that tell the organs what to do and when to do it.
 - These are important to regulating bodily processes, so little imbalance in hormones can affect a wide range of bodily functions.
 
Hormones help to regulate:
- Metabolism and appetite
 - Heart rate
 - Sleep cycles
 - Reproductive cycles and sexual function
 - General growth and development
 - Mood and stress levels
 - Body temperature
 
- Men and women can be affected by the imbalances of insulin, growth hormones, steroids and adrenaline.
 - Women experience imbalances in estrogen and progesterone levels, while men experience imbalances in testosterone levels.
 
Signs or symptoms of a hormonal imbalance
- Common hormonal conditions that affecting both men and women could cause any of the following signs or symptoms:
 - Weight gain
 - A hump of fat between the shoulders
 - Unexplained, and sudden weight loss,
 - Fatigue
 - Muscle weakness,
 - Muscle aches, tenderness, and stiffness,
 - Pain, stiffness, or swelling in your joints,
 - Increased or decreased heart rate
 - Sweating
 - Increased sensitivity to cold or heat,
 - Constipation or more frequents bowel movements,
 - Frequent urination,
 - Increased hunger,
 - Decreased sex drive,
 - Depression,
 - Nervousness, anxiety, or irritability,
 - Blurred vision,
 - Infertility,
 - Thinning of hairs, brittle hair,
 - Dry skin,
 - Puffy face,
 - Rounded face,
 - Purple or pink stretch marks
 - Keep in mind that these symptoms are nonspecific, and having them doesn’t necessarily mean that you have a hormonal imbalance.
 
Signs and symptoms in females
- For females of reproductive age, the most common hormonal imbalance seen is polycystic ovarian disorder.
 - The normal hormonal cycle also changes during puberty, pregnancy, breastfeeding, and menopause.
 
Symptoms of a hormonal imbalance include:
- Heavy or irregular periods, including missed periods, stop periods, or frequent periods.
 - Hirsutism or excessive hair on the face, chin, or other parts of the body
 - Acne on the face, chest, or upper back
 - Hair loss
 - Darkening of the skin along neck creases, groin, and underneath of breasts
 - Skin tags
 - Vaginal dryness
 - Vaginal atrophy
 - Pain during sex
 - Night sweats
 - Headaches
 
Signs or symptoms in males
- Testosterone plays an important role in male development. If not producing enough testosterone, it can cause a variety of symptoms.
 - Gynecomastia
 - Breast tenderness
 - Erectile dysfunction
 - Decrease in beard growth and body hair growth
 - Loss of muscle mass
 - Loss of bone mass, otherwise known as osteoporosis
 - Difficulty concentrating
 - Hot flashes
 
Signs or symptoms in children
- Both girls and boys producing sex hormones during puberty.
 - Many children with delayed puberty will go on to experience normal puberty, but some man’s and women’s production of testosterone and estrogen are inhibited such a condition is known as hypogonadism.
 
Boys with hypogonadism may experience:
- Lack of muscle mass development
 - A voice that doesn’t deepen
 - Body hair that grows sparsely
 - Impaired penis and testicular growth
 - Gynecomastia
 
For girls with hypogonadism:
- Menstruation doesn’t begin
 - Breast tissue doesn’t develop
 - The growth rate doesn’t increase
 
Causes of a hormonal imbalance
- There are many causes for hormonal imbalance. Causes are different depending on which hormones or glands are affected. Common causes of hormonal imbalance include:
 - Hormone therapy
 - Medications
 - Cancer treatments such as chemotherapy
 - Tumors, whether cancerous or benign
 - Pituitary tumors
 - Eating disorders
 - Stress
 - Injury or trauma
 - The conditions can also lead to further hormonal imbalances:
 - Diabetes type 1 or type 2
 - Diabetes insipidus
 - Hypothyroidism
 - Hyperthyroidism
 - Hyper functioning thyroid nodules
 - Thyroiditis
 - Hypogonadism
 - Cushion syndrome or high levels of cortisol
 - Congenital adrenal hyperplasia causes low levels of cortisol and aldosterone
 - Addison’s disease
 
HOW CAN BALANCE THESE HORMONES NATURALLY
Get enough sleep
- Sleep is the most important factor for hormonal balance. Some hormone levels may rise and fall throughout the day in response to issues such as the quality of sleep.
 - The adverse effects of sleep disturbance on hormones may contribute to:
 
- Obesity
 - Diabetes
 - Problems with appetite
 - Regularly getting a full 6- 8 sleep, undisturbed sleep, and night rest may help the body to regulate hormone levels.
 
Avoid too much light at night
- Exposure to blue light, such as from cell phones or computer screens, can interrupt the sleep cycle.
 - Study shows that exposure to any bright artificial lighting at night may confuse the body, causing it to suppress the hormone melatonin, which can negatively affect many functions.
 - Avoiding artificial lights may help to regulate hormones and restore a natural body’s clock.
 
Manage stress
- There is a link between stress, the endocrine system, and hormone levels.
 - Stress leads to an increase in adrenaline and cortisol hormones.
 - If levels of these hormones are too high, it can impair the overall balance and contribute to factors such as obesity, changes in mood, and cardiovascular issues.
 - It is important to find ways to reduce stress simply by listening to music reduces stress, especially if the person is intending to relax.
 
Exercise
- Regular exercise may prevent overeating and hormonal imbalance. A study shows that short exercise sessions regulate hormones that control appetite.
 
Avoid sugars
- Sugar plays a role in issues such as metabolic disease and insulin resistance. Avoid sugar from the diet helps to keeps the hormone in level including insulin.
 
Eat lots of fiber
- Fiber plays an important role in gut health and regulates hormones such as insulin.
 

 








