The following are some symptoms and diseases related to hormonal imbalance.
Hormonal imbalances lead to different diseases in the human body. These are the chemicals that regulate many body functions. It is crucial to have a balanced amount of these chemicals in the body. Low or excessive levels of these hormones may lead to many other symptoms and diseases.
Many hormones depend upon the physiological functions of the body and vice versa. For example, in the case of disturbed sleep, stress hormones, melatonin, and hormones of the endocrine system get altered, which further lead to many other symptoms.
Sleep disturbance: (Hormonal imbalances and diseases)
A proper night’s sleep is essential in everyday life. According to experts, 7-8 hours/of sleep is necessary for the human body and body systems to work properly. This is due to an imbalance in hormones responsible for the sleep cycle. Oversleeping or undersleeping may lead to many physical and psychological changes in the body.
The hormone known as melatonin is responsible for a proper sleep cycle. If the level of melatonin is not enough in the blood, a person will suffer from sleep deprivation.
How can you balance your melatonin level?
Getting light: Hormonal imbalances and diseases
Getting light early in the morning hours, during the daytime, can increase melatonin levels in the body.
Avoiding light: (Hormonal imbalances and diseases)
Avoid light at least one hour before bedtime, which can increase melatonin levels in the body.
Avoid caffeine and alcohol:
Do not take alcohol and caffeine at least 1-2 hours before bedtime.
Have a fixed routine for bedtime:
As in this busy world, it is difficult to manage time but try to sleep at the same time every night. It will keep the levels of melatonin balanced.
Altered metabolism:
What is metabolism?
Metabolism is the breakdown of food and the production of energy to carry out different body functions.
How do hormones affect metabolism?
Hormones play an important role in regulating metabolism in our bodies. In case of hormonal imbalance, the process of metabolism alters; there are two options: either the metabolism will be too fast or too slow. This whole process depends upon hormonal levels in the body. Hormones that are responsible for metabolism are
Thyroid hormones
These hormones control the body’s basal metabolic rate. These hormones are T4 (thyroxin) and T3 (triiodothyronine), which are produced by the thyroid gland. Furthermore, both hormones are controlled by another hormone known as TSH, which is produced by the pituitary gland.
In case of alteration in the levels of these hormones, the body’s metabolism (the breakdown) process will be fast or slow. This is the reason people with hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism exhibit opposite symptoms.
What are the symptoms of slow metabolism?
A person will exhibit the following symptoms in case of slow metabolism.
- Feeling lethargic (due to less energy production)
- Feeling cold (due to decreased heat production by the cells)
- Slow heart rate
- Craving for sugary food, as the sugars cannot enter cells due to slow breakdown
- Weight gain: Food is not converted into energy, resulting in fat deposition in the body.
symptoms when the body’s metabolism is fast:
- Frequent feeling for eating (severe hunger)
- Weight gain
- Hyperthermia (increased heat production
- Weight loss (if intake is less than nutrient consumption)
Insulin: (Hormonal imbalances and diseases)
Insulin is another hormone produced by the pancreas. The hormone insulin is responsible for the regulation of glucose in the blood. It also helps prevent low blood glucose levels and high glucose levels. Alteration in the levels of insulin leads to life-threatening high and low glucose levels.
How to control your insulin levels?
Insulin levels mainly depend upon your lifestyle modifications, such as the following:
Dietary intake: (Hormonal imbalances and diseases)
Insulin production in a healthy person is directly proportional to their food intake. Keeping a balanced diet will help in balancing insulin levels in the blood. This may include a reduction in carbohydrate intake; avoid sugary and large meals, etc. Insulin production in a healthy individual depends upon the level of glucose in the blood; the higher the glucose level, the higher the insulin production by the pancreas.
So, it is necessary to keep a balanced diet and avoid foods high in sugar and carbohydrates. This may trigger the insulin production.
Medication effects:
Besides diet, there are some medications, such as corticosteroids, which increase sugar levels in the blood as a side effect. To control such high sugar levels artificial insulin is needed to lower the high sugar levels.
Impact of stress on insulin:
Persistent stress and anxiety directly affect insulin functioning. While experiencing stress, the body releases some hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline, which interfere with insulin functioning. As a result, glucose levels become uncontrolled.
Therefore, it is necessary to manage your stress and anxiety to control your sugar level, especially if you are diabetic, to prevent further complications. Such as injury to the kidneys, heart attack, or stroke.
Weight Management:
Maintaining a healthy weight also plays an important role in balancing insulin levels. Daily exercise and calorie consumption are vital to a normal, healthy life. All these factors help in maintaining insulin levels in the blood.
Depression: (Hormonal imbalances and diseases)
low mood or depression is associated with lower amounts of mood-elevating hormones in the body. In our body, serotonin plays an important role in mood regulation. Serotonin is also called the happy hormone. Lower levels of serotonin can lead to low mood or depression.
How to balance the happy hormone (serotonin) in your body?
Impact of hormones on female health:
Female-specific hormones, such as estrogen and progesterone, play a vital role in maintaining physical processes, including irregular bleeding in females, which is often associated with altered levels of these hormones. Lower levels of these hormones may lead to bone health issues, such as osteoporosis, dry skin, vaginal dryness, irregular menstrual cycle, low sex drive, and low mood or depression.
How to control your estrogen and progesterone?
Estrogen and progesterone can be corrected by simple ways as follows:
Have proper 8 hours of sleep:
Sleep disturbance leads to hormonal imbalance. Proper sleep keeps the level in a normal range. So, making a fixed schedule for your bedtime can have a great impact on hormonal levels.
Exercise daily:
Daily 30-minute exercise helps you physically and mentally fit. Keeping a healthy schedule for exercise can have a great impact on hormonal levels.
Manage your stress:
Stress and anxiety affect hormonal levels. Effectively managing your stress level can normalize the hormone levels in your body. Always keep yourself positive by practicing stress-relieving methods.
Weight gain:
Hormonal imbalance is also related to weight gain; effective weight management is crucial to keep hormone levels in a normal range.
So, hormones play an important and crucial role in maintaining all specific functions and help in regulating different processes. It is necessary to keep the levels in the normal range. In case of disturbance in the level, the body starts reacting oppositely. So, keeping a healthy diet, exercising, proper sleep, and good stress management tips will help in keeping the hormonal levels in a proper required range.
