Hormones are powerful chemicals, which can significantly change your health and appearance.
They're normally produced by different glands, located all over the body. Hormones play an important role in regulation of your mood, metabolism, menstrual cycle, fertility, mental function etc. That's why even slight shifts in hormonal balance may cause noticeable symptoms and disturb your well-being.
Actually levels of hormones normally fluctuate during your life, depending on the age, habits, diet, environment and medicines you regularly take in.
Specialists say that up to 80% of women experience any type of hormonal imbalance in the course of their lives.
The problems may occur because of autoimmune disorders (when your immune system destroys your own tissues by mistake), inflammation or as a side effect of certain drugs.
How can you recognize that you belong to the statistic majority?
Here are the signs of hormonal imbalance, your body can send to you:
#1 Changes in menstrual cycle – it's maybe one of the most common signs of hormonal abnormalities. Skipping periods or having heavy menstrual bleeding usually means that something is wrong with your reproductive hormones or thyroid hormones.
#2 Acne – excessive production of male hormone testosterone may be a culprit of your papules, cysts, whiteheads and blackheads, which don't go away for a long time.
#3 Memory trouble – people with hypothyroidism often suffer from forgetfulness and loss of concentration. By the way, imbalance of estrogen and progesterone can also cause memory fogginess.
#4 Abdominal bloating – too high or too low levels of female sex hormones may lead to gassiness, belching, sense of heaviness and tightness in your belly.
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#5 Insomnia – it was found that progesterone can make an influence on the duration and quality of your sleep. That's why you may find it difficult to fall asleep, if have too few progesterone.
#6 Weight changes – weight gain is always a frustrative event for women. We're more likely to accumulate fat on the waist during menopause, when estrogen levels are dramatically declined. Other possible causes (no of gaining weight is insufficient production of thyroid hormones. On the other hand, overactive thyroid gland usually manifests in unintentional weight loss.
#7 Reduced sex drive – lack of sexual interest may be a sign of decreased estrogen levels. Women in menopause often complain of vagynal dryness, which can make intercourses really painful. Medical professionals say that improper function of the thyroid gland may also result in low libido.
#8 Mood swings – most of us are familiar with mood swings, which appear several days before periods. The reason is that estrogen effects on the brain substances serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine. If something goes wrong in hormonal balance, you may feel depressed and anxious without any reason.
#9 Chronic fatigue – feeling tired at the end of stressful day is completely normal. But if your fatigue doesn't leave you after rest and sleep, you need to examine your thyroid gland. Hypothyroidism is rather common reason of permanent exhaustion and lack of energy.
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The BetterMe Team wants you and those close to you to live a healthy, happy life! Your health is a valuable thing; look after your body and your mind so that you can live your life to the fullest – Remember you only get one!
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