Hormones are produced by our endocrine glands: adrenals, female or male reproductive system, pancreas, and thyroid. They communicate messages throughout the body, perform essential functions, and relay important warnings. This means that they ensure things run smoothly, and that your rhythms keep in sync.

Hormones can impact your appetite, heart rate, metabolism, mood, reproduction, and sleep patterns. There are many things which can challenge your endocrine system, which disrupts hormone balance and function in turn. The longer a system is “out of order”, the longer and harder it can take for it to resume harmony. Being able to identify and correct the causes of hormonal imbalance at an early point can help in the maintenance of your health alongside preventing the onset of chronic diseases.

Potential causes of a hormonal imbalance include:

– Birth control or hormonal replacement
– Chronic stress
– Cushing syndrome
– Diabetes
– Exposure to endocrine disruptors
– Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid)
– Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid)
– Poor diet
– Here are possible signs of hormonal imbalance to watch out for.

Contrary to popular belief, it is not all in your head. Almost 18 percent of Americans have been found to suffer from an anxiety-related disorder; another 7 percent suffers from a major depressive disorder every year. Females are generally at a higher risk because estrogen levels fluctuate during their menstrual cycles, menopause, or pregnancy, all of which are associated with worsening depression.

A study on the way estrogen receptors affect the brain finds that estrogen is able to calm the fear response and anxiety amongst humans and rodents alike. Men who have lower levels of testosterone are far more prone to developing major depressive disorder or anxiety, compared to the ones who have normal levels.

Working too hard and eating too little are the usual causes of people’s struggles with weight loss and maintenance. The body processes the hard work as stress, and when it is stressed, it goes into survival mode, which then produces cortisol. Chronic stress means constantly high cortisol levels, and your body will hold on to fat as a form of energy in an effort to protect itself from whatever danger it senses. There are many medical weight loss options in Virginia Beach that consider hormone levels amidst treatment planning.

Being tired is a default setting for everyone. Recovery shouldn’t be too hard, though, with the right amount of hydration, rest, and a healthy diet. If you are taking care of yourself yet still feel exhausted, or just can’t seem to bounce back to your best self, look into getting your hormone levels evaluated extensively.

There are several major symptoms that can help determine if you have hormonal imbalance. Natural ways to balance your hormones can certainly move things along for things to get back to normal. However, it is always best to seek the advice of a medical professional to know if you have hormonal imbalance so you can have the right treatment plan for your condition.

Are you in need of hormone replacement therapy in Chesapeake VA? Assure Wellness is here for you! We are a patient-centered, whole person group medical/wellness practice.