Our bodies are sensitive. When one small hormone goes slightly off the grid or shows up too often, it can throw your body completely out of whack. Although some hormones constantly fluctuate throughout the month, especially in women, there are some symptoms that are worth paying attention to.
1. Anxiety and depression
Many different hormone imbalances cause anxiety and depression. These mood disorders are often consequences of insomnia, which is also a symptom of a hormone imbalance.
The most common cause of anxiety and depression from endocrine problems are low levels of estrogen, growth hormone and thyroid hormone.
2. Weight changes
If you suddenly gain weight like there is no tomorrow or your jeans are suddenly falling off, you may have an imbalance of hormones in your body.
Hyperthyroidism (high levels of thyroid hormone) causes extreme weight loss. Hypothyroidism and growth hormone deficiency cause unexplained weight gain. Insulin intolerance and increased cortisol production lead to cravings and can make fat stick around even with excessive exercise.
3. Persistent fatigue
If you are constantly exhausted and you have no idea why, you may want to get your thyroid or pituitary gland tested.
Hypothyroidism can make your body feel like you’ve run a marathon. Your pituitary gland, a tiny pea-sized gland in your brain, can also make you feel sleepy and weak from low levels of hormone production.
4. Digestive problems
If you are beginning to experience frequent bouts of indigestion, bloating, vomiting or diarrhea, your cortisol levels could be out of balance. Digestion problems also occur during menopause because of low estrogen levels.
Cortisol and estrogen play off one another, so when one is out of whack, the other may suffer as well.
5. Memory loss
Are you starting to be forgetful? Like often misplacing your keys or forgetting the time for your dentist appointment?
If you have experienced a lot of stress recently, your cortisol hormone may be on the high side. Cortisol production is a necessity, but when it is constantly at a high level, your body will constantly be in fight-or-flight mode. This impairs your ability to sleep, which, in turn, affects your memory.
6. Sleep disorders
Insomnia is a common side effect of many different hormone imbalances because depression and anxiety go hand in hand with insomnia.
Like mentioned above, too much cortisol production makes it difficult to settle into sleep. Lowered estrogen levels can also impair your ability to fall and stay asleep.
7. Acne
If you are well past the teenage years yet you continue to suffer from deep cystic acne, you may have excess testosterone production.
Testosterone stimulates oil production that clogs pores. Both men and women can suffer from too much testosterone in their bodies.
8. Sensitivity to heat or cold
Hot flashes affect most women who suffer from menopause. Increased cortisol production can also cause excessive sweating.
Those who suffer from hypothyroidism may experience intolerance to cold temperatures and may find themselves unable to get warm throughout most of the day.
9. Migraines
Headaches have been linked to estrogen levels. A rapid decline in estrogen levels can cause massive headaches and pain. So, migraines are a common and irritating symptom of menopause.
10. Hair loss
Hair loss is much more common among males with plummeting testosterone levels as they age, but it can also affect women. Hypothyroidism can also be a culprit of hair loss. Low thyroid hormone can leave your hair feeling brittle, dry and thin.
So, if you are noticing more stray hairs in your brush or in the shower than normal, you may want to get a blood test.
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