Hormonal Imbalances

Hormonal imbalances occur when there is too much or too little of a hormone in the bloodstream. Because of their essential role in the body, even small hormonal imbalances can cause side effects throughout the body.
~Dr. Raghav Thukral

Hormones are chemicals that are produced by glands in the endocrine system. Hormones travel through the bloodstream to the tissues and organs, delivering messages that tell the organs what to do and when to do it.

Hormones are important for regulating most major bodily processes, so a hormonal imbalance 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 alike can be affected by imbalances in insulin, steroids, growth hormones, and adrenaline.

Women may also experience imbalances in estrogen and progesterone levels, while men are more likely to experience imbalances in testosterone levels.

Symptoms

The symptoms of a hormonal imbalance depend on which glands and hormones are affected.Symptoms associated with the more common causes of hormonal imbalances include:

• Unexplained weight gain or weight loss
• Unexplained or excessive sweating
• Difficulty sleeping
• Changes in sensitivity to cold and heat
• Very dry skin or skin rashes
• Changes in blood pressure
• Changes in heart rate
• Brittle or weak bones
• Changes in blood sugar concentration
• Irritability and anxiety
• Unexplained and long-term fatigue
• Increased thirst
• Depression
• Headaches
• Needing to go to the bathroom more or less than usual
• Bloating
• Changes in appetite
• Reduced sex drive
• Thinning, brittle hair
• Infertility
• Puffy face
• Blurred vision
• A bulge in the neck
• Breast tenderness
• Deepening of the voice in females

Causes

Everyone will experience natural periods of hormonal imbalance or fluctuations at particular points in their life.

But hormonal imbalances can also occur when the endocrine glands are not functioning properly.

Endocrine glands are specialized cells that produce, store, and release hormones into the blood. There are several endocrine glands located throughout the body that control different organs, including the:

• Adrenal glands
• Gonads (testis and ovaries)
• Pineal gland
• Pituitary gland
• Hypothalamus gland
• Thyroid and parathyroid glands
• Pancreatic islets

Several medical conditions are known to impact some, or several, of the endocrine glands. Certain lifestyle habits and environmental factors may also play a role in hormonal imbalances.Causes of hormonal imbalances include:

• Chronic or extreme stress
• Type 1 and type 2 diabetes
• Hyperglycemia (overproduction of glucagon)
• Hypoglycemia (more insulin produced than there is glucose in the blood)
• Underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism)
• Overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism)
• Over- or underproduction of the parathyroid hormone
• Poor diet and nutrition
• Being overweight
• Hormonal replacement or birth control medications
• Abuse of anabolic steroid medications
• Solitary thyroid nodules
• Pituitary tumors
• Cushing’s syndrome (high levels of the hormone cortisol)
• Addison’s disease (low levels of cortisol and aldosterone)
• Benign tumors and cysts (fluid-filled sacks) that affect the endocrine glands
• Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (low levels of cortisol)
• Endocrine gland injury
• Severe allergic reactions or infections
• Cancers that involve endocrine glands
• Chemotherapy and radiation therapy
• Iodine deficiency (goiters)
• Hereditary pancreatitis
• Turner syndrome (females with only one functioning X chromosome)
• Prader-Willi syndrome
• Anorexia
• Phytoestrogens, naturally-occurring plant estrogens found in soy products
• Exposure to toxins, pollutants, and endocrine disrupting chemicals, including pesticides and herbicides