What Are The Most Common Endocrine Disorders
There are many different types of endocrine disorders. Many of the most common disorders relate to improper functioning of the pancreas, thyroid, adrenal and pituitary glands. In the United States, the most common endocrine disorder is diabetes. More than 29 million Americans have diabetes, but nearly one-third are unaware that they have it.
Other endocrine disorders include:
Dr Oz: What Is Your Hormone Type
Hormones control everything in our bodies but there are more than just a few kinds of hormones. Dr. Oz said once you know what type of hormones you have, you can take control of your body and lose all that extra weight, or keep off the extra weight you already lost, without much of a struggle. Keep reading to find out how you can figure out your hormone type.
Menopause: Estrogen And Progesterone Deficient
Both estrogen and progesterone levels drop off, sometimes suddenly, during menopause. The absence of these two hormones that have been relatively high your entire life allows other hormones to manifest in ways they may never have.
For one thing, you can have irrational reactions to stress. Youve heard of stress eating. And to make things worse, you become more insulin-resistant. Even if you dont overeat, you can gain weight much more easily.
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When To Test Cortisol
We cant always get a full picture of whats going on with your hormones without looking at the adrenals, which produce the stress hormone cortisol.
Cortisol is involved in your stress response, hair loss, blood sugar regulation and more. In time of stress, the body will shift into preferentially making cortisol over progesterone. Read more about the importance of cortisol here.
Cortisol blood tests are best performed in the morning, along with Adrenocorticotropic hormone , because this is when levels are highest. ACTH is produced in the pituitary gland and helps your adrenals to function. For a more comprehensive picture of adrenal function, a 4-point salivary or urinary cortisol is best. Cortisol can be tested at any time of the month.
Menopause Type : In Transition
Type 5s, you are women of mystery!
For the past four weeks, weâve been defining some of the key stages of the perimenopause-to-menopause journey, helping women locate themselves on the path and take steps to take control of their health. Last week, we took on Type 4.
This week is all about our Type 5s, or as we like to call them, our âWomen of Mysteryâ!
Different factors can make it difficult to pinpoint where you are in your menopause journey. Perhaps you take hormonal birth control pills or have a hormonal IUD. Or youâve had a hysterectomy that removed your uterus but left one or both ovaries . An ablation to stop heavy period flows or medications for certain hormonal cancers can also confuse the picture.
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Metabolic Renewal Hormone Type : Hormone Overload Estrogen Dominant
Estrogen dominance is exactly what it sounds like, an excess of estrogen in relation to your levels of progesterone. This can occur naturally, or as a result of stress, illness, or environmental toxins.
Regardless of the cause, the outcome is the same, extended periods of estrogen dominance can cause fat gain, heavy periods, endometriosis, PCOS, fibroids, and more.
Type : Metabolic Sputter Metabolism
Most of the women who end up in this category are perimenopausal. Theyre just starting the transition into menopause, in other words. At this time, many women have very high or fluctuating levels of estrogen and low progesterone.
The fluctuation of estrogen causes the metabolic rate to jump all over the map. It can be a real challenge to eat healthy because your body is continually guessing.
Exercise is important for everyone, but it is crucial not to overdo it here. The idea is to keep cortisol low because any change in physical activity will trigger a flood of this hormone. And thats bad because it makes your body want to prepare for a stressful situation, like famine.
Its impossible to maintain a healthy body in this state. You have to work with your hormones. Gentle movement burns calories speeds up your metabolism and makes you feel better and look good without stressing you too much.
Expect plenty of light intensity interval training. LIIT is gentle, and there are plenty of breaks in the routines. Thats important because more breaks allow you to push harder when you need to.
Any good personal trainer will tell you that breaks are an essential part of any workout. Even professional bodybuilders take several breaks during their daily exercise routines.
The dietary focus of this group is fiber and protein. Too many carbs only add to the erratic jumps and drops of estrogen.
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Possible Causes Of Abnormally Low Cortisol Levels
Addisons disease
Also called primary adrenal insufficiency, this is a condition that occurs when the adrenal glands are damaged and become unable to produce enough cortisol and/or other stress hormones. This is most often caused by auto-immune activity, where the immune system attacks the bodys own tissues. Other potential causes include long-term use of steroid medications, certain blood thinners, tumors and infections.
Problems with the pituitary gland
Low cortisol levels can be caused by the pituitary gland failing to release enough ACTH. This latter is important to trigger adequate amounts of cortisol to be released from the adrenal glands. This is typically referred to as secondary adrenal insufficiency, or hypopituitarism and, can be caused by trauma to the pituitary gland, brain tumors, pituitary gland tumors, stroke, autoimmune diseases and tuberculosis, among many other possible causes.
What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of Hormonal Imbalance
Because your body makes over 50 different hormones all of which contribute to important bodily functions you could experience several different symptoms depending on which hormonal imbalance you have.
Its important to know that many of the following symptoms could be caused by other conditions, not just from a hormonal imbalance. If you ever notice a change in your day-to-day health and are experiencing new, persistent symptoms, its important to talk to your healthcare provider no matter what you think the cause might be.
Hormone imbalance symptoms that affect your metabolism
Common hormonal imbalances include those that affect your metabolism. Your metabolism consists of the chemical reactions in your bodys cells that change the food you eat into energy. Many different hormones and processes are involved in metabolism.
Symptoms of hormonal imbalances that affect your metabolism include:
- Slow heartbeat or rapid heartbeat .
- Thin, warm and moist skin.
- Irregular body fat distribution.
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How Do I Know If I Have A Hormone Imbalance
The following list of common complaints can often be helped or eliminated by improving hormone health. The challenge is often finding out the starting place of your hormone imbalance to ensure you are treating the root of the problem rather than just the symptoms. And thats where hormone testing comes in.
- Menstrual irregularities
- Poor immune function
When assessing a hormone imbalance, its important to evaluate the endocrine system as a whole. This is because the endocrine system is complex and hormones and their actions are intricately linked this means that hormone imbalances originating from different areas can cause the same symptom.
How Can I Prevent A Hormonal Imbalance
While many hormonal imbalances arent preventable, there are certain things you can do to optimize your overall health, which could help keep your hormones balanced, including:
- Maintaining a healthy weight.
- Managing your chronic health conditions well .
- Quitting smoking or using tobacco products, if you smoke.
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Ready To Get A Free Analysis
Answer 20 simple questions to discover what hormone type you are.
The test is 100% free, and youll not hit a paywall at the end. Plus, we do not require your email address to reveal the results.
We also recommend taking the metabolic test next. It examines your metabolism, which might be affecting your current hormone type.
Disclaimer
The hormone-type quiz is not a clinical diagnosis. Do not attempt self-prescription based on the results.
Which Tests Are Best For Hormonal Imbalance
Most companies that offer hormone test kits have several options. If you suspect a specific hormone imbalance, like a thyroid issue, you can order a test kit that focuses on those hormones. Otherwise, most companies offer a comprehensive test option that will check the levels of most or all of your major hormone types.
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Does The Hormone Diet Work
Generally, the hormone diet recommended in this book is not bad nutritional advice. But the key here is that any potential weight loss will probably be from the change in calorie intake, rather than an effect on your hormones.
Weight loss is achieved by creating a calorie deficit, not by resetting your hormone balance. Despite what advocates of the hormone diet might claim, hormonal imbalances are usually the result of a more serious underlying health condition, such as diabetes or hyperthyroidism , which couldnt simply be fixed through diet alone, and would require medical treatment.
Currently, there is no viable theory to demonstrate that a person can reset their hormones to influence fat loss. There is also no peer-reviewed research in a major journal that has specifically studied the hormone diet and its effects. But there might be a simple explanation for why people think the hormone diet works: it helps to create a calorie deficit through improved nutritional habits and exercise, which will probably result in weight loss.
Ultimately, anyone that wants to lose weight or body fat should focus on creating a calorie deficit. How a person creates this calorie deficit may vary from person to person, and might even include following popular diet plans like keto or intermittent fasting. However, the best approach is whichever someone finds the most compatible with their lifestyle.
What About Yoga And Pilates
If HIIT just isnt your thing, there are other options that have also been shown to improve hormonal balance. One new study found that women who worked out for 12 weeks developed better balance, flexibility, muscle strength, and estrogen levels. The women worked out for 60 minutes per day three times per week doing yoga and light dance. The yoga was doubly beneficial as it is both a physical exercise and a proven stress reducer technique.
Dr. Akhunji also recommends Pilates for stress reduction, flexibility, and mood improvement. One study found that after eight weeks of a Pilates exercise program, women saw a decrease in menopausal symptoms caused by changing hormones. Pilates is also the only type of exercises that directly targets your pelvic floor, which can be an added benefit for women in perimenopause and .
Beyond any specific workout routine, aim to walk daily and spend as little time as possible being sedentary. Try to be mindful of how often you move. A few simple ways to add movement include doing squats during commercials, taking the stairs, and getting up every half hour or so when you’re working in a sitting position.
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How To Determine Types Of Enzyme Inhibition
Inhibition are caused by effects of molecules that are a substrate and decrease rates of enzymes. Inhibition of enzymes is normal and organisms will use inhibitor molecules to regulate enzymes. Inhibition can be caused by several mechanisms. It is possible to determine what type of inhibition is caused by certain inhibitor molecules. Using Michael-Menton kinetics and by mixing the enzyme with the substrate and without any inhibitor we can identify a standard velocity curve for the enzyme. After we know the rate of an enzyme without inhibition we can add the inhibitor and measure the change in rate with different concentrations of inhibitors. The easiest way to determine the type of inhibitor would be to use a double reciprocal or Lineweaver Burk Plot. Because this plot is a double reciprocal the closer to the origin the greater the velocity and substrate concentration. From here you would continue to measure the rate of the enzyme now with a specific concentration of inhibitor and titer in substrate. There would be a total of four different types of plots that could be recognized to determine the type of inhibition.
The final type if reversible inhibitor is actually just a special case of mixed inhibitor called non-competitive. This is due to the a being equal to a from mixed inhibitors.
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How Do Hormone Tests Work
The simplicity of at-home hormone tests makes them an easy, effective option. After ordering your test, a box will arrive with thorough instructions to collect testing samples.
Depending on the test selected, youll be asked to take a urine sample or blood sample using a finger pricking tool.
Once you finish your test, youll ship your results to a lab for review. Results are typically provided online between 2 and 5 business days after the samples reach the lab.
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Pear Shape Too Much Estrogen
Extra weight in the hips and thighs indicates you have too much estrogen. You can have an excess of estrogen for a lot of reasons estrogen-mimicking chemicals in your environment, perimenopause, post-baby hormone fluctuations, long-term birth control use, low progesterone production, sluggish liver, slow digestionthe list goes on.
If you have other symptoms of excess estrogen like acne, PMS, breast tenderness, mood problems, or in men, gynecomastia, emotional outbursts, acne, or a pear shape, heres where to go from here.
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Type : Hormone Overdrive Metabolism
The critical difference between this type and type one is that its estrogen-dominant. You may be thinking that means that its easy to maintain a healthy weight and slim build, but theres a lot more to it than that. Your body will be used to the estrogen throughout your cycle.
The interesting thing here is this is sometimes not a natural state. All of that extra estrogen may actually be environmental toxins that mimic estrogen in the body.
Certain plastics are well-known to be full of these toxins. But it doesnt matter whether all this extra estrogen is naturally occurring or artificial. Managing your estrogen surplus is key to staying fit.
Metabolic Renewal exercises are an excellent way to encourage an optimal balance of estrogen and other hormones. You can at least override the effects that an imbalance has on your metabolism.
Remember that whatever hormone profile you have now isnt necessarily the one youll have forever. Good metabolism-changing programs like those in the Metabolic X family can ease you into a hormone type that allows you to shed fat much more straightforwardly.
What cant be changed can be dealt with. This type of program works with your hormones, which is one area where so many others fail.
At this point on the Metabolic Roadmap, relatively gentle exercise is prescribed. Think medium-intensity interval training and smooth yoga-like movements.
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How And Why Do Men And Women Experience Hormonal Imbalances Differently
Hormones impact men and women differently, particularly when you’re dealing with those specific to the reproductive system. Men and women also go through different developmental stages. Women will experience hormonal changes with their menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and menopause, which men do not experience. Women may experience hormonal imbalances that present through:
- Vaginal dryness or discomfort
- Erectile dysfunction
What Are Female Hormones
Estrogen and progesterone are the primary sex hormones in females. Most of the body’s supply of these hormones is produced by the ovaries, although small amounts are supplied by other tissues in the body. While best known for their primary function of regulating the reproductive system, female hormones also play a role in other aspects of women’s health, including cardiac function, metabolism, bone health, skin thickness and elasticity, urinary tract health, emotional health and brain function, among others.
Cortisol and the thyroid hormone can become imbalanced for various reasons and affect both men and women. Ensuring a healthy profile means keeping abreast of your body’s levels. A comprehensive hormone test can provide much needed insight.
The three primary sex hormones in women are estrogen, progesterone and testosterone.
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Female Hormone Imbalance: What Is It
Hormonal imbalance occurs when the amount of estrogen, progesterone or both is altered, disturbing the delicate balance between these powerful hormones. Imbalances in these vital female hormones can stem from a number of underlying causes. The most common cause is perimenopause, the transitional phase leading up to menopause, during which the production of estrogens and progesterone begin to decline. Other common causes of hormonal imbalance include pregnancy, endocrine disorders, certain drugs, especially oral contraceptives, drugs used in hormone replacement therapy and cancer medications, and lifestyle factors that include stress, overweight or obesity, poor diet, sleep deprivation and lack of exercise.
Men And Estrogen: What You Need To Know
Estrogen is known primarily as a female hormone that helps regulate menstrual cycles, yet the hormone plays a bigger role in mens health than most people realize. Men produce small amounts of estrogen as part of their normal functioning male reproductive system, along with the male hormone testosterone. As they age, less testosterone is produced.
Yet questions are beginning to emerge as to what specific part estrogen plays in male development, especially as a man ages. Once largely ignored, estrogen levels in men are now under the microscope as researchers are trying to determine this hormone’s role in men and how it affects the body’s different hormone levels.
A decrease in estrogen, for example, may be a factor in fat accumulation in men as well as women. One endocrinologist at Harvard Medical School reported in a 2013 study that some of the symptoms of testosterone deficiency in males, including a decline in libido, were at least partially caused by lower estrogen production.
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