Can Hormone Imbalance Cause Anxiety
Yes, certain hormonal imbalances can cause anxiety, including:
- Hyperthyroidism: If you have hyperthyroidism, it means your body has too much thyroid hormone. Excess thyroid hormone speeds up your metabolism. This can cause anxiety, in addition to unusual nervousness, restlessness and irritability.
- Cushings syndrome: While its not as common of a symptom, Cushings syndrome can cause anxiety, as well as depression and irritability.
- Adult-onset growth hormone deficiency: Adults with growth hormone deficiency often report having anxiety and/or depression.
Several other conditions and factors can cause anxiety. Its important to talk to your healthcare provider if youre experiencing anxiety.
When To See A Doctor
When thinking about whether you should see a doctor about your hormones, change should be the main focus, says Dr. Dobs. If you always had a little bit of hair on your face and youre suddenly noticing new hair growth out of nowhere, for example, it could signal a hormone change or imbalance. If you always had a regular period and it suddenly changes, it could be a reason to talk to a doctor as well.
If your hormone levels are off, you can work with your doctor to figure out a treatment plan. If the circadian rhythm is upset, it can cause a hormone imbalance, so your doctor might tell you to get more sleep, says Dr. Shen.
Other treatment options can include a birth control prescription. Mild testosterone excess isnt that much of an issue and is often treated by giving birth control because it stops the ovaries from making testosterone, she adds. Thats the first line of defense.
Another treatment option includes hormone therapy, also called hormone replacement therapy, which is typically given to women going through menopause. The two main options for hormone therapy include estrogen only hormone therapy and estrogen plus progestin, which is given to help improve hot flashes. Estrogen plus progestin, also called combined hormone therapy, is also used to help reduce the risk of uterine cancer.
Bottom line: Never hesitate to reach out to your doctor.
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Changes In Blood Pressure
Your hormones play a major role in heart health, primarily due to one of your bodys largest hormone-producing glands, the pancreas. The pancreas is responsible for producing insulin, which regulates the amount of glucose in the blood. Without proper regulation of this hormone, your body could end up with too much glucose in the blood, leading to cardiovascular problems like high cholesterol or high blood pressure. High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, has also been linked to thyroid dysfunction, testosterone deficiency, growth hormone excess or deficiency, and more.
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Youre Peeing Way Too Often
When your pancreas isnt working correctly due to diabetes, high levels of blood glucose can cause you to pee more often than usual. In turn, your body is working overtime to get rid of the excess sugar in your body. Diabetes can also affect your insulin hormone, which can cause yeast infections. If you havent been diagnosed with diabetes, but youre peeing way too often or getting frequent yeast infections, its time to see your doctor.
I Recently Spoke With Someone Who Is Having Issues With Their Hormones And Her Doctor Wants To Put Her On Birth Control But She Does Not Want Or Need Birth Control She Asked What She Could Do Naturally To Help Correct The Problem She Is Having With Her Monthly Cycle Ive Had This Question Asked Numerous Times Over The Years From Women Who Are Frustrated And Looking For An Answer To Their Problem That Doesnt Have The Potential Harmful Side Effects That Birth Control Can Have
I think most people think of birth control pills, as the name implies, for birth control, but they are also prescribed for hormone imbalances, especially for younger women who are having irregular menstrual cycles and or premenstrual syndrome. Sometimes birth control pills can help, but there are many women who dont want to take these pills because of the side effects and there are some women who dont want to take them for religious or other reasons. However, I think that most women are unaware of the potential harmful side effects that birth control pills can cause. Like hormone replacement drugs, these birth control pills contain synthetic hormones. These synthetic hormones can increase a persons risk of cancer and heart disease, including high blood pressure and strokes. They can also increase the potential for headaches, depression, weakness, insomnia, and weight gain, just to name a few. It makes complete sense to me why some women, who are not trying to prevent pregnancy, do not want to take these synthetic hormones. One of the reasons for some of these side effects is nutrient depletion. So if you do choose to take birth control, you need to be replacing these nutrients that you are losing and I highly recommend you consult with your health care provider for advice on what nutrients you should be taking. Here are the three things that I tell women whose hormones may be out of whack
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You Have Flaky Itchy Skin
Dry patches are one of the first signs that your thyroid hormone level is low. These hormones help set your metabolic rate when you dont have enough, all systems become sluggish, says John Randolph, M.D., an ob-gyn and a reproductive endocrinologist at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. The rate at which your skin cells turn over slows, resulting in dryness, redness, and rashes.
Get back on track: See your doc if your skin is still desert-dry after a month of slathering it with moisturizer, especially if you notice any other signs of an underactive thyroid, such as unexplained weight gain, brittle nails and hair, or if your periods become irregular or MIA, says Dr. Isaacs. He or she will give you a simple blood test to diagnose the disorder, which is usually treated with a synthetic hormone medication that you will need to take long-term. Skin symptoms should clear up within two to three months, says Dr. Isaacs.
Whats The Endocrine System Have To Do With Hormones
Altogether, these glands and traveling hormones make up the endocrine system. The endocrine system helps your body maintain a variety of essential functions. If your body was a city, the endocrine system is the numerous essential workers keeping the lights on, the water running, and quietly making sure you are able to go about your day.
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Parenthood: A Constant State Of Stress
Today, our bodies still have this response mechanism, but although we are not literally being chased by lions or tigers, our perceived threats are all stressors.
The problem is, these stressors are constant and not temporary and our bodies do not have enough time to recover. This is when our HPA- axis system becomes compromised and we experience a rise and overproduction of cortisolour main stress hormonewhich stays at a constant. The brain keeps sending signals to produce more, but the body has been exhausted of its supply and simply cannot keep up with the demand.
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Hormonal Imbalances: Are Your Hormones Really Out Of Whack Or Are You Just Doing Too Much
At least once a day, and its usually several times, I hear the same concern from women in my office My hormones are out of balance.
When I question why they think this may be, it is always the same host of answers: mood swings, low libido, weight gain, fatigue, apathy. And 99% of the time, its at the behest of their significant other that they are inquiring about these hormonal concerns.
Heres the deal. These women are usually the ticker keepers of their familythe cruise directors if you will. They know, juggle and arrange the schedules and tasks of the family and often of their coworkers. They are in the very active phase of parenting, or potentially facing transitions to an empty nest, all with jobs and spouses and parents and siblings and life all around them that puts a significant demand on their time and energy.
And it blows me away EVERY TIME that someone, that anyone, blames hormones for their exhaustion, their low libido, their moodiness, when we live life at a pace such as this. Women are pulled in a million different directions.
So, when a woman comes concerned her hormones are out of whack, of course, as a physician, I do my due diligence to make sure there is not in fact some endocrinological abnormality. But I also dont ignore the reality of the world we live in.
Now before I go step on my soapbox, lets review the hormonal things we can fix.
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Why Do Hormonal Imbalances Happen
Our bodies work hard to keep all of our hormones in normal balance, but lifestyle habits and biological factors can throw our hormones out of whack. Think of it as you not taking care of the city can result in those essential workers just not showing up for work, going on strike, or being sent to the wrong places at the wrong time.
How To Keep Hormones Balanced Before Things Go Awry
Whats easier than figuring out how to balance hormones? Keeping them at healthy levels to begin with. To keep your hormones from getting out of whack, eat right, exercise regularly, and get plenty of sleep. And take time to relax and unwind. Women with a lot of job stress are 38 percent more likely to suffer from heart disease, in part because of chronically high cortisol levels, a study in the journal PLOS One found. Luckily, healthy lifestyle habits can offset the effect that stress has on your ticker, other new research revealed.
Whats more, your gut microbiome does way more than aid digestion. It affects your brain, stress, sex, metabolism, immune system, and hormones, according to a report in the journal FEMS Microbiology Reviews. The bacteria in our guts release chemicals and hormones that influence our health and how we think and feel, says Marc Tetel, Ph.D., a neuroscience professor at Wellesley College. The key is to keep your bugs healthy and balanced so they perform at their optimum level. Get started with this three-point plan.
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Period Problems And Period
A common complaint of women who visit Madison Womens Health is irregular periods or unexpected changes to their periods. A period is considered irregular when it occurs more often than before or less often than before, or if the amount and duration of bleeding has changed significantly for repeated months. Is your period suddenly much heavier than it has been? Or are you not having a period at all?
Keep track of your cycles, when you begin to bleed, and for how long. A popular app among our patients for tracking cycles is Period Tracker Period Calendar , although there are many options. Let your doctor know how many days there are between your periods and what your typical flow is like. Discuss what is different and why you are concerned. Let them know if youre under more stress than before, if youve changed your diet or exercise recently, or if you have a family history of irregular periods.
These changes could have a structural cause having to do with your cervix or uterus or a hormonal cause. Your doctor will likely want to perform a physical exam and may also check specific hormones on a specific day of your menstrual cycle.
Puberty & Menopause Problems Caused By Hormone Imbalances
Getting First Period too Young or too Old
Typically, a girl will begin her period at a similar age to when her mother began getting hers. Some girls have their first period as early as 10 or 11. Others dont get their first period until theyre 15 or even 16. If you or your daughter are outside those age ranges and are concerned about that first period, it is worth a visit to her Pediatrician, Family Doctor or OBYGN.
Common factors that affect when a girl begins her period are weight changes, environmental factors that stimulate the hormones, or adrenal gland problems.
Irregular Periods in Teens
Pre-teens and teenagers have very irregular periods as their bodies mature. Sometimes, teens have unusual bleeding because they arent ovulating regularly. In this case, they have some hormonal development that isnt complete so the uterus isnt getting a clear enough signal of what to do.
Issues During Menopause
When women approach their mid- to late-40s, their cycles may become irregular as they enter the perimenopausal stage. You can read more about what to expect in perimenopause in our recent article. Signs that you may be experiencing perimenopause include skipping periods and having lighter periods.
If your periods are becoming heavier, more frequent, prolonged, or with spotting between periods, you should mention this to your doctor. These changes could indicate menopause, but they could also be caused by abnormalities in your cervix or uterus.
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Signs Of Hormone Imbalance In Women
So often we attribute our bodys changes incorrectly. As women progress through life, the body responds differently, and it plays out in a number of ways.
1- Estrogen Imbalance
Estrogen is made by your ovaries, your adrenal glands, and to a much lesser extent, by your fat cells. It has many functions, including:
- Maintaining Bone Calcium
- Regulating HDL and LDL Cholesterol in Blood
- Helping Maintain Blood Sugar Levels
- Helping with Memory
- Balancing Emotions
Estrogen imbalance can cause numerous symptoms which will depend on whether you are experiencing an overabundance of the hormone or less of it. The causes and signs can be discerned, but they take a watchful eye. Too little estrogen is often caused by:
3- Testosterone Imbalance
Testosterone is not just a male sex hormone. Women also have lesser amounts of this hormone. It is produced by your ovaries and adrenal glands. Testosterone has the important function of aiding you by protecting you against developing osteoporosis. It has many other effects on your health, including sex drive, mood, energy levels and body fat percentage.
If you have too much testosterone in your body, such as when you have a condition called polycystic ovary syndrome, you could experience:
- Irregular Periods
- Increased Body or Facial Hair
Too little testosterone often occurs during menopause and can lower your sex drive, cause depression, weakness of your muscles and fatigue.
Signs Your Thyroid Is Out Of Whack
Your body’s controlled by hormones.
Hormones are chemicals that dictate many aspects of human health. From when a woman is able to conceive a child, to pregnancy, energy levels and even body temperature — all of these bodily functions are controlled to some degree by a delicate balance of hormones. When they fall out of that optimal balance, you may notice some symptoms and problems, and a source for some of these issues is the thyroid.
“The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped endocrine gland that sits low on the front of the neck,” says Dr. Rocio Salas-Whalen, a triple board-certified endocrinologist and the founder of New York Endocrinology in New York City. “The thyroid gland’s primary function is to produce thyroid hormones, which regulate your metabolism, among other vital body functions like body temperature, muscle strength, menstrual cycle and more.”
But the thyroid can sometimes get off kilter, producing either too much thyroid hormone or too little. When the thyroid isn’t producing enough hormone, that’s called hypothyroidism. A too-active thyroid causes hyperthyroidism or thyrotoxicosis, says Dr. Anthony F. Firek, an endocrinologist with the Riverside University Health System in Moreno Valley, California. “Both conditions can cause significant problems for patients, impair quality of life and become life threatening.”
Symptoms can vary.
The following 12 signs and symptoms could indicate there’s a problem with your thyroid.
1. Altered heart rate, aka your pulse
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It’s Your First Postpartum Period
Pregnancy and childbirth can increase the size of your uterine cavity, creating more uterine lining that can then be shed in the form of your monthly period, per the Cleveland Clinic. As a result, “the first period after having a baby tends to be very heavy and long,” Dr. Wu says.
You might notice more cramps too, especially if you gave birth via C-section, per October 2017 research published in Medical Hypotheses.
âFix it: âYour periods might start to feel more normal after another cycle or two. But tell your gynecologist if they’re still unusually heavy or causing uncomfortable side effects after a few months. You can talk about options to regulate your flow, like hormonal birth control, or investigate possible underlying causes, like hormonal disorders or complications that happened during pregnancy or birth.
What Is Biote Hormone Pellet Therapy
BioTE Hormone Pellet Therapy is a bioidentical hormone replacement therapy. It replaces the hormones that have been depleted in your body and helps reverse many of the symptoms of hormone imbalance.
Bioidentical hormones are natural hormones derived from plants that act like the natural hormones your body produces. Many women prefer this type of HRT to other synthetic types because its natural and is delivered in the form of a pellet injected into the top layer of your skin. There are no pills to remember to swallow every day. One rice-sized pellet lasts four to six months, and studies have shown that bioidentical hormones have fewer side effects than synthetic hormones.
Another benefit of BioTE therapy is that the pellets release a steady, consistent stream of hormones throughout the day. You dont experience surges or drops in hormone levels as with other types of HRT.
For more information about how we can help you balance your hormones and get your life back in balance too, call the Center for Womens Health or make an appointment online through this website.
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