13 Signs That A Person May Have A Hormonal Imbalance
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The rush of our life doesn’t give us much scope to have a deeper look into our well-being. Many of us are so engrossed in our day-to-day lives that we may not give much importance to the subtle signals of health problems that our body tries to convey to us. One such persistent problem is a hormonal imbalance.
Have you ever wondered if your irritability, anger issues, fatigue, and body changes could be attributed to your hormonal fluctuations?
Hormones, the chemicals secreted by the glands of your body, are very important for normal functioning of many physical processes. They not only control your reproductive cycle, they also regulate functions like the body temperature, libido and conception, appetite, stress levels, etc.
Depending on your age and circumstances, hormonal levels can vary from time to time. It is very obviously felt during puberty, pregnancy, and menopause. But there are other factors like weight gain, inadequate sleep, nutritional deficiencies, and lack of exercise and activity, that can trigger hormonal imbalances. And such hormonal imbalances can manifest themselves through a number of body reactions. Though these reactions are very common, they still take a considerable toll on the body.
If you want to know what these body reactions are, do read the indicators given below!
1. Pimples And Acne
This is a common side effect of hormonal imbalances. If there is excess production of androgens (read: male hormones), you will find that there is a continuous outbreak of acne, pimples, lesions or cysts. They also take a lot of time to heal.
2. Irregular Periods
Hormonal fluctuations can cause a lot of changes in the female reproductive system. It can affect the intensity, duration, and flow of your menstrual cycle and may even affect your thyroid functions.
3. Disturbed Sleep Patterns
The hormone melatonin is responsible for quality sleep. If there is an imbalance in this hormone’s production, there can be disturbances in the sleep pattern. Apart from melatonin, fluctuations in the level of estrogen can also cause sweating and sleep disruption.
4. Bloating And Fullness
When there is a dip in the levels of progesterone and estrogen hormones in the body, it can lead to a gassy and puffy sensation in the stomach. It increases the feeling of fullness and tightness in the abdomen.
5. Memory Issues
Many women, especially those belonging to the perimenopause and menopausal stage, face a decline in their estrogen levels and often complain about memory issues. According to studies, the problem is graver for those who suffer from hot flashes (1).
6. Excess Hair Fall
There could be two reasons for excess hair fall. Firstly, the thyroid disorders – both hypo- and hyperthyroidism could cause hair loss. Secondly, an increase in testosterone (read: the male hormone) levels can also lead to increased hair fall (2).
7. Extreme Exhaustion
If you feel constantly tired, you could consider getting your thyroid tests done. If the thyroid glands are underactive, they can lead to persistent fatigue and stress.
8. Being Moody And Sulky
When the level of the estrogen hormone decreases or starts fluctuating in the body, many women feel intense mood swings and panic attacks. It can also manifest as depression and anxiety in certain cases.
9. Obesity
This is probably the most common side effect of hormonal problems. Again, it could happen due to an underactive thyroid or lower levels of the hormone estrogen. It hampers your metabolism and results in fat accumulation in your body.
10. Increased Appetite
You must have noticed people binge-eating when they are stressed out. It happens when the levels of cortisol (read: the stress hormone) increase in the body. It is aggravated by drop in estrogen and progesterone hormone levels as well. Moreover, an imbalance in the functioning of neurotransmitters like dopamine, GABA or serotonin can also lead to hunger pangs.
11. Loss Of Libido
Your changing hormones can affect your libido and fertility. With age, the levels of estrogen, progesterone and testosterone also reduce, resulting in a lowered libido. But if there is an imbalance in the hormones, you could start feeling it much sooner!
12. Sore Head
According to experts, fluctuating hormones are an important factor behind the biochemical changes in the body that cause headaches. Oscillating levels of estrogen in the body (and the inability of the progesterone to stabilise it) is the main cause of headaches.
13. Excess Hair
Generally, the male hormone androgen is present in very small amounts in a female body. But if the level of androgen increases, then you may see excess hair or male-like hair growth in your body.
These were some common symptoms associated with hormonal imbalances. However, don’t worry. A healthy lifestyle and practicing moderation and relaxation can be very helpful in treating these symptoms naturally.
