Symptoms Of A Hormonal Imbalance
Are you feeling tired and run down all the time?
Do you suddenly experience bad headaches, when you never used to before?
Are you having difficulty sleeping or having trouble remembering things?
All of these could be signs of a hormone imbalance.
Hormones change as we age.
A hormonal imbalance can cause a variety of symptoms.
But hormones are vital to a healthy body.
The key to feeling healthy again is to recognize the symptoms of hormone imbalance and to learn how to manage the issue.
I’m Dr. Kimberly Dawdy, ND, a naturopathic doctor in Ottawa, and I’m here to help.
Read on to learn more about whether the symptoms you are experiencing could be signs that you are dealing with a hormone imbalance.
What Are Hormones?
Every part of your body has a job to do, and hormones ensure that the job gets done.
Hormones travel in your bloodstream and keep your body working normally.
Without hormones, the body would be unable to grow, to take energy from the food we eat, or to regulate our moods and reproductive processes.
Some of the hormones in your body include, but are not limited to:
- Serotonin, which regulates mood, stress levels, memory, sleep, and more
- Cortisol, which controls stress
- Adrenaline, which controls your fight flight or freeze response
- Estrogen, responsible for menstruation, reproduction, and secondary female sex characteristics
- Progesterone, which plays a role in pregnancy, breast development, and libido
- Testosterone, which promotes male secondary sex characteristics, sperm production, and male sexual development
- Insulin, which allows your body to use sugar as a source of energy
- Thyroid hormones, which control your metabolism, energy levels, body temperature, and more
Symptoms Of A Hormonal Imbalance
Hormones change throughout our lives. It happens for everyone.
If you are experiencing symptoms that you never used to, you may be suffering from a hormone imbalance.
If a hormone imbalance is not corrected it can lead to issues such as diabetes, infertility, weak bones or weight gain.
Here are some of the signs to check for.
To be clear, some of these symptoms can be linked with other health conditions as well, so it’s a good idea to speak with your naturopathic doctor to find out what the culprit is.
1. Chronic Fatigue
We all feel tired from time to time, but if you find that you can’t stay awake most days, then you may be suffering from a thyroid or adrenal hormone imbalance.
2. Headaches
Were you the type of person who never cancelled plans because they “had a migraine”?
Have you found as you get older, that you are suddenly suffering bad headaches that can last for several days?
Do you find your headaches come at the same time each month?
You may be suffering from a hormonal imbalance related to your menstrual cycle.
3. Acne & Other Skin Issues
Breaking out can be annoying and always tends to happen when we least want it to.
But if you suffer from deep cystic acne, then the issue may be tied to androgens.
An imbalance of testosterone triggers the skin to produce excess oil, which can get trapped and cause bacteria to grow.
4. Sexual Issues
Low libido is one of the most common signs of a hormone imbalance, due to imbalances of testosterone and estrogen.
Breast pain can also be a sign of changing hormones, and lumps, fibroids or cysts may develop.
Reduced levels of estrogen can also cause , which can be very uncomfortable.
5. Weight Gain
Most of us gain weight as we age, but it doesn’t have to be that way.
An underlying hormone imbalance may be to blame for the sudden increase in weight you experience.
Weight gain can be tied to several systems in your body: your digestive system, your endocrine system or your thyroid, all of which are regulated by hormones.
Adrenal fatigue, insulin resistance and other hormonal imbalances manifest in food cravings and excess eating.
It is important to address these issues and minimize your risk of diabetes.
If you are struggling with sudden weight gain or food cravings, contact Dawdy Naturopathic to see if we can help.
6. Digestive Issues
Elevated levels of cortisol and serotonin, which is produced naturally by the body, can contribute to symptoms of IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome).
Chronic stress affects hormone production and causes things to be out of whack.
Heightened estrogen and progesterone levels can also trigger IBS symptoms.
The gallbladder can also suffer and put you at higher risk for the development of gallstones.
7. Memory Issues
Are you experiencing more “senior’s moments” than usually lately?
Just because you’re getting older, doesn’t mean you should become unusually forgetful.
Memory loss or increased stress may mean that you’re experiencing a cortisone imbalance that needs addressing.
8. Difficulty Sleeping
For those who menstruate, night sweats and hot flashes are a sign that something could be amiss.
During menstruation, progesterone levels can drop significantly and cause difficulty falling asleep.
If you find your sleep patterns have been changing, then you may be suffering from a hormone imbalance.
9. Anxiety Or Depression
Mood swings happen to everyone.
But if you are finding yourself more irritable, or feeling more frequently anxious about things that used not to bother you, you may have a hormone imbalance.
Heightened anxiety causes higher stress, which can affect other systems in your body.
Don’t wait to address these symptoms.
Book An Appointment With Dawdy Naturopathic
To reiterate – the above symptoms may be caused by something other than a hormone imbalance as well.
That’s why it’s important to see a naturopathic doctor who can help get to the root cause of what’s going on.
Book an appointment with Dawdy Naturopathic, and take your first step toward feeling yourself again.
Yours in Health,
Dr. Kimberly Dawdy, ND
Dawdy Naturopathic Clinic
6899 Sunset Blvd,
Greely, ON K4P 1C5
-https://g.page/dawdynaturopathicclinic
Dawdy Naturopathic Clinic offers a variety of naturopathic health solutions for individuals and families in Ottawa and the surrounding area.
