The word "hormones" might make you think about moody teens or even sexual arousal. In truth, hormones are powerful chemicals in the body that do figure in these aspects. However, hormones travel throughout your whole body and have several other functions.
The endocrine glands generate several kinds of hormonal chemicals, which are secreted into the bloodstream. Different types of hormones impact different tissues and organs throughout the body, basically telling them to conduct particular functions. For example, some hormones make your muscles tense, enhance digestion, and also impact fertility.
Hormones do an array of things. Therefore, an imbalance of hormones can have a number of effects on the body. Too much or too little of a particular hormone can throw off your body's balance and have a series of strange results, including weight gain, depression, anxiety, infertility, thinning hair, or even acne. Fortunately, hormone imbalance can be treatable.
Just like there are many kinds of hormones with many jobs, a hormone imbalance has many causes. Certain medicines, stress, mental disorders, injuries, or even tumors can lead to hormonal imbalance. Unfortunately, since the body is dependent on a precise balance of hormones to perform effectively, certain hormonal imbalance disorders, like diabetes and hyperthyroidism, can disrupt the balance of other hormones too.
Treatments for hormone imbalance are often specific to the kind of hormone in question and its associated effects. Physicians use medications to treat imbalance because there are a variety of medicines that can either stimulate or even replace hormonal chemicals in the body. These treatments are usually known as hormone therapy.
Medications to balance female hormones, like estrogen and progestin, can reduce symptoms like hot flashes and even improve fertility. Women with high androgen, a male hormone, can take medication to suppress high levels. On the other hand, testosterone supplements can help men experience relief from fatigue, muscle loss, and various other symptoms of "Low T". Medications can also activate puberty in teens with delayed puberty.
There are a number of other medications used to alleviate other hormone imbalances, including insulin to treat Type I and Type II diabetes. Hormone therapy medicines are offered in tablet, patch, injection, and also topical cream form, depending on the treatment you require.
In some cases, medication treatments might not work enough and you might need surgery to treat hormonal imbalance. Surgery can get rid of tumors and alleviate other issues with the endocrine system that might be at the root of a hormone problem.
Taking steps to live a healthier lifestyle can treat hormone imbalance. Eat a diet high in fruits, veggies, and whole grains. Workout on a regular basis but not excessively, as this can make hormonal imbalance worse for some females. Finally, pursue activities that you enjoy to ease stress and anxiety symptoms. However, it's best to get tips from a doctor, who will know which hormones in your body are imbalanced and how to balance them properly.
Be careful when looking for hormone imbalance treatments, particularly self-medicating cures. Try to avoid using unregulated "natural cure" items like essential oils that may not do you any good. Self-medicating with hormone therapies can increase your risk of heart attacks, stroke, and other serious medical problems. When it concerns something as serious as hormonal imbalance, there's no substitute for actual, experienced medical care.
For further information about Dr. Stengler’s practice and his clinic in Encinitas, California, please visit our website at MarkStengler.com or give us a call at (760) 274-2377.