As we age, inevitably our bodies begin to change. While some wrinkles and grey hair can be fixed by fillers and hair dye, what happens on the inside of our bodies isn’t always so black and white.
As men and women age, their hormone levels can fluctuate. For men, their testosterone levels naturally begin to decrease around the age of 30. Typically for women, around the age of 50 is when their hormone levels begin to produce less estrogen and progesterone. While these are the average ages that things begin to shift, it’s important to note hormonal issues can present themselves at different times. If you are starting to feel perpetually tired, have trouble losing weight, have a low libido or even experience brain fog, it may be time to take a look at your hormone levels.
What is a hormonal imbalance?
Hormone imbalance is a general term that can refer to upset levels of any variety of your body’s natural regulatory substances. Hormones that are commonly imbalanced include:
- Testosterone, which regulates secondary sexual characteristics.
- Melatonin, which regulates sleep.
- Ghrelin, which regulates hunger.
- Thyroid, which regulates calorie burn.
- Aldosterone, which regulates salt levels
- Cortisol, which regulates energy.
- Progesterone, which regulates pregnancy and menstruation.
- DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone), which regulates sexual function and can be converted by your body to other hormones.
Women with hormone imbalances can experience symptoms such as irregular periods, hot flashes, night sweats, painful periods, breast tenderness, poor sleep, vaginal dryness, weight gain, headaches and more. Men may experience extreme fatigue, weight gain, loss of muscle, erectile dysfunction, low libido, poor sleep and much more. It should be noted that underlying conditions such as diabetes, can also impact hormone levels. Keeping an eye on our overall health is a very important step in keeping your hormones aligned.
It’s pretty amazing how much our hormones impact our overall health. From energy levels to the ability to get pregnant, hormones have a huge impact on our entire body. When a hormone level is imbalanced, not only can it make you feel like garbage, but it can cause difficulties in so many aspects of your life.
How Can I Speak With the Doctor About My Hormones
A hormone imbalance is a complex medical issue. As such, a variety of options are available to treat or help. From weekly injections to topical creams, there are several at-home methods available to help you get your hormones back on track fast. To find the best hormonal imbalance treatment for you, please call (973) 998-7770.