Hormonal Disorders: An Overview
Hormonal disorders occur when there is too much or too little of a hormone in the body. Hormones are chemical messengers that control and coordinate various functions in the body.
Common hormonal disorders include:
- Hypothyroidism - When the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormones. This can cause fatigue, weight gain, dry skin, and more.
- Hyperthyroidism - When the thyroid produces too much thyroid hormone, leading to symptoms like unexplained weight loss, rapid heartbeat, irritability, and more.
- Diabetes - Usually caused by low insulin production or insulin resistance. This results in high blood sugar levels.
- Cushing's syndrome - Excess cortisol hormone causes this. Symptoms include weight gain, skin issues, bone loss, and high blood pressure.
What causes hormonal imbalances?
- Genetics - Some disorders like congenital adrenal hyperplasia are genetic.
- Tumors - Tumors in glands like pituitary, thyroid or adrenal gland can affect hormone production.
- Pregnancy - Hormones fluctuate naturally during pregnancy. Post-pregnancy thyroiditis can also sometimes occur.
- Menopause - Declining estrogen levels causes hormonal changes.
- Stress - Heightened stress increases cortisol, adrenaline and lowers testosterone.
- Diet and nutrition - Deficiencies of nutrients like iodine and vitamin D also impact hormone balance.
Three key facts about hormonal disorders:
- They can negatively impact quality of life when not managed properly. Symptoms like fatigue, trouble sleeping, weight gain/loss significantly lower one's daily functioning.
- If left untreated for long, hormonal disorders can lead to serious health complications like organ damage, osteoporosis, heart disease and infertility.
- Lifestyle measures like sufficient sleep, regular exercise, stress management and balanced nutrition can help complement medical treatment of these disorders.
For more information, consult with the specialists at Vivo Health.