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One of the most exciting developments over the last year of change is the ease of patients to connect and exercise self-care regarding their health. There are new common introductions to the doctor - patient relationship such as Telemedicine for guiding wellness rather than waiting to treat illness, which is a welcomed change to our traditional healthcare model. Other developments include simply "focusing" attention on supporting one's own wellness through basic principles such as nourishment, movement, mental balance and sleep restoration.
Hormones in general are often simply associated with mood swings, hot flashes or night sweats. But they're actually part of an extensive and important system that's in both women and men responsible for a wide range of bodily functions including metabolism, sleep cycles, skin health and beyond. Called the endocrine system, this series of glands creates and distributes hormones, which serve as chemical messengers throughout the body.
There are several key hormones that, if unbalanced, can cause the whole hormonal system to falter, zapping your energy and making you feel wiped out. The problem is that hormones are always fluctuating, and their functions are so intertwined that it's hard to capture the big picture. It's important to listen to your body, and if something feels wrong, consult your doctor.
Do you feel tired all the time?
Do you have trouble sleeping?
Do you have frequent mood swings?
Do you suffer from increased fat storage, especially around the stomach area or the upper thigh area?
Do you experience frequent headaches, especially new or worsened migraines?
Do you have increased cravings, either for salty foods, fatty foods, or sugary foods?
For women: Do you have heightened PMS symptoms?
For men: Do you have lower libido or increased fat storage?
No matter what you may have heard about some new test or magical theory, there is no reliable and accurate testing for hormone levels other than blood tests. However, this quiz covers some of the most common symptoms of hormonal imbalance. You should always check with your doctor before you begin any lifestyle modifications.
Hormones decrease with age in men and women, particularly after the age of 30.
Hormones affect many important systems in the body and is considered by many medical professionals as "building blocks" for the body. While there are many different types of hormones, there are also different types of glands that secrete them. Endocrine glands include:
Thyroid: The hormones produced by the thyroid gland are connected with calorie burning, heart rate, digestion, and beyond.
Adrenal: The adrenal gland produces the hormones that affect libido—aka sex drive—and the stress hormone cortisol.
Ovaries: The ovaries produce estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone, the female sex hormones.
Testes: The testes produce sperm and the male sex hormone testosterone.
Pancreas: The pancreas produces insulin, which controls blood sugar and is key in conditions like diabetes.
Hypothalamus: This gland affects the release of hormones from other glands in the body, in addition to being connected to body temperature, hunger, thirst, and sleep.
Thalamus: The thalamus produces the hormone melatonin, which is connected to sleep.
Parathyroid: Calcium levels in the body are connected to this gland.
Thymus: The hormones that the thymus produces are directly connected to the immune system
Pituitary: The pituitary gland can be thought of as the "master gland" as it actually controls all other glands and produces the hormones that trigger growth.
As you can see, hormones affect MUCH more than your mood and sleeping. If this quiz revealed that you have many symptoms of hormonal imbalance, you should reach out to a hormone specialist and see if you are a candidate for Bio-identical Hormone Optimization.
Other ways that men and women are taking control of their own health is by diet, movement and restoration modifications. It has been proven that making small attainable adjustments to one's lifestyle can bring big results. There is a wealth of knowledge and resources available to assist guiding wellness using more natural solutions such as www.MyWellnessbyNature.com.
Personally, I am a bioidentical hormone therapy specialist at Tutera Medical in Arizona - focusing on overall wellness solutions. As a SottoPelle® Provider, many locations across the country are available to help. Check out Sottopelletherapy.com for provider locations near you.
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