5 Signs of Hormone Imbalance

For the most part, it can be pretty easy to identify what’s causing changes in your health. Touching something you’re allergic to triggers makes you itchy, and rolling your ankle makes it swell.

But other times, it’s not so easy to figure out why your health has changed so dramatically. When that’s the case, you need one of our experts to uncover the culprit. 

At Premier Primary Care, we specialize in the difficult-to-diagnose. Here, we help you understand a few of the telltale signs of a hormone imbalance, which could be the silent threat behind your symptoms.

Understanding hormone imbalances

Your hormones are crucial to most of your body’s major and minor functions. They’re chemical messengers that travel in your bloodstream and tell your tissues and organs what to do and how to respond to the world around you. 

A hormone imbalance means that you’re producing too much or, more commonly too little, of a certain hormone, and, as a result, your systems fail.

Hormone imbalances can impact anyone, regardless of age, sex, or ethnicity, but there are a few factors that increase your risk, including:

• Stress
• Poor diet 
• Being overweight
• Certain medications
• Age-related hormonal changes, such as menopause
• Health conditions, such as diabetes
• Under or overactive thyroid
• Chemo or radiation therapy

We conduct a thorough review of your health history and current health status to determine if you have a hormone imbalance. We also discuss your symptoms with you to rule out other health conditions. Here are five of the most common signs of a hormone imbalance in both men and women. 

#1: Weight changes

Hormones regulate a variety of bodily functions, including your metabolism, which is the process in which your body turns the food you eat into usable energy. Without enough of the right hormones, your metabolism grinds to a halt, and the food you eat gets stored as fat instead of being used as energy. 

#2: Mental health issues

Serotonin is one of a few hormones many call the “happy hormones.” They help regulate your moods, and without enough of them, you can experience mood changes, including irritability, depression, and anxiety. Talk to us if you notice any sudden or worsening changes in your moods, as it could be a hormone imbalance. 

#3: Lack of energy

Because your hormones are responsible for fueling your energy production process, an imbalance can cause you to gain weight and experience significant lethargy and fatigue. A drop in your sleep-inducing hormones, namely melatonin, can also impact your energy. 

#4: Physical changes

Is your skin dry? Do your nails break easily? Are you losing hair? It could be a hormone imbalance that’s drying you out and causing physical changes. Your hormones trigger your oil glands to keep your skin, nails, and hair healthy. If you’re experiencing an imbalance on the inside, you likely have symptoms on the outside as well. 

#5: Decreased sex drive

The sex hormones (estrogen and testosterone, to name a few) are among the most powerful of your hormones. They stimulated your metabolism, support your reproductive system, and fuel your sex drive. When your body fails to produce enough of these hormones, you might struggle to get in the mood, which can be frustrating for both you and your partner. 

Treating your hormone imbalance

We know how frustrating the symptoms of a hormone imbalance can be, so we offer effective treatments and support to help you find balance. 

Depending on your needs, we may recommend lifestyle changes to promote regular hormone production and distribution, such as diet and exercise regimens, stress-reduction techniques, and the avoidance of harmful substances. We also offer medications that help your body find balance by replacing the hormones you’ve lost. 

If you’d like more information, don’t hesitate to request an appointment online or over the phone at our Union City, Tennessee, office and start your journey to a symptom-free life today.