10 Warning Signs of Hormonal Imbalance To Watch Out For

Hormones are chemical ‘messengers’ produced in the body that control and regulate the activity of certain cells or organs. The human body produces hundreds of hormones, but the following four have a very direct influence on brain health.
1. Thyroid (Energy Regulation)
2. Estrogen (Mood modulator)
3. Progesterone (Anxiety hormone)
4. Testosterone (Sexuality, Strength, Mood and Motivation).
5. DHEA and Cortisol (managing strss) and Insulin (manages blood sugar)
When the hormones that affect your neurohormones are off, you are off. That is Hormonal Imbalance. The most common causes of imbalances tend to be diet, lifestyle, age, life stressors and environment. Women are more likely to experience imbalances in estrogen, progesterone and thyroid, while in men it is low testosterone levels.
What Are The Common Signs of Hormonal Imbalance?
1. Sudden Weight Gain
You may gain weight during hormonal shifts, such as menopause. But hormone changes don’t directly affect your weight. Instead, it likely happens because of other factors, like aging or lifestyle. For example, when you’re feeling blue or irritated, as you can be when your estrogen levels drop, you may want to eat more. It can also impact your body’s levels of leptin, a hunger-revving hormone.
2. Sudden Weight Loss
Your thyroid gland helps control how fast your body turns food into fuel, as well as your heart rate and temperature. When it makes too many hormones — or doesn’t make enough — your weight can drop. If you’ve lost 10 pounds or more but haven’t been working out more or eating differently, let your doctor know.
3. Irregular Periods
Most women’s periods come every 21 to 35 days. If yours doesn’t arrive around the same time every month, or you skip some months, it might mean that certain hormones (estrogen and progesterone) are too high or too low. The reason for that can be perimenopause — the time before menopause — if you’re in your 40s or early 50s. But irregular periods can also be a symptom of health problems like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Talk to your doctor.
4. Sleep Problems
If you aren’t getting enough shut-eye, or if the sleep you get isn’t good, your hormones could be at play. Progesterone, a hormone released by your ovaries, helps you catch ZZZs. When levels fall during your menstrual cycle, for example, you may have a hard time falling asleep. Low levels of estrogen can trigger hot flashes and night sweats, both of which can make it tough to get the rest you need.
5. Chronic Acne
A breakout before or during your period is normal. But acne that won’t clear up can be a symptom of hormone problems. An excess of androgens (“male” hormones that both men and women have) can cause your oil glands to overwork. Androgens also affect the skin cells in and around your hair follicles. Both of those things can clog your pores and cause acne.
6. Memory Fog
Experts aren’t sure exactly how hormones impact your brain. What they do know is that changes in estrogen and progesterone can make your head feel “foggy” and make it harder for you to remember things. Some experts think estrogen might impact brain chemicals called neurotransmitters. Attention and memory problems are especially common during perimenopause and menopause. But they can also be a symptom of other hormone-related conditions, like thyroid disease. So, let your doctor know if you’re having trouble thinking clearly.
7. Digestive Woes
Your gut is lined with tiny cells called receptors that respond to estrogen and progesterone. When these hormones are higher or lower than usual, you might notice changes in how you’re digesting food. That’s why diarrhea, stomach pain, bloating, and nausea can crop up or get worse before and during your period. If you’re having digestive woes as well as issues like acne and fatigue, your hormone levels might be off.
8. Night Sweats
If you wake up drenched, low estrogen could be the cause. Many women have night sweats around the start of menopause. Other hormone issues can cause them, too.
9. Mood Swings and Depression
Researchers think drops in hormones or fast changes in their levels can cause moodiness and the blues. Estrogen affects key brain chemicals like serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine. But other hormones, that travel the same paths as neurotransmitters, also play a part in how you feel.
10.Mood Swings and Depression
Researchers think drops in hormones or fast changes in their levels can cause moodiness and the blues. Estrogen affects key brain chemicals like serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine. But other hormones, that travel the same paths as neurotransmitters, also play a part in how you feel.