Hormones are essential chemical substances available in our bodies. They work like a messenger for the human body to make all the organs and cells continue their dedicated duty. After being made in a single body part, hormones travel all over and any hormonal imbalances will affect the overall growth.
For example, Insulin is an essential hormone – produced in Beta cells in the pancreas and helps extract the Glucose level from the food we intake. It helps our body’s glucose level to be maintained and prevents Diabetes.
Where are hormones produced?
Glands produce hormones in the Endocrine system, and the hormonal imbalance occurs when the production ratio is below the typical body’s need. Since these chemicals are responsible for making the whole bodywork more extensive, an imbalance of them can be crucial.
It directly impacts hunger, blood pressure, growth, sexual desire, reproduction, etc. Let us first be aware of the symptoms when hormonal imbalances occur:
- An unexplained weight gain or weight loss
- Issue in growth
- A hump of fat between the shoulders
- Complaint of pain or stiffness in the joints
- Muscle weakness and aches
- Increased or decreased heart rate
- Itchy skin
- Low mood
The symptoms mentioned above may show up now and then due to hormone imbalances. One reason is saturated and hydrogenated fats which are responsible for the imbalance.
These fats are mainly present in red meat or processed meat, and they cause the symptoms to intensify by increasing estrogen output.
We will see a detailed version of fats a little later. Before this, let us quickly review a few of the essential hormones in the human body.
The human body circulates nearly 50 different hormones. There are majorly four types:
- Steroid Hormones
- Eicosanoids
- Amino acid-derived hormones
- Peptides, Polypeptides, and protein
Now let us see a list of the essential hormones present in the human body:
- Hormones of Thyroid: It releases T3 and T4, which help in metabolism, regulation of weight, internal body temperature, energy level, skin, hair, etc. Irregular Thyroid hormones are one of the major causes of hormonal imbalances.
- Insulin: The pancreas produces Insulin, which helps to balance the body’s sugar level.
- Oestrogen: This is a female sex hormone released from the ovaries, and it is responsible for reproduction, menstruation, and menopause. Excess of this hormone can cause breast cancer, uterine cancer, depression, etc., whereas lesser of it can cause skin and hair problems.
- Progesterone: Ovaries are where this hormone is, along with a pregnant lady’s placenta and adrenal glands. Progesterone plays a vital role in maintaining pregnancy, and it helps the body to prepare for conception and pregnancy and regulates the monthly cycle. When pregnancy doesn’t occur, progesterone levels drop, and the menstrual cycle occurs. It is vital for sexual desire.
- Prolactin: Prolactin released by the pituitary gland after childbirth helps with lactation, which is essential for a child’s overall growth.
- Testosterone: The male sex hormone responsible for building body muscles and developing male reproductive tissues along with the testes and prostate. If it is insufficient in a male body, it can lead to abnormalities, including frailty and bone loss.
- Serotonin: It is a mood-boosting hormone associated with learning, memory, regulating sleep, digestion, etc. A low level of serotonin in a body can lead to depression, migraine, weight gain, insomnia, etc. The excess level of serotonin in the body causes agitation, confusion, sedation, etc.
- Cortisol: Produced by the adrenal gland, its essential role is to control physical and psychological stress. It raises the heart rate, blood pressure, respiration, and other vital signs in risky situations. The body secretes cortisol to deal with unpleasant situations. A high cortisol level consistently causes ulcers, higher BP measurement, anxiety, high levels of cholesterol, etc. Similarly, a reduced cortisol level in the body triggers alcoholism, chronic fatigue syndrome, and other conditions.
- Adrenaline: The adrenal gland aids in producing it, initiating a rapid response, allowing the person to think and respond rapidly in stressful situations. It raises metabolic rate and causes blood vessels in the heart and brain to dilate. Adrenaline is released into the bloodstream immediately during a traumatic event, sending signals to the organs to trigger a particular reaction.
- Growth Hormone: This hormone comes from the pituitary gland and plays a significant role in human development. It stimulates growth, cell reproduction, and cell regeneration and boosts metabolism.
While reviewing the important hormones available in the human body, we can have a rough picture of how hormonal imbalances affects youth.
Now let us see a couple of them as an example:
- Today, many children get their menstruation cycle at a very early age. It happens due to a disbalance of Oestrogen in the body, which creates a higher risk of experiencing natural menopause between the age of 40-45.
- Again, we see many child growth issues due to hormonal imbalances.
- For the youngsters of this generation, depression is a common issue. We see almost everywhere around. Again it can be named as a result of this chemical disbalance. Though it has some neurological responsibility, the hormone plays a vital role.
- Females have an increased complaint ratio of heavy, irregular, or painful periods, vaginal dryness, breast tenderness, and aches just or before periods. Nevertheless, hormonal imbalance is again a culprit here.
- We see many pregnancy issues today, where a couple finds it hard to conceive a child quickly. Except for the body’s in-built anomaly, the food patterns and lifestyle provoke the male and female sex or reproduction hormones to act weirdly, resulting in complications.
- Due to hormonal imbalances, concentration issues among young students have risen a lot lately.
- A relatively common condition for adolescent males during puberty is to release an insufficient amount of testosterone, and an increased secretion of Oestrogen can lead to a delayed or non-presence of the manly specification.
- In some cases, a female body secretes a comparatively high amount of male hormones causing a hairy body or unique voice.
- Sudden weight gain or loss is another example of hormonal imbalance among youths and most people. We call it obesity, and it is deadly. A healthy lifestyle can have a positive impact on this.
- The excessive or insufficient release of hormones from the thyroid gland is another complaint we often see in youths. It results in fatigue, dry skin, constipation, weight gain, hoarseness, muscle weakness, and so on.
- Finally, Diabetes is the most common hormonal disbalance, where insulin secretion from the body is abnormal. Eventually, it hits too much to the body resulting in another group of diseases in the human body.
It is clear that an imbalance of hormones affects our body immediately or in the long run. Youths often suffer from these as their body grows and makes necessary changes. Failing to do this can cost considerable health risks. As a result, it’s crucial to get access to medical care when needed, or at the very least, to keep track of it.
To track the hormone levels in the body, we have FDA-approved Hormone Test Kits available in the market, which can be done at home using saliva as a sample or by a finger prick. However, once tested, if we find hint of hormonal imbalances, we should see a doctor for a detailed treatment.
What remedies are available for Hormonal Imbalances?
To rectify the complaint, we have different treatments, such as natural therapies, medication, and lifestyle changes, which significantly address and remedy the imbalances. On the other hand, if we speak about traditional medical treatment, bio-identical or synthetic hormones prescriptions are the most taken treatment, ideally known as Hormone Replacement Therapy.
Conclusion:
To conclude, the human body is magic, with thousands of components running within it to keep it functional and healthy. Any disbalance is crucial here, and everything has a ratio and works best when everything is in place.
Significantly, youth is a time when a body makes a drastic change all over. This is when a young fellow can grow as a fully grown Male or Female to carry forward their roles. Hence, it is essential to have special care for the mind and body. A dis-balance is never a matter of shame.
A healthy food pattern and proper lifestyle can cure it all to the maximum. Now that we know the fundamental reasons in case of hormonal imbalances tracking symptoms and visiting a doctor in weird instances is vital.
