Balancing Hormones
Homeostasis is a state of balance in the body. This balance is maintained through a series of reactions that take place in the body to ensure survival in different conditions and environments. Just as the heart, kidneys, liver, and the immune system ensure this homeostasis, so does the endocrine system and hormones.
Hormones come from the endocrine glands, which are special groups of cells. These glands include the pituitary gland, thyroid, thymus, adrenal gland, and pancreas. In addition, men produce hormones in their testes, and women produce them in their ovaries.
Once produced by these special cells, hormones travel in your bloodstream to tissues and organs. Just as a key fits into a lock, hormones fit into receptors of your cells. Once these keys fit into the appropriate receptors, they create physical and biochemical responses. These chemical messengers regulate many functions in the body, including growth and development, tissue function, metabolism (how your body gets energy from the foods you eat), and reproduction. In addition, they regulate the immune system; they even regulate cell death so our cells don’t grow out of control. A hormone may also regulate the production and release of other hormones.
Hormones are powerful chemicals. It only takes a tiny amount to cause big changes in the body. Hormone levels change throughout the day, and these levels change in response to our environment, our thoughts, stress levels, and the foods we eat. Toxins, medications, and pollutants can affect hormone balance. As we age, our hormone levels naturally decrease. With this decline, problems with health arise. Just as diminished amounts of hormones can create countless health problems, so can elevated amounts. These health problems can just be uncomfortable, or they can become serious conditions.
Some common symptoms of a hormone imbalance are:
- Sleep disturbances
- Fatigue
- Hot flashes and night sweats
- Anxiety, weight gain in the waist
- Muscle wasting
- Sugar cravings
- High cholesterol
- Cold hands and feet
- Decreased libido
- Low-grade depression
- Foggy thinking
- Brittle nails and hair
- Hair loss/eyebrow thinning
- Puffy eyes
- Constipation
- Infertility
- Immune dysfunction
- Osteoporosis
- Polycystic ovaries
- Cancer
- Uterine fibroids
- Endometriosis
- Thinning skin
- Cystic breasts
- Increased facial hair
- Acne
When seeking to improve your hormonal health, laboratory testing can be done to measure the level of hormones in your saliva, blood and urine. The DCIM offers saliva and blood-spot testing to discover the reasons for your disruptive symptoms and chronic health problems which prevent you from living the vibrant life you want to live!
For more information on hormone testing and bio-identical hormone replacement therapy, read more...