Put the puzzle pieces of symptoms together, and you might find you have a hormonal imbalance.
Hormones play a huge role in our bodies. They are at work in many major processes, such as the body's regulation of metabolism, reproduction, and emotional wellbeing.
Hormonal imbalance is a big topic and I do not mean to cover the entire range of symptoms and treatment options in this post. Instead, I want you to view this as an invitation into the integral importance of hormones.
Small insufficiencies or over-surges of a certain hormone (usually estrogen or progesterone for women and testosterone for men) can cause minor or serious symptoms. Your hormones will fluctuate throughout your lifetime, especially during puberty, pregnancy, breastfeeding, and menopause. This can throw you off-balance for a short period of time, but it should only be temporary. Do keep a pulse on these changes, however, because sometimes your body needs a little help to get back on track towards long-term hormonal balance.
- Sudden weight gain or weight loss
- Increased or decreased heart rate
- Fatigue
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Irritability
- Muscle aches and weakness
- Stiffness or swelling
- Sudden sweating
- Sensitivity to cold and heat
- Frequent urination
- Blurred vision
- Dry skin
- Dry or brittle hair
That's a pretty wide-spread symptom list, right? This is why hormonal imbalances can be misdiagnosed so easily—especially when there is too narrow a view of one's health.
You might only talk to your doctor about one of the above symptoms. When he hears of it, he might then refer you to a specialist for this specific problem. For example, you might struggle with sudden heart palpitations. Your PCP might send you to a cardiologist, who will take an EKG or echocardiogram of your heart and tell you that it is perfectly healthy.
Your doctor isn't wrong. Your heart really is healthy. But, you aren't crazy for thinking something more is at play. These symptoms are the ones on the surface and treating them is like playing a medical version of whack-a-mole.
Usually, when you put many of these symptoms together, they can point to a hormonal imbalance. So, I recommend bringing up everything that you feel so that you doctor can see a broader, more holistic view of your wellbeing. Also, ask your doctor if a hormonal imbalance could be the source of all the mayhem. Maybe he can refer you to an endocrinologist (hormone specialist) who can monitor your hormone fluctuation levels.
*NOTE: If any of these signs or symptoms have persisted for a while and you think you might have an imbalance, then I would recommend talking to your PCP. Don't do anything or assume anything without help from a medical professional.