Hormonal imbalance, a problem everyone should be cautious of… Hormones are natural chemicals produced by various endocrine glands in the body. When you are young, your hormones are abundant, which makes women have radiant, beautiful skin and a cheerful mood, while men have strong muscles full of energy. However, as time passes and age increases, the production of hormones by the endocrine glands decreases, causing hormonal imbalance problems and ultimately affecting health.
Functions of Hormones
Normally, hormones regulate the functions of various organs in the body, such as:
- Growth Hormone produced by the pituitary gland helps with growth during childhood and repairs worn-out parts of the body in adulthood.
- Thyroid Hormone produced by the thyroid gland helps manage metabolism. If thyroid hormone levels drop, it can lead to easy weight gain and sluggishness. However, weight gain cannot be solely blamed on hormonal abnormalities because as long as you eat the same amount of food but do not exercise, you will likely gain weight as you age.
Endocrine Glands and Sex Hormones
The endocrine glands that distinctly control body functions by sex are two parts:
- In females, the ovaries produce the female sex hormones Estrogen and Progesterone, which help regulate menstruation, pregnancy, skin condition, firmness, and moisture. They also help control mood swings, keep you feeling refreshed and energetic, prevent fatigue, manage stress well, improve memory, promote deep sleep, boost immunity, prevent heart disease, and protect against osteoporosis.
- In males, the endocrine gland that produces the male sex hormone Testosterone is the testes. This male hormone helps men develop a muscular physique, deep voice, decisive judgment, leadership qualities, competitiveness, good memory, stable mood, and sexual desire for reproduction.
Signs and Symptoms Indicating Hormonal Imbalance or Deficiency
- In men, symptoms include fatigue, tiredness, memory loss, lack of concentration, decreased sexual drive, reduced sexual performance, back pain, joint pain, lack of vitality, decreased strength, depression, sadness, life discouragement, irritability, easy anger, panic, anxiety, and high stress.
- In women, symptoms are more obvious and easier to notice, such as absence of menstruation for at least 12 consecutive months, known as menopause, causing hot flashes, sweating, lethargy, lack of vitality, depression, irritability, stress, anxiety, memory loss or lack of concentration, headaches, sagging breasts, unsatisfactory sexual response, vaginal dryness, hair and skin health imbalance, and most seriously, osteoporosis.
How to Fix Hormonal Imbalance?
Hormonal imbalance symptoms in both women and men can reduce quality of life. Hormone replacement therapy can help restore body functions closer to when you were young, such as improving memory and increasing bone density. However, this must be done under the supervision of a specialist doctor, and not everyone is eligible for hormone replacement therapy.
Health Care According to Lifestyle Medicine Principles
Because stress affects hormone production from endocrine glands, especially thyroid hormones, if any hormone decreases or becomes abnormal, it will affect other endocrine glands and hormones as well. Therefore, we should take care of our health according to Lifestyle Medicine principles to prevent hormonal imbalance problems, which consist of 6 simple parts as follows:
- Food : Eat quality food with high protein, avoid fatty meats, do not eat processed foods, eat green leafy vegetables and low-sugar fruits to get complete nutrients.
- Exercise : Exercise regularly.
- Sleep : Get quality sleep.
- Stress Management : Manage stress, practice meditation, and keep the mind calm.
- Avoidance of Risky Substances : Avoid risky behaviors such as drinking alcohol and smoking.
- Social Connection : Maintain good social relationships because it promotes good mental health.
Another equally important point is regular annual health check-ups to screen for various disease risks, allowing early prevention, reducing the risk of severe progression, and timely treatment.
Remember, besides self-care, seeing a doctor is necessary without waiting to be sick or reach menopause. We can consult a doctor to plan care and maintain health while we are still healthy. This is a golden opportunity to truly understand our bodies so we can adjust our lifestyle appropriately at each stage of life, ensuring long-lasting good health into old age.
