Phoenix Hormone Doctor
The Effects of Hormone Imbalance
Hormonal imbalances occur as a normal part of aging and as an uncomfortable medical condition. Regardless of the cause, a phoenix hormone doctor can reestablishing balance and get you back to yourself. There are hormone surges during adolescence that affect males and females, and pregnancy and menopause wreak havoc on the hormone balance of a woman. Hormone changes during these phases of life are normal, but when hormones go haywire for unexpected reasons, a person may experience a variety of health problems like weight gain, mood disorders, bone loss and heart disease. Since hormonal imbalance is sometimes one of the last factors checked, the imbalance can persist for a long time before it is remedied. If no serious symptoms are associated with the imbalance, it may go unnoticed for years. If left untreated, a hormone imbalance can lead to serious health problems. The medical professionals at Southwest Integrative Medicine will determine if there is a hormone imbalance and they will target this imbalance in an effort to prevent future medical conditions.
Weight
One of the main symptoms of hormone imbalance is an inability to maintain a healthy weight. If you are eating right and exercising, but your weight is still in the unhealthy range, a hormone imbalance may be to blame. Low thyroid levels mean your body is unable to burn energy at its optimal rate, which is what it means to have a slow metabolism. Hormonal imbalance may also mean elevated adrenaline, which is the body’s response to stress. The greater the level of adrenaline, the more fat the body will hold onto.
Stress can also lead to overeating, making it even more difficult to lose weight. Decreased levels of hormones like progesterone can lead to water retention, anxiety, and depression. All these factors make it difficult to maintain a healthy lifestyle and lose weight. The doctors at Southwest Integrative Medicine will use alternative and conventional hormone replacements to balance hormones and help you lose weight. Thee include Bioidentical Hormone Replacement and Botanical Medicine.
Over time, obesity can lead to a variety of health problems like heart disease and diabetes, and it increases a patient’s risk for heart attack and stroke. While the hormonal imbalance may not be the direct cause of these conditions, correcting an imbalance early will help a patient lose weight and reduce his risk for weight-related diseases.
Cancer
One of the most frightening consequences of long-term hormone imbalance is the increased risk of cancer. While an imbalance does not directly cause cancer, an increase or decrease in specific hormones puts you at a greater risk when coupled with other risk factors. High levels of synthetic estrogen create a greater risk for endometrial cancers. If a woman takes synthetic estrogen during menopause and it is not balanced with progesterone, there is a thickening of the endometrial tissue which may result in uterine or ovarian cancers. Other factors that increase estrogen levels are obesity, a high-fat diet, onset of menstruation at an early age, and not having been pregnant. Over the course of a lifetime, elevated levels of any estrogen may trigger the development of cancer following menopause. However the natural, Bioidentical Hormones are thought to be less harmful than the synthetic estrogens.
Like estrogen, synthetic progesterone is thought to pose a greater danger than their bioidentical counterpart. Bioidentical hormones are exactly the same as what the body makes and the risks with these are thought to be much less than with the synthetic type of hormones. It is important to also remember the many benefits of taking hormones such as increased bone growth, increased cognitive function, less hot flashes, and improved cholesterol levels. A patient and her doctor must weigh the benefits with the risks when determining a course of treatment where hormones may be beneficial.
Other Effects
Hormonal imbalance may lead to a variety of other problems in addition to cancer and weight-related health ones. A woman may experience a disruption in her menstrual cycle, which can lead to difficulty conceiving. An irregular menstrual cycle is a sign there is a greater problem that needs to be addressed. Hormone imbalance may make it difficult for your body to process insulin, and it can lead to a variety of digestive disorders. When hormones are out of balance, it can also affect your mood. Chronic mood fluctuations are stressful for you and everyone around you. Getting your hormones balanced may give you a new lease on life. If you find yourself feeling frustrated, irritated, depressed, or hopeless, and frequently unpredictable, you may be suffering from a hormone imbalance. Speak with the health professionals at Southwest Integrative Medicine to diagnose the imbalance and create a suitable treatment program that will leave you feeling like a whole new person
