8 Signs You Have a Hormone Imbalance

You might think that hormones are only something to worry about during menopause, but that’s certainly not the case. Hormone levels determine various aspects of overall health, and any imbalance can have drastic consequences. Knowing the signs of a hormone imbalance can give you an advantage by allowing you to seek fast and early treatment. Properly treated, the negative effects of hormonal imbalances can be effectively mitigated.

Here are our top 8 signs that you may have a hormone imbalance:

1. You Suddenly Gained or Lose Weight – Problems with your thyroid (the main hormone-secreting gland in the body), menopause, or diseases like PCOS can all cause rapid swings in your weight.

2. Your Skin Changes – hormone imbalances can cause the skin to thin, break and bruise easily, and feel moist. For people with bleeding disorders, this can become a life-threatening situation quickly.

3. You’re Tired All the Time – one of the most common complaints we hear from people with hormone imbalances is fatigue. Many attribute this loss of energy to typical aging and hectic schedules, but excessive tiredness almost always indicates an underlying issue.

4. Your Joints Hurt – Joint pain and inflammation is another symptom that gets blamed on aging, but more often than not the true cause is an underlying pathology, including hormone imbalances. The hormone estrogen seems to have a strong effect on the joints.

5. You’re Thirsty All the Time – Several hormones (and several disease processes) could be at play if excessive thirst is the symptom. Anti-diuretic hormone (ADH) and angiotensen II (AngII) are both main players among hormones that regulate thirst.

6. Your Bowel Habits Change – When those extra trips to the bathroom aren’t just from a late-night Taco Bell run, you may want to consider the role your hormones play in digestion and excretion. Estrogen and progesterone are both known to stimulate the digestive system and cause loose and frequent stools. On the flip side, low thyroid hormones can cause constipation.

7. Your Extremities Tingle or Go Numb – If your arms, legs, hands, or feet feel tingly or numb, oestrogen may be the culprit. This lesser-known hormone helps regulate the central nervous system, so fluctuations in its levels can cause some spine-tingling effects!

8. You Feel Anxious or Depressed – Research has shown that the sex hormones – estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone – can have a profound effect on a person’s mental health. When these hormones are off-balance, feelings of depression, hopelessness, and worry may dominate the person’s mind. If traditional depression and anxiety medications have not worked for you, ask your doctor to check these hormone levels.

Irregular lumps of body fat and coarse hair can also indicate changes in hormone levels.

Hormone Imbalance Treatment in Tampa Bay

If you are experiencing any of the symptoms listed above, or just want to check on your hormone levels, schedule an appointment with Dr. Rao and her team by calling 727-525-0900 or contacting us online. We have experience diagnosing and managing various diseases, including hormone imbalances, to bring our patients to optimal health.