Hormones make everything in your body function properly.
They’re kind of like tiny messengers floating through your bloodstream, telling your organs and tissue what to do and when.
And yet, these important little messengers will decline with age. No one escapes this reality. The result can be unpleasant symptoms, and a body that isn’t functioning optimally.
That does not mean, however, that people have to live with hormone decline and its consequences. Hormones can be restored to optimal levels via properly administered hormone replacement therapy. We’ll talk more about that in a minute.
But first, let’s look at nine symptoms commonly associated with imbalanced hormones.
- Fatigue
- Weight Gain
- Mood Swings, Depression, Anxiety, and Irritability
- Hot Flashes and Night Sweats
- Insomnia
- Low Sex Drive
- Brain Fog
- Skin and Hair Changes
- Osteoporosis
Do you feel tired all the time, even after a good night’s sleep? This is a common symptom of hormone imbalance.
Thyroid hormone, testosterone, estrogen, progesterone, and DHEA can all impact your energy level. If any of these hormones are out of balance, you can be left feeling tired and sluggish.
Are you putting on weight more easily than you used to?
The same hormones we listed above also have a lot to do with how your metabolism functions, how easy or difficult it is to maintain muscle, and how fat is distributed. When out of balance, metabolism slows down and body composition changes in ways that are undesirable.
Hormones have a crucial role to play in mood regulation.
Declining levels of estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone during perimenopause and menopause can cause women to experience mood swings, depression, anxiety, and irritability.
As men lose testosterone, they can have similar challenges. And when estrogen is either too high or too low in men, depression can result.
Hot flashes and night sweats are classic symptoms of menopause…and andropause. That’s right…men can have hot flashes and night sweats, too.
These sudden feelings of heat and sweating are caused by fluctuating estrogen and progesterone levels in women, and by diminishing testosterone levels in men. And when severe, they can disrupt day-to-day activities, as well as sleep.
Speaking of sleep…hormone imbalances can make it hard to get a good night’s rest.
Low progesterone levels can cause insomnia in women. Low testosterone can cause insomnia in men. Men and women can both suffer from insomnia as a consequence of low thyroid.
A drop in libido is common as hormones become imbalanced.
Diminished testosterone is the primary culprit for both men and women when it comes to low sex drive. Another culprit for men can be estrogen that’s too high or too low.
Do you find that you’re more forgetful than you used to be? Are you having trouble staying focused? Does it feel like your brain is moving in slow motion?
The culprit could be declining hormone levels. Reduced levels of estrogen, testosterone, and other key hormones can cause memory loss, cognitive decline, difficulty with concentration, and brain fog.
As hormone levels decline, you might notice changes in your skin and hair.
Lower estrogen levels can lead to dry, thinning skin in women, as well as hair loss. Testosterone imbalances can do the same in both men and women. And hypothyroidism is notorious for causing hair loss, hair that is brittle, and skin that is dry.
Estrogen and testosterone are essential for maintaining bone density…in women and men.
If you’re wondering about the status of your bone density, ask your primary care provider to order a bone scan for you.
What You Should Do if You Have Symptoms
Do any of these symptoms sound familiar?
In the past, medical professionals chalked symptoms like these as up to being an inevitable aspect of aging. But not so today.
Nowadays, suffering with declining health and unpleasant symptoms is completely unnecessary. Thanks to hormone replacement therapy, hormones can be restored to healthy levels.
It is critically important, however, that hormone therapy be done properly. Expertise matters. And tailoring treatment to each person’s unique needs is essential.
That’s where Renew Youth comes in. We have been helping men and women to be their healthiest as they age for more than 25 years. Do you have questions about hormone therapy? To schedule your complimentary 30-minute consultation, call us at 800-859-7511 or use our easy contact form.