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Signs and Symptoms of a Hormonal Imbalance

Hormones are how the body runs various internal functions, such as digestion and disease prevention. When you experience a hormone imbalance, you will find that some of your bodily systems will begin to act improperly, or some may even start to shut down. The most common treatment for a hormone imbalance is a regimen of medications sometimes referred to as hormone therapy.

  1. Depression

    • A hormonal imbalance can cause you to have mood swings and changes in your attitude, almost in an instant. You may begin to experience bouts of depression, you may feel yourself becoming anxious and you may also start to become irritable for no apparent reason. You may start to feel confused, and performing the simplest daily tasks may become difficult for you.

    Headaches

    • Headaches are another common symptom of a hormonal imbalance. Your headaches may range from a dull and throbbing pain all the way up to migraine headaches that can cause a tremendous amount of discomfort. Your headaches may keep you up at night or awaken you from a deep sleep, and this can bring on symptoms of fatigue and insomnia. You may also start to experience dizzy spells, and these dizzy spells could lead to nausea and possibly vomiting.

    Heart Symptoms

    • Your heart may start to give you signs that you are experiencing a chemical imbalance. You may begin to suffer from hypertension (or high blood pressure), and you may also begin to feel your heart racing, as with palpitations. Over time, you may also start to feel other symptoms of more serious heart disease, such as chest pains.

    Weight Changes

    • With a hormonal imbalance, you may begin to experience changes in your eating habits and weight. Your symptoms will depend on what kind of imbalance you are experiencing. An excessive amount of hormones in your system could lead to cravings for food and alcohol that will cause weight gain. However, an increase in hormones could also increase your metabolism and cause an unexplained weight loss. A decrease in the amount of hormones in your system could affect your body's ability to break down sugar and carbohydrates and could result in unexpected weight gain.

    Illness

    • A hormonal imbalance can cause something as common as a cold to become a much more serious event. You may notice that illness tends to last longer with a hormonal imbalance, and you may also notice that medications do not seem to have the same effect they used to have. You may also start to experience flu-like symptoms, such as a fever, an achy feeling in the joints and muscles, or an overall achy feeling all over your body.

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