Portland area patients ask about hormone imbalances
Patients in the Portland area who are interested in learning about how their hormones work often ask Dr. Adam Maddox and his team about hormone imbalances.
First, it is important to understand what hormones are. They are chemical messengers, which are made by the endocrine glands and travel through the bloodstream throughout the body. Endocrine glands are present in many areas in the body including the pancreas, thymus, and thyroid, just to name a few.
When these hormones become imbalanced, it can result in several symptoms and signs of medical conditions. Some patients may become susceptible to problems such as diabetes, growth disorders, and other endocrine disorders. There are times in our lives when our body will naturally experience imbalances of hormones, such as puberty, pregnancy, andropause, and menopause. Overproduction or underproduction of certain hormones can create a dysfunction. This can be due to a change in testosterone, progesterone, or estrogen.
There are many reasons hormone imbalances may occur, and they include:
- Genetics
- Obesity
- Pregnancy
- Sedentary lifestyles
- Medication
- Stress
- Puberty
- Andropause/menopause
Determining a hormone imbalance can be done with diagnostic testing by a trained physician. Some patients may be tipped off to the fact that they have a hormone imbalance due to some of the many symptoms that can occur. Patients may experience fatigue, weight problems, skin problems, mood swings, and changes in sex drive, which may clue a doctor into a possible hormonal imbalance. Some more serious disorders can be linked to hormone imbalances as well, including chronic fatigue syndrome, arthritis, fibromyalgia, urinary tract infections, and abnormal heartbeat.
For most patients, hormone replacement therapy can help in improving the way one feels and reverse certain medical conditions that may have been caused by the imbalance. Hormone replacement therapy is done by determining the levels of hormones in the body and supplementing them to maintain the balance needed for the body to function at its best. Most patients will notice an improvement in their vitality, energy, and overall quality of life once they have balanced their hormones.
