Hormonal fluctuations are not only female issues, as men are equally affected. Although they react in distinct ways, one true thing for both is that hormonal balance helps in overall health and well-being.
Three hormones are particularly important for men, including testosterone, known to improve muscle mass, energy, and sexual function, cortisol, which regulates stress as well as blood sugar, and growth hormone, known to maintain muscle and tissue mass.
Particularly, testosterone levels change several times a day, as it peaks in the morning and dips in the evening. Because testosterone plays a vital role in red blood cell production that gives you energy, dramatic dips can cause you to have less energy, and fatigue, which can be the first telling sign of hormonal imbalance. A healthy diet and exercise can keep your hormones balanced. To achieve this, you must avoid simple carbohydrates and refined sugars, such as white bread, white rice, and candy sticks to complex carbs, such as whole grains, beans, fruits, and vegetables. Regularly doing moderate to high-intensity exercises can keep your cortisol levels down and manage your overall stress.
As men age, testosterone begins to wane from the high levels recorded in their early 30s. Approximately 40% of men over 45 have low testosterone {low t}. This condition is potentially responsible for fatigue, depression, diminished muscle mass, low libido, and sexual dysfunction. Urologists have numerous treatment options for low t.
The three key hormones for women are estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. Estrogen plays a very important role in everything from mood to memory, to bone growth and cholesterol. Just about every organ in our bodies has estrogen receptors. Progesterone balances its possible negative consequences. Too much estrogen can cause illnesses, such as cancers of the breast and reproductive system. Testosterone helps maintain strong bones and muscles, and hormone fluctuation can cause problems. Estrogen and progesterone levels rise and fall with your monthly cycle.
These imbalances can alter the level of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that affects your mood, and as a consequence lead to mood swings, anxiety, irritability, and fatigue. Huge shifts in estrogen while on birth control pills, or during pregnancy can increase your risk for a stroke, as substances that cause blood clots are heavily influenced. Fat tissue has a hormone that converts one type of estrogen into another, and the presence of excess body fat can trigger an imbalance in these natural conversion processes. This can lead to hormonal issues, such as irregular periods, acne, difficulty getting pregnant, complications during pregnancy, and increased menopause symptoms. Following a decline in estrogen, which helps blood flow through arteries, the risk for heart disease in women starts to grow. This usually occurs about 10 years after menopause.
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