Hormones drive your routine more than you realize. Produced and released by the endocrine glands, these highly potent chemical messengers travel through our body via the bloodstream. Hormones perform crucial functions in our body like managing our appetite, growth, heart rate, sleep cycle, and most importantly, our mood. Essentially, hormones are what make us more human and different from one another. This is why our world literally goes awry when this naturally maintained healthy balance gets tipped off. Hence, it’s essential to understand the concept of hormonal imbalance and what causes it to manage it better.

What is a hormonal imbalance?

Hormones are generated by the glands of the endocrine system, namely: adrenal, pineal, pituitary, hypothalamus, gonads (testes in males and ovaries in females), thyroid, parathyroid, and pancreatic islets. These glands regulate various bodily functions while maintaining healthy sync simultaneously. The problem occurs when the communication between these glands gets interrupted, and our body starts producing too much or too little of a certain hormone. This process is called hormonal imbalance.

The human body is a highly sophisticated automated machine that works in its own natural, unique tune. However, when this harmony is broken and the endocrine system starts to produce even one hormone in a fluctuated quantity, the whole system topples one after the other. This imbalance takes a snowball effect and starts producing an improper amount of hormones, which results in your overall health taking the brunt of it.

What causes the hormonal imbalance?

As all the glands are interconnected to one complex system, the imbalance sets off the chain effect of irregulated hormone secretion. This results in the causal factor of one hormone imbalance causing another to falter as well. For example, a cortisol imbalance can be instigated by a thyroid hormonal imbalance and vice versa. Hence, it’s crucial to know the cause before trying to manage such issues. Following are some of the hidden causes of hormonal imbalance that can cause significant disruption in your daily routines and health.

  • Problematic Thyroid. Overactive or underactive thyroid is one of the most damaging conditions. Whether chronic or acute, imbalance in thyroid secretion directly impacts our metabolism. This in turn takes a toll on our appetite and can cause extreme fatigue as well.
  • Birth Control. Birt control pills are commonly prescribed to young girls and women who suffer from irregular periods and at times, also as a treatment for acne. This medication sometimes contains certain hormones, which when reacting with the natural female reproductive hormones, might result in the opposite of desired results. Prolonged use of birth control can lead to lack of periods, weight gain, and also digestive problems.
  • Stress. The bane of our existence, stress wreaks havoc on our health like nothing else. Chronic stress increases cortisol levels in the body, which puts an individual in a very vulnerable condition. Overproduction of cortisol can make one prone to anxiety, depression, digestive and reproductive issues, and is also a massive risk to heart health.

Hormonal imbalance may sound like a scary condition, but fortunately, it can be regulated both naturally and medically. Dr. Monica Grover, DO at Asira Medical in Yorktown Heights is a specialist in treating hormonal imbalance with safe, and non-invasive methods. If you find yourself experiencing any unusual symptoms, it could be a good time to pay Dr. Grover a visit. Call or book an appointment online with us today.


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