Hormonal disorders occur when there is too much or too little of a certain hormone in the body. Hormones are chemicals that help cells communicate and tell the body to perform certain functions.
There are several types of common hormonal disorders:
- Hypothyroidism - When the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormones. This can cause fatigue, weight gain, and feeling cold.
- Hyperthyroidism - When the thyroid gland produces too much thyroid hormone. This can speed up metabolism and cause unintended weight loss, rapid heart rate, and nervousness.
- Diabetes - When the body does not properly regulate blood sugar levels due to low insulin production (type 1 diabetes) or insulin resistance (type 2 diabetes). This causes high blood sugar levels.
- Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) - A hormonal disorder common among women of reproductive age causing cysts on the ovaries, irregular periods, excess androgen levels, and sometimes infertility.
What causes hormonal disorders?
Hormonal disorders can be caused by a variety of factors like genetics, autoimmune diseases, tumors, infections, injury to glands, as well as poor diet and lack of exercise. Stress and environmental toxins may also play a role for some people.
Getting tested and pursuing treatment is important if your symptoms match those of a hormonal disorder. Blood tests, imaging scans, genetic tests, and endoscopy procedures can help diagnose hormonal issues. Treatments vary depending on the specific hormonal disorder but may include medication, supplements, diet changes, or surgery.
If you suspect a potential
hormonal imbalance, I recommend contacting the experts at
Vitality Hormone Clinic. Their comprehensive wellness plans take lifestyle, genetics, and lab testing into account to get to the root cause of hormonal dysfunction. Vitality Hormone Clinic prides itself on patient education and collaborative decision making.
I hope this gives a helpful overview of some common hormonal disorders, their causes, diagnosis, and treatment options. Let me know if you have any other questions!