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Human body is a complex system which is controlled and regulated by different types of chemicals, called as hormones. These can be lipid-derived, amino acid-derived and peptide hormones. These are produced, stored and released by endocrine glands. From changes in mood, blood pressure, body temperature, appetite, breathing to sexual desires and reproductive cycles.

Everything gets regulated by hormones. When these chemical level changes, complication arises. Either there is excessive increase in normal hormonal level or there is fall in the level of the same. So balanced hormonal level is crucial for a healthy body.

Understanding hormonal changes

Both men and women face hormonal changes which are mainly due to aging. With the passage of time, either hormonal level gets alter or receptors of body becomes less active. There occurs change in hormonal level in men, however it’s a gradual change unlike women, where there is series of accompanying changes.

How does hormonal imbalance occur?

Sometimes hormonal changes are natural and sometimes, it may be due to lot of environmental conditions.

A woman’s body undergoes different stages of changes. All these stages are carried naturally by the hormones. These stages are puberty, menstruation, pregnancy, post pregnancy, pre menopause, menopause and post menopause. These series of stages are accompanied by many changes in body.

The most common issue these days, is stress and so ladies just take care of yourselves. Learn to balance life and avoid stress.

Nowadays people prefer to eat junk food more than foods with nutritional value. But if you understand the benefits of nutritious food then you will start exploring new recipes and eventually you will find nutritional food can also moreish your tongue.

If you focus on healthy diet then you can also avoid

• Obesity
• Anorexia or underweight
• Hyper glycemia
• Hypo glycemia
• Iodine deficiency

 There can also be some medical conditions causing hormonal imbalance, which may be:

• PCOS
• Ovarian cancer
• Infertility
• Early menopause
• Endocrine gland cancer
• Genetic abnormalities
• Thyroiditis
• Thyroid nodule formation
• Pancreatitis

And many other diseases and disorders. Scary right???

But don’t worry, our body gives us many signs to control any condition so if you are able to look out for those signs in your body then you can easily go to an expert and get the right treatment. Prior analysis helps in early diagnosis and hence the treatment can be done at the right time.

Here are some specific signs to look out for if you have hormonal imbalance:

1. Heavy or irregular periods –

This includes delayed or early periods which may be one of the consequences of PCOS. In some women symptom may be heavy bleeding such that they use 15-20 sanitary pads in a day, leading to iron deficiency named anaemia. Whereas in some bleeding is only 1-2 days.

Periods with little abdominal cramps are normal, but due to the change in level of hormones following changes may also be seen:

• Persistent abdominal cramps, with frequent urination and bloating
• Headache
• Lower back pain
• Rapid change in moods
• Low sexual desire
• Changes in appetite
• Breast tenderness
• Sudden weight gain or weight loss
• Bulge in neck region and puffy face
• Unexplained body ache
• Insomnia
• Night sweats
• Late puberty in girls leads to little or no development of secondary female characters like breast enlargement

2. Hirsutism

This is a condition in which there is excessive facial hair growth. This is due to increase in level of androgens in women’s body. This also leads to acne breakouts Sometimes hair growth is also seen on chest, neck and back. Also, in some women hoarseness in voice occur.

3. Skin and hair fall problems

Darkening of skin is one of the alarming signs and you must take care of it, because it’s not concerning only about beauty but it’s about your body health. Mainly darkening is seen over neck, groin or bikini lining. This can be sometimes seen as skin rashes and very dry or rough skin. This should be diagnosed properly so that the underlying reason can be treated.

Another one is hair fall problems. Do keep in your head that not all hair fall problems are due to hormonal imbalance, some are due to pollution, some may be due to any sort of skin diseases and may be the adverse effects of any drugs taken. In women with hormonal imbalance hair strands becomes so thin that it easily breaks without any effort.   

4. Vaginal dryness

This complication is seen at 40s when a woman enters perimenopausal stage. But in some women this stage comes early i.e, in their 30s and the complication continues till menopause. Some drugs dependency like antidepressants, contraceptive pills or any steroids may cause vaginal dryness. It occurs due to tremendous fall in oestrogen level.

5. Weak bone

This sign also develops in perimenopausal, menopausal stages. This can be marked as osteoporosis or bone loss. Hence women of these stages should not risk themselves by doing any kind of work which may cause fracture. As bone is weak to such an extent that breaking becomes easy.

To avoid any kind of undiagnosed disease, just try to analyse all changes in your body and check according to your age that which changes are normal and which are the consequences of disease.

Just maintain a healthy lifestyle which includes:

• Food you take with balanced diet
• Proper daily workout
• Quit smoking and drinking
• Reduction in tea/coffee
• Proper maintenance of sleep-awake cycle
• Avoid recurrent intake contraceptive pills

Rest depends on the line of treatment of diagnosed disease for making balanced level of hormones in the body. 

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