Hormonal imbalances - how could they be affecting me and how to help manage them?

When we think about hormones, most people only think about sex hormones, being testosterone, estrogen and progesterone. However, there is a high level of interplay with sex hormones, stress hormones and adrenal hormones that can all contribute to an overall person’s presentation. These hormones are regulated in a delicate balance, however when an imbalance occurs, physical signs and symptoms present which can be uncomfortable at best and harmful at worst. So what does it mean to have a hormone imbalance and how do you treat it?

 

Hormones in general are your body’s chemical messenger systems, affecting every function of the human body in some way or another. Hormones influence a large amount of bodily functions including sleep, appetite, stress, mood, metabolism and reproduction. These hormones are spread throughout the body via the bloodstream using the endocrine system.
A hormone imbalance is when your body may have too much or too little of certain hormones, the most common hormone imbalances in women include insulin, cortisol, thyroxin, estrogen and progesterone. Small changes in the levels of these hormones can have a variety of effects on your body’s systems, leading to some frustrating side effects including headaches, migraines, lethargy, anxiety, brain fog and fatigue, to name a few. 

All of these hormones discussed work in a feedback look with the Hypothalamus, which maintains our body’s internal balance, better known as homeostasis. This hypothalamus is responsible for release of
hormones, and with coordination with the pituitary gland releases these into the bloodstream. When levels of certain hormones are too high or too low within the blood stream, the hypothalamus is triggered to release more or less of the certain hormone to keep the body in balance. When the body is not able to regulate this balance for some reason this is how we get hormonal imbalances. Some common causes for a hormonal imbalance can include menopause, pregnancy, breastfeeding, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), premature menopause, or hormone therapy.

Some common symptoms related to a hormone imbalance are listed below:
Sex Hormone Imbalance: 
- Excessive weight gain/difficulty losing weight, decreased sex drive, increase, acne around menstruation, headaches/migraines around menstruation, digestive issues including constipation, hot flushes, heavy or irregular periods, stopped periods, cramping, vaginal dryness or itching, infertility, excessive hair on the face or body,

Adrenal Hormone Imbalance:
Increased Thyroid Hormone (Hyperthyroid)
- Goitre, heat intolerance, sweating of hands, muscle weakness, weight loss
despite increased appetite, irritability/anxiety, palpitations, weakness

Decreased Thyroid Hormone (Hypothyroid)
- Constipation, cold intolerance, tiredness, lethargy, physical and mental
slowing, depression, hair loss, weight gain, huskiness of voice, linked with
other auto-immune disorders such as Rheumatoid Arthritis and Type 1
diabetes

Metabolic Hormone Imbalance
- Difficulty losing weight, excessive weight gain, lethargy, brain fog, increased
thirst, increased urination

Stress Hormone Imbalances
- Hair loss, only skin and/or hair, increased heart rate/palpitations, irritability
and anxiety, lack of sleep/insomnia, fatigue, frequent colds and infections,
easily agitated, moody and or frustrated, acne, clenched jaw and grinding
teeth, headaches. 

 

In order to help change these symptoms, an accurate diagnosis is required in order to identify which hormone(s) is imbalanced, treat it and therefore help to decrease your headaches and migraines. 

 

Diagnosis

- The first step in formulating a diagnosis is the signs and symptoms, particularly with sex hormones. 
- Blood Test – most hormones levels can be easily detected in the blood for
your physician to interpret (except sex hormones). The levels that are reported on the results will determine the most effective course of action, whether that me medical or non-medical
- Pelvic Exam – your doctor can perform a pelvic exam to asses for any cysts
or lumps present. 
- Imaging – an ultrasound of either the ovaries and/or uterus, or thyroid and/or pituitary to assess size and subsequent functioning. An MRI or thyroid scan might be needed as a follow up. 

Treatment Options

Non-Medical - Non-medicinal options can be a useful and natural way to help manage hormonal imbalances. Management options include:

- Maintaining a healthy weight – this will help to adequately regulate blood
sugar levels. Mindful Eating can also help with this. It involves sitting down
when eating, chew food for an appropriate amount of time, focus on
something positive while eating. S tress can lead to decreased gut absorption of nutrients
- Keeping a healthy diet- making sure you are maintaining a balanced diet of
fruit, vegetables and protein full of vitamins and minerals can help regulate
hormone levels and overall bodily health
- Avoiding/Decreasing Stress – The stress hormone Cortisol has been seen to
have detrimental effects on most other hormones within the body and can actually act as an inhibitor of the feedback loop discussed earlier. Decreasing stress levels can help to maintain health levels of other hormones.
- Getting enough sleep- sleep helps our body to heal from stresses for the day preceding, with constant lack of sleep, your body can be in constant state of damage, which places a large amount of stress on your body
- Decreasing Alcohol content –sugary alcoholic drinks can lead to a rapid rise in blood sugar. Alcohol can also rise estrogen levels, as the liver that is used to detoxify alcohol is also needed to detox estrogen. If the liver is preoccupied by detoxing alcohol, estrogen levels can rise, leading to heavier, longer periods, breast pain, an increase in headaches and migraines and PMS
- Decreasing Caffeine – easing into decreasing amounts, replacing with decaf – works as a stimulant on your central nervous system. By decreasing this
stimulation, it can help decrease cortisol levels, and therefore affecting all
hormones.

Medical – for some cases, such as persistent or severe cases of hormonal imbalances, medical management of hormonal imbalance might be needed. Seeking advice from a GP or specialist would be recommended. 

If you feel that you may be managing a hormonal imbalance or would like more information on how your hormones may be affecting your headaches/migraines, come speak to us here at Melbourne Headache Solutions. Call reception today on (03) 9486 7543 to book an appointment with one of our headache/migraine experts.