Hormonal Disorders

Hormonal disorders can manifest in many different ways: overactive thyroid, under-active thyroid, menopause, fatigue, weight gain, weight loss, low sex drive… the list goes on and on.

In simple terms, hormones form part of the body’s intricate and complex “messenger service”. Hormones get produced in one part of the body, such as the thyroid, adrenal or pituitary gland, after which they pass into the bloodstream or other body fluid, and go to distant organs and tissues where they act to modify structures and influence essential bodily functions.

This hormonal system is known as the endocrine system. Physiologically, hormones control much of what we feel be it tired, hungry, aroused, hot, or cold. They control the rates of certain chemical reactions, assist in transporting substances through membranes, and help regulate water balance, electrolyte balance, and blood pressure.

When we think about hormones, testosterone and oestrogen are likely to spring to mind first. However, there is so much more to our endocrine system than the sex hormones that command our reproductive cycle.

Every second of every day you have dozens of hormones acting in your body to get certain physiologic functions accomplished. This includes reactions taking place in the skin, too – when your skin is exposed sunlight, it produces vitamin D, which activates the genes that release the mood-regulating hormones dopamine and serotonin.

Getting to grips with hormonal imbalances are not only a challenge, but are also often misdiagnosed – leaving patients and sufferers in a frustrating position of not being able to find answers to alleviate and treat their distressing symptoms. Suffice it to say hormonal imbalances can wreck havoc to your health.

The Daily Health aims to give some guidance in how to treat some of the most common hormonal disorders without having to resort to taking drugs, which may cause even further damage.