Hormone Imbalances
Hormone imbalances are very common. This is due to the fact that there are many things in our body, life circumstances and environment that can affect our hormones. This is just as true for children as it is for adults. Hormone imbalance is not just a problem for middle-aged people. Children are affected now more than ever due to changes in the environment. Here are just a few of the underlying causes for hormonal imbalances. This is not an exhaustive list.
A Few Things That Can Cause Hormone Imbalances
- Chemicals found in cosmetics
- Chemicals we breathe in the air
- Drugs
- Emotional issues
- Foods that are processed with sugar and other additives
- Heavy metal toxicity
- Hormones and chemicals found in water
- Hormones used in the production of meat, fish and chicken
- Inborn (genetic) errors of metabolism
- Plastics and Chemicals that are used in food packaging & production
- Stress
The important thing to remember is that one hormone can affect other hormones. Also nutrients can affect the level of hormone production and can also help in the use of the hormone. One key nutrient, for example is iodine. Fluoride, such as that found in fluoridated drinking, water can displace iodine on the thyroid molecule. In this way the fluoridated drinking water can create a thyroid imbalance because that change in the molecule changes how the thyroid binds to other molecules.
Evolving science now shows us that there are several types of thyroid sub tests that need to be done to determine which type of imbalance exists. After making corrections to the thyroid balance, it may or may not be necessary to manipulate any further hormones.
But this is an oversimplification. It's really more complex and has taken Dr. Kotsanis years of training and clinical practice to master. Each patient's individual history and circumstances help us identify which direction to take and how to help them reach their goals.
The two other hormones that it is important to address early on are cortisol (produced by the adrenal glands) and insulin (produced in the pancreas). Cortisol is tested in saliva while insulin is tested by blood as is the thyroid hormone. Recommendations are made specific to each person's results and there is normally a nutritional and/or exercise solution. If you have several of the symptoms on the list below, you may have hormonal imbalances.
Some Symptoms of Hormone Imbalance
- Allergies, including asthma, hives, rashes, sinus congestion
- Autoimmune disorders
- Breast cancer
- Breast tenderness
- Cervical dysplasia
- Cold hands and feet as a symptom of thyroid dysfunction
- Copper excess
- Depression and anxiety
- Dry eyes
- Early onset of menstruation
- Fatigue
- Fibrocystic breasts
- Foggy thinking
- Gallbladder disease
- Hair Loss
- Headaches
- Hypoglycemia
- Increased blood clotting
- Infertility
- Irregular menstrual periods
- Irritability
- Loss of sex drive
- Magnesium deficiency
- Memory loss
- Mood swings
- Osteoporosis
- Polycystic ovaries
- Premature aging
- Trouble sleeping
- Uterine cancer
- Weight gain or loss
