Teenagers get a lot of the buzz when it comes to conversations about hormones, but your hormones can go out of balance at any stage of life. In fact, as you approach middle age and beyond, your hormone levels will almost inevitably change. But just because hormonal changes are natural doesn’t mean you have to live with any adverse effects.
Dr. Javier Sosa and our expert team at Woodlands Primary Healthcare provide anti-aging care for anyone experiencing hormonal shifts throughout the aging process. Read on to learn more about imbalanced hormones, signs to look out for, and how we can help.
Hormones 101
Hormones are chemical messengers that your body secretes into your blood, then transports to organs and tissues to help them function normally. While they’re tiny, their role in your health is huge, impacting everything from development and metabolism to sexual function, reproductive health, and cognitive function and moods. Hormones even help maintain your body temperature, thirst, and appetite.
Numerous scenarios and conditions can throw your hormones out of balance, including:
- Addison’s disease
- Aging
- Chronic stress
- Cushing’s syndrome
- Diabetes
- Eating disorders
- Certain medications, such as steroids
- Menopause
- Severe infections
- Thyroid disease
- Pituitary tumors
Aging and hormones
While hormonal imbalances caused by particular medical conditions and diseases often normalize once the underlying cause is treated, aging and menopause are a bit different. For some people, shifts in hormones — such as estrogen, testosterone, and insulin — become severe and negatively impact multiple aspects of their well-being. Regardless, you need balanced hormones to stay as healthy as possible. Low hormone levels related to aging can lead to or exacerbate aging skin, heart disease, memory loss, sexual dysfunction, fatigue, and osteoporosis.
Signs of hormone imbalances that are often associated with menopause or aging include:
- Aging skin
- Anxious or depressed moods
- Difficulty concentrating
- Erectile dysfunction
- Heart disease
- Low sex drive
- Vaginal dryness
- Painful intercourse
- Reduced muscle strength
- Urinary incontinence
- Thinning hair
- Weakened bones
- Weight gain
This list is only a portion of the possible symptoms.
What to do about hormone imbalance
If you’re showing signs of imbalance hormones, Dr. Sosa and our team can help pinpoint the cause of your symptoms and help determine the next steps. If Dr. Sosa confirms a hormone imbalance, we can start you on an anti-aging regimen aimed at restoring diminished hormones and nutrients to bring your body back into balance.
If you’re lacking particular nutrients or have difficulty meeting those needs through diet alone, we may recommend vitamin and intravenous (IV) vitamin therapy. Lifestyle measures, such as improved diet, exercise, and sleep habits, can also help. In some cases, hormone replacement therapy provides the best course of action.
To learn more about hormone imbalance or to get the care you need, call Woodlands Primary Healthcare, located in The Woodlands, Texas, or request an appointment with Dr. Sosa on our website.
