Understanding Hormone Highs and Lows
10/8/2024
1. Estrogen
High Estrogen (Estrogen Dominance):
Symptoms: Weight gain (especially around hips and thighs), bloating, mood swings, breast tenderness, heavy or irregular periods, headaches, fatigue, low libido, and anxiety.
Effects: Increased risk of breast cancer, uterine fibroids, and endometriosis. It can also lead to insulin resistance and thyroid issues.
Low Estrogen:
Symptoms: Hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, mood swings, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, weight gain (especially around the abdomen), and depression.
Effects: Increased risk of osteoporosis, heart disease, and loss of skin elasticity.
2. Progesterone
High Progesterone:
Symptoms: Fatigue, bloating, drowsiness, mood changes, breast tenderness, and sometimes water retention.
Effects: Can lead to anxiety and depressive symptoms due to its calming, sedative effect when in excess.
Low Progesterone:
Symptoms: Irregular or heavy periods, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), anxiety, irritability, sleep disturbances, and low mood.
Effects: Difficulty maintaining pregnancy (miscarriage risk), estrogen dominance, and increased risk of conditions like fibroids and endometriosis.
3. Progesterone to Estrogen Ratio
Low Ratio (More Estrogen Relative to Progesterone):
Symptoms: Symptoms similar to estrogen dominance such as weight gain, bloating, irritability, and heavy periods.
Effects: May increase risk of breast cancer, fibroids, and mood disorders. It can contribute to conditions like PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome) and endometriosis.
High Ratio (More Progesterone Relative to Estrogen):
Symptoms: Fatigue, sluggishness, and mood changes such as depression or low energy.
Effects: May dampen the effects of estrogen, reducing libido and causing imbalances in other hormones.
4. Testosterone
High Testosterone:
Symptoms (in women): Acne, oily skin, excessive body or facial hair (hirsutism), thinning hair or hair loss, irregular periods, and deepening voice.
Symptoms (in men): Aggression, mood swings, increased muscle mass, low sperm count, and prostate issues.
Effects: May lead to infertility, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in women, and increase risk of heart issues and insulin resistance in both men and women.
Low Testosterone:
Symptoms (in women): Low libido, fatigue, mood changes, and muscle weakness.
Symptoms (in men): Low libido, erectile dysfunction, reduced muscle mass, increased body fat, fatigue, and depression.
Effects: In men, it can contribute to osteoporosis, reduced cognitive function, and cardiovascular problems. In both men and women, it leads to decreased vitality and strength.
5. DHEA (Dehydroepiandrosterone)
High DHEA:
Symptoms: Oily skin, acne, excessive hair growth (in women), aggression, and anxiety.
Effects: Can lead to hirsutism in women, and in extreme cases, it may cause or worsen PCOS and contribute to masculinization in women.
Low DHEA:
Symptoms: Fatigue, low libido, depression, muscle weakness, and reduced resilience to stress.
Effects: Decreased immunity, increased risk of osteoporosis, cognitive decline, and general feelings of burnout and weakness.
6. Cortisol
High Cortisol (Cushing's Syndrome or Stress Hormone):
Symptoms: Weight gain (especially around the abdomen), high blood pressure, anxiety, depression, sleep disturbances, and mood swings.
Effects: Increased risk of diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, osteoporosis, and lowered immune function. It also leads to muscle wasting and fat accumulation.
Low Cortisol (Adrenal Insufficiency or Addison’s Disease):
Symptoms: Fatigue, muscle weakness, weight loss, low blood pressure, dizziness, salt cravings, and depression.
Effects: Can lead to an inability to handle stress, chronic fatigue, and in severe cases, life-threatening adrenal crisis.
Understanding how these hormones interact and influence each other is key to addressing hormonal imbalances.
At Modern Aesthetics and Wellness, Dr. Anwar has customized a unique approach thru the Modern Reset in order to help each individual how to optimize their inner health and wellness