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| Symptoms |
Estrogens
Estrogen is a class of hormones that include estrone (E1), estradiol (E2) and estriol (E3). There are estrogen receptors all over the body including the brain, muscles, bone bladder, gut, uterus, ovaries, vagina, breast, eyes, heart, lungs and blood vessels.
Estrone is manufactured in fat, muscle and skin tissue. It normally represents 10-20% of circulating estrogens before menopause. Obese women have a higher E1:E2 ratio which has been linked to increase of endometrial and breast cancers.
Estradiol is produced in the ovaries. It is the principal estrogen during the reproductive years and the most potent: 12 times stronger than E1 and 80 times stronger than E3. It represents about 10-20% of circulating estrogens. It is the hormone that’s levels drop during menopause. Levels are also lower for women who have had a partial hysterectomy with the ovaries intact or a tubal ligation.
Estriol is made in the ovaries. It is considered the weakest and represents 60-80%. E3 is thought to have protective properties against the production of cancerous cells.
What they do:
- Maintain the reproductive cycle
- Increase HDL and reduce LDL
- Maintain energy levels
- Aid the absorption of calcium, magnesium, and zinc
- Help maintain energy levels
- Improve blood flow to all tissues
- Increase metabolic rate
- Improve insulin sensitivity
- Regulate body temperature
- Enhance memory and reasoning
- Reduce wrinkles
- Moisturize the vagina, vulva and cervix
- Increase sex drive
Estrogen Deficiency
- unexplained weight gain
- apple or pear shaped body
- bloating
- itching
- sweating and hot flashes depression
- irritability
- weepiness
- trouble sleeping
- foggy thinking
- bladder infections
- incontinence
- watery eyes
- allergies
- low libido
- heart palpitations
- fatigue
- low bone density
- painful intercourse
Estrogen Dominance
Either excess estrogen or imbalance of progesterone and estrogen. Signs include:
- Depression with anxiety or agitation
- Irritability and mood swings
- Weight gain, especially in the hips and thighs
- Osteoporosis
- Headaches, migraines
- Poor sleep
- Heavy periods
- Fatigue
- Bloating and puffiness
- Swollen breasts, fibrocystic breasts
- Decreased libido
- Carbohydrate craving
- Foggy thinking
Progesterone
Produced in the ovaries and adrenal glands in women and in testes and adrenal glands in men. Levels are high
after ovulation and remain high through mid-cycle; if you do not ovulate you do not produce progesterone. If
pregnancy does not occur the level drops signaling the uterus to shed its lining. Progesterone is known as the “feel good hormone” and keeps the other hormones in balance.
What it does:
- Plays major role in pregnancy
- Helps use fat for energy
- Promotes sound sleep
- Has a natural calming effect
- Normalizes blood clotting
- Lowers high blood pressure
- Helps balance fluids in the cells
- Facilitates thyroid functioning
Signs of progesterone deficiency:
- Painful, tender, swollen breasts
- Anxiety and stress
- Infertility
- Painful abdomen
- Aggression
- Extremely heavy periods
- PMS
- Night sweats
- Early miscarriage
- Weepiness
- Trouble sleeping
- Headaches associated with period
- Low bone density
- Swollen extremities
- Excessive water retention
Signs of low testosterone in men:
- Decreased libido
- ED
- Increased breast size
- Low sperm count
- Increased irritability, anger and anxiety
- Hot flashes
- Decreased concentration and motivation
- Depression
- Reduced body hair and muscle mass
- Aches and pains
- Decreased muscle mass
- Incontinence
- Rising blood sugar levels
Signs of low testosterone in women
- Decreased libido
- Decreased energy, fatigue, lack of endurance
- Depression, lack of motivation/self confidence
- Anxiety, emotional lability
- Decreased concentration, memory loss
- Bone loss, muscle mass loss (cardiac muscle)
- Increased heart disease (CAD,CHF) & diabetes
- Aches, pains, decreased coordination
- Vaginal dryness, incontinence, hot flashes
- Brain deterioration (Alzeheimer’s and Parkinson’s)
- Dry, thinning skin, wrinkles, hair loss
Androgen excess
- Excessive facial hair (women)
- Loss of scalp hair (women) RARE
- Acne, oily skin
- Anxiety, aggression
- Associated with ovarian cysts
Thyroid
TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) is made in the pituitary gland and regulates the production of thyroid hormones
in the thyroid gland. Main hormone responsible for metabolism and energy. Every cell depends on adequate
thyroid hormone levels to function properly. Slight deficiency can impact health. Levels decline with age.
Critical for heart health and immune function.
What it does:
- Regulates energy and heat production, growth, tissue repair and development
- Stimulates protein synthesis
- Modulates carbohydrates, protein and fat metabolism as well as digestion
- Modulates muscle and nerve action
- Helps regulates hormone excretion and oxygen utilization
Signs & Symptoms Associated with Hypothyroidism
- Fatigue (morning)
- Weakness
- Constipation
- Weight gain
- Cold extremities, intolerance to cold
- Edema around ankles or below eyes
- Muscle aches, headaches
- Depression
- Poor concentration, memory loss
- Hoarseness
- Dry, rough skin, follicular hyperkeratosis
- Orange tint to palms and soles, pallor
- Dry, thinning hair
- Delayed return on Achilles’ tendon reflex
- Axillary Basal Body Temperature < 97.4
- TSH > 3.0 (.5-2.5 optimal)
Conditions Associated with Hyperthyroidism
- Hypertension
- Angina (chest pain), atherosclerosis
- Elevated cholesterol levels
- Elevated homocysteine
- Irregular menstrual cycles. infertility
- PMS, fibrocystic breast disease
- Hypoglycemia
- Psoriasis, urticaria
- Allergies, asthma, rhinitis
Cortisol
Produced in the adrenal gland from progesterone and androstenedione. It is the body’s major defense against
stress, including infections & injuries. Natural anti-inflammatory hormone. Critical for function of the immune
system. Involved in blood sugar regulation.
What it does:
- Helps control weight
- Helps balance blood sugar
- Affects mood and thoughts
- Influences testoserone/estrogen ratio
- Affects bone turnover rate
- Aids protein synthesis
Cortisol Deficiency
- Fatigue, immune dysfunction
- Infections, pneumonia
- Sugar cravings, salt cravings
- Low blood pressure, weak rapid heartbeat
- Allergies, asthma, hives, itching, eczema
- Sinusitis, chemical sensitivities, dermatitis
- Aches, pains, muscle stiffness
- Arthritis
- Hair loss in patches or from the top of the head
Cortisol Excess
- Fatigue
- Sleep disturbances
- Bone loss
- Weight gain waist
- Loss of muscle mass, thinning skin
- Memory lapse, anxiety
Melatonin
Improves sleep disorders and prevents jet lag
Potent antioxidant
Low levels have been seen in cancer patients
High doses have been used to treat breast cancer
Levels decline after age 45
DHEA
Made in the adrenal glandsPrecursor hormone for both testosterone and the estrogens.
DHEA protects against cancers, depression, autoimmune diseases, diabetes, high cholesterol and heart disease.
DHEA begins to drop of after age 30 and can be almost negligible after age 60. Stress accelerates this decline. |
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