Lately you’ve felt exhausted, irritable and not in the mood for romance. You just feel “off.” While you’ve been burning the candle at both ends, do you chalk your symptoms up to stress, your hormones or both?
在世界上越来越多的话，这些天 - 全球大流行和社会压力 - 我们中的许多人都感受到情绪，身体和激素的情绪。
虽然有一些压力是正常的，但它可能会破坏我们生活中的许多东西，包括我们的身体的天然激素平衡。
“Our hormones are important for regulating different processes in our body including metabolism, sleep and reproductive cycles, sexual function and mood,” saidBeth Andresen.，妇女的健康护士从业者与横幅 - 大学医学。“虽然荷尔蒙波动是正常的，但有些东西可以将荷尔蒙失控失衡，造成低能量，睡眠问题和性行为减少的问题。”
这是我们的激素和压力之间的原因和效应关系。
What is a hormone imbalance?
在整个女性的一生中，激素，由内分泌系统产生的身体中的那些化学品自然会发生变化，导致青春期开始，最终提高更年期。
Sometimes, however, you may produce too much or too little of a hormone, setting off some negative side effects in the body.
Your symptoms will depend on which hormones aren’t working properly, but the following could be symptoms of a hormonal imbalance:
- Fatigue
- 热闪光和夜间汗水
- Vaginal dryness
- 沉重的或痛苦的时期
- Drastic weight changes
- Body aches
- 失眠或者poor-quality sleep
- Thinning hair or hair loss
- Depression or anxiety
- Fertility problems
- Low libido (sex drive)
Causes that can throw your hormones out of whack
While many women chalk up these hormonal imbalances to “that time of the month” or menopause, there are a number of things that can contribute. These include:
- 米enopause
- Polycystic ovarian syndrome
- Anovulation
- Pregnancy
- Thyroid disorder
- Perimenopauseand postmenopausal
- 米edications
- Fertility treatments
- Changes in diet and sleep
- Use of caffeine and alcohol
- Depression andanxiety
- 压力
How stress affects our hormones
When we’re stressed, our bodies go into a“fight or flight” response. This prompts our adrenal glands to release a surge of hormones, including cortisol and adrenaline. Whether it’s a rush of nerves before a big presentation or forgetting something at home, humans experience this small surge from time to time.
Unfortunately, when these hormones release more frequently or remain for a longer period of time, you may experience a hormone imbalance, causing things likemissed or irregular periods或如上所述的其他症状。
“应力可以与激素变化相关，这可能导致功能性下降萌芽（FHA） - 不规则或不存在的原因 - 许多其他症状中，”Andresen表示。“我们经常在精英运动员中看到这一点，但情绪压力也可能是病情的原因和效果。”
What you can do
It’s important to talk to your health care provider so that you can receive appropriate treatment. With that in mind, it’s a good idea to keep track of your symptoms, when they occur and for how long they occur for so you can give your provider context.
“Tracking your symptoms will help you figure out your body’s fluctuations and help your provider determine if treatment options are necessary,” Andresen said. “If symptoms are PMS-related, they can be treated withoral contraceptionor antidepressants. If you experience hot flashes, night sweats or vaginal dryness as a result of menopause, those can be treated withhormone replacement therapy, antidepressants and over-the-counter remedies.”
While seeking hormone balance through treatments and therapies may be a great option, Andresen noted it’s also wise to adopt strategies to reduce stress in your life. Doing so can help regulate your body’s natural hormone levels.
Some strategies to help combat stress include:
- Eating a healthy diet低钠和脂肪食品
- 打破不健康的习惯，如喝酒或酗酒咖啡因,抽烟, overeating or using illegal substances
- Adopting a定期锻炼常规
- Practicing relaxation techniquessuch as deep breathing, meditation and yoga
- Improving your睡眠卫生
- Evaluating and调整您的工作/生活平衡
- 培养健康relationships
- 在您的社区中志愿服务
- Seeking out support from alicensed behavioral health specialistto help you better manage your stress and improve your health
It’s not always easy to figure out what’s going on inside your body. By paying attention and noting how you feel, you may be able to better identify and treat a potential hormone imbalance. And it may lead you to a happier, healthier life.
Related articles:
- 8 Ways to Take Care of Your Spiritual Health
- What You Should Know About Sexual Health
- Sex After Baby: Getting Your Groove Back
