How Hormones Play a Role in Your Overall Health
Like many things in life, you don’t often think about hormones until certain times in your life, such as puberty, pregnancy, menopause, or when something goes wrong.
The truth, though, is that hormones are a vital part of your health and well-being. If something goes haywire with your hormones, you’ll know, and you’ll want to fix it.
Here’s a brief summary of how hormones play a role in your overall health, courtesy of board-certified practitioners Barbara Kowalczyk and Michael Fressola and their team at Skin Med Spa.
What are hormones?
Hormones are chemical messengers that coordinate various functions in your body. They carry messages from glands, where they are produced, to cells in the body. The messages tell these cells how to control cellular processes that are essential for life and health.
More than 50 hormones have been identified in the body so far. They control such processes as:
- Metabolism and appetite
- Homeostasis (constant internal balance) - includes blood pressure and blood sugar regulation, fluid (water) and electrolyte balance and body temperature
- Growth and development
- Sexual function, sex drive, and reproduction
- Sleep cycle
- Mood and stress
What role do they play?
If your hormones are well-balanced (and there are no other issues), you should be in good shape. But if they become imbalanced (if you have too much or too little of a particular hormone), they can cause issues with your health. Some of the more common hormone conditions include:
- Thyroid disease
- Male infertility (low testosterone)
- Female infertility
- Irregular periods
- Diabetes
- Obesity
Hormone imbalances can be caused by several factors, including tumors or other growths, damage to a gland, autoimmune conditions, and even just the process of aging.
How can you optimize your hormones?
At Skin Med Spa, we offer bioidentical hormone replacement to restore your hormones to their optimal levels. We’ll ask detailed questions about your symptoms, take a good look at your medical history, perform a physical exam, and complete a comprehensive set of lab tests.
We’ll use all this information to put together a customized plan to improve your overall health by addressing these specific issues. Depending on your situation, your hormone replacement may come in the form of a pill, pellet, lotion, patch, gel, or shot.
If you think you may be experiencing a hormone imbalance, contact Skin Med Spa today to set up a consultation. Just call our office or fill out our online appointment request form, and you’ll be on your way to restoring your health to its full potential.