NAN-HG-5
Hormones
By Bushrah Yusuf-Badmus
Ilorin, Feb. 3, 2017 (NAN) A medical practitioner, Dr Adeoye Johnson, has urged women to pay attention to hormonal imbalance taking place in them at different times of their lives.
Hormones are chemical “messengers” that impact the way cells and organs function.
Johnson told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ilorin on Friday that timely intervention could go a long way in tackling some health issues that cause the cells and organs to malfunction.
She attributed the upward or downward movement of hormones to health issues or use of some medications, noting, however, that the shift happen at different times.
She explained that the change in hormones were mostly before and during menstrual period or pregnancy, or during menopause.
“For example, irregular periods can be an issue because most women’s periods come every 21 to 35 days. If yours doesn’t arrive around the same time every month, or you skip some months, it might mean that you have too much or too little of certain hormones (estrogen and progesterone).
“If you’re in your 40s or early 50s — the reason can be premenopause — the time before menopause. But irregular periods can be a symptom of health problems like Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), so, you need to talk to your doctor.
“Also, if you aren’t getting enough sleep or if the sleep you get isn’t good, your hormones could be at play because progesterone, a hormone released by your ovaries, helps you catch sleep.
“If your levels are lower than usual, that can make it hard to fall and stay asleep. Low estrogen can trigger hot flashes and night sweats, both of which can make it tough to get the rest you need,” Johnson said.
She further attributed fatigue and chronic acne to hormonal imbalance in women.
She explained that “fatigue is one of the most common symptoms of hormone imbalance because excess progesterone can make you sleepy.
“And if your thyroid (the butterfly-shaped gland in your neck) makes too little thyroid hormone, it can sap your energy, so, a simple blood test called a thyroid panel can tell you if your levels are too low. If they are, you can get treated for that.”
She, however, identified vaginal dryness, loss of libido, breast changes, memory fog and mood swings and depression as other health conditions arising from hormonal imbalance. (NAN)
BAY/OSA/HA
===========
Edited by Shittu Obasa/Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu