Your hormones are controlled by your endocrine system. Like all of the systems of your body, your endocrine system is critically important for good health and well-being.
Your endocrine glands produce hormones, which are like messages delivered through your bloodstream to your organs and other tissues. When your hormones are unbalanced, you can be affected in a surprising variety of ways. Dr. Neil Spiegel at Osteopathic Center for Healing can help you get your hormones in balance, so that you feel your best.
Your hormones play an important role right from the beginning. Several hormones are necessary for children to grow, for their brains to develop, and for them to reach and experience puberty.
The hypothalamus largely controls the pituitary gland, which is sometimes called the “master gland.” One of the many hormones the pituitary gland produces is called growth hormone because it regulates growth processes.
If you’ve struggled to lose weight through exercise and good nutrition, a hormone imbalance could be an issue. Metabolism is the chemical processes your body uses to extract energy from the foods and drinks you consume.
The thyroid gland is extremely important to your metabolism. If it’s not functioning properly, you may feel hungry all the time or you may have no appetite at all. You may have diarrhea or be constipated. It depends on whether your thyroid is producing too much hormone or not enough.
Hormones control your sexual function. If you’re a woman, your ovaries secrete mainly estrogen and progesterone which are considered the female sex hormones. If you’re a man, your testes produce testosterone, the male sex hormone.
Your pineal gland is deep in your brain, and it controls your sleep/wake cycles. If you’re a “night owl” or an “early bird,” it’s thanks to your pineal gland.
Good sleep is important for good health. Poor sleep is associated with numerous other health risks, such as cardiovascular disease and obesity.
Several functions that happen without you thinking about them, like your heart rate, are a result of your hormones. Other functions include:
If you have a hormone imbalance, there’s a significant chance that you just feel like something isn’t quite right. You may feel especially tired or struggle to lose weight. You may not be sleeping well, or your appetite might be different than it used to be.
If you’re experiencing symptoms that seem vague and hard to pinpoint, book your appointment at Osteopathic Center for Healing. Dr. Spiegel can perform tests to determine whether your endocrine system is functioning properly. You can request an appointment online or simply give us a call at 301-245-1940.
