If you've been feeling fatigue and low energy levels, it could be because your hormones are out of balance.
Oestrogen, progesterone, insulin, testosterone and thyroid hormones all play a role in keeping us going – so when one (or more) of them is “off”, we can end up feeling tired and run down.
But don't worry, there are ways to get your hormones back on track so you can feel like yourself again… keep reading to learn more.
Have you ever been so exhausted, like all you wanted to do was curl up in a ball and sleep for eternity and yet – even when you go to bed early you can’t get restful sleep?
That lack of sleep might be taking a toll on your hormones, but imbalanced hormones can also be causing poor sleep.
It might seem that once your hormones are imbalanced, there’s no turning back… but that’s not true! Here are ways hormone disrupt your sleep and what to consider
Low oestrogen levels (typically in menopausal women) typically cause insomnia, because oestrogen helps move magnesium into tissues, which is crucial for catalysing the synthesis of important sleep neurotransmitters, including melatonin.
Low progesterone impacts women with severe PMS who may also be in perimenopause and menopause. Think of progesterone as your “chillax” hormone and when it’s low, it brings on the crankiness and sleep issues! It helps sleep for many reasons – impacting our respiration but also makes a metabolite (or by-product) called allopregnanolone which interacts with GABA (a receptor in the brain). GABA is a calming neurotransmitter.
High cortisol from too much stress – and stimulants like coffee, toxins and diet ramp up cortisol. When this hormone is too high, it can offset the sleep hormone melatonin. This can impact your circadian rhythm causing plenty of sleep disturbances and afternoon energy crashes.
Insulin resistance (your hormone insulin doesn’t respond well and blood sugar levels increase) can be increased by too little sleep as well as diet. The more insensitive your insulin is, the worse you’ll sleep as well! People with insulin resistance can have blood sugar crashes while they sleep, causing them to wake several times a night and even experience night sweats.
Have you been feeling more exhausted than usual lately? It could be time to check if your thyroid hormones are out of balance.
An imbalance in thyroid hormone levels – low thyroid function, also known as hypothyroidism, can cause a variety of unpleasant symptoms. These include fatigue, weight gain, hair loss, dry skin, anxiety, and a weakened immune system.
There are many reasons for impaired thyroid function, from nutrient deficiency to Hashimoto's thyroiditis, the autoimmune condition responsible for 1 out of 3 hypothyroidism cases.
So why not take control of your health and see a thyroid expert who can evaluate your thyroid hormones with a complete thyroid panel and put you back on the path to feeling like yourself again?
If you're low on energy, low on mojo, and always tired no matter how much sleep you get - it could be due to low testosterone! Low T can cause all sorts of symptoms such as fatigue, a low libido, erectile dysfunction (ED), feeling uninterested in life, sleep disturbances, and even "bat wings" (annoying fat accumulation in the underarm area), especially for women who often experience low-T near or during menopause.
If you are already experiencing insulin resistance, it could mean low testosterone too as that impacts the body’s testosterone production. So don't accept fatigue – have a chat with a hormone specialist about comprehensive testing and bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT).
Whether it's lack of sleep, imbalanced hormones (oestrogen and progesterone), insulin resistance, an imbalance in thyroid hormone levels, or low testosterone levels – there IS a solution.
Don't be a slave to fatigue; while there are lifestyle changes that can help, if you want to solve your energy issues more quickly, it’s smart to call a hormone expert!
Hormone experts who are often BHRT experts and functional medicine doctors are trained to understand the delicate balance of your hormones and recognise the symptoms. They can help you pinpoint which lifestyle changes, dietary tweaks, supplementation or therapy if necessary is right for you based on your testing.
So summon up enough energy to break away from fatigue and live life to its fullest!
If you're based in the UK, book a free discovery call to find out more here.
If you're not based in the UK, you can't work with our BHRT Drs but you can still work with our functional medicine nutritionist and coach: please call the clinic on +44203 303 0237 to find out more.
London Bioidentical Hormones is a Virtual Practice in the United Kingdom and serves patients throughout the United Kingdom.
