Hormones are the building blocks of everything from fertility to metabolism to mood swings. Over 50 individual hormones have been identified, each of which may significantly affect the health of your patients. Common hormone-related symptoms, including infertility, remain a priority for those studying hormonal conditions. However, ongoing research has revealed that hormonal imbalances have many varied and unexpected consequences—including dozens of common chronic conditions. Combined with the sheer number of hormones, the variable symptoms and presentations of hormonal imbalances present a diagnostic challenge. Comprehensive hormone testing has become a vital clinical tool in detecting, preventing, and managing chronic conditions.
The available literature on hormonal health reveals staggering consequences of hormonal imbalances. Often, these imbalances present with nonspecific symptoms, but there are several common symptoms and conditions that signal a hormonal imbalance, including:
Infertility remains one of the most common symptoms of hormonal imbalances. Women, in particular, are affected by hormone-related infertility. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 19% of women aged 15 to 49 years experience infertility. Without the proper regulation of sex hormones like progesterone, estrogen, and testosterone, women often struggle to conceive and carry a fetus to term. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) affects an estimated 8-13% of reproductive-aged women, and up to 70% of affected women remain undiagnosed worldwide.
As the thyroid is primarily responsible for managing metabolism and growth, the misproduction of thyroid hormones has been connected to several chronic conditions. The two most well-known thyroid-related conditions, hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism, can have significant effects on quality of life. These conditions involve the misproduction of thyroid hormones, including triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4). Symptoms include muscle weakness, irregular weight, mood swings, and fatigue, but these chronic conditions are also associated with an increased risk of muscle, bone, reproductive, and heart complications.
Ovarian and breast cancer have long been associated with estrogen and progesterone production, but ongoing research has indicated a larger connection between hormonal health and cancer development. According to a recent comprehensive literature review, essential hormones like insulin affect the development of breast cancer, and can even influence the rate of tumor growth. Furthermore, two estrogen receptors, ERα and ERβ, have been detected in lung cancer cells. This may explain the increasing incidence of lung cancer in female patients. Hormonal testing, therefore, is important for the early detection and treatment of several types of cancer.
According to the American Psychological Association (APA), one-third of Americans live with extreme stress. Additionally, almost half of Americans report lying awake at night due to stress. As chronic stress can contribute to muscle tension, digestive problems, weight gain, and even an increased risk of cancer, high blood pressure, and heart disease, it’s vital to identify and manage this condition early on. To confirm chronic stress, hormone testing is often the most definitive diagnostic tool. Cortisol, as the hormone largely responsible for the stress response, is particularly helpful for diagnosing chronic stress. Excess stress may manifest as a disruption in the typical diurnal patterns of cortisol levels.
Due to the ubiquitous influence of hormones on whole-body health, there are countless additional non-specific symptoms related to hormonal imbalances. In female patients, low estrogen and/or progesterone levels may contribute to the development of rhytids as well as several oral health problems. Estrogen has also been shown to play an important role in maintaining muscle for female patients; estrogen deficiencies may contribute to loss and deterioration of skeletal muscle mass. Additionally, apathy and depression may result from a hormonal imbalance. Therefore, managing these variable symptoms requires an adept understanding of your patients’ hormonal fluctuations.
The cause of many hormonal imbalances is difficult to predict. Small lifestyle changes can significantly affect hormone production—often in unanticipated ways.
It’s well-known that the diet influences metabolic hormones like glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and insulin, but many other hormones are affected by various dietary changes. Evidence has indicated that diets like intermittent fasting may impact the production of reproductive hormones. Combined with comprehensive testing, it’s important to investigate how your patients’ diet may be affecting their overall health.
While several environmental factors affect hormones, chemical endocrine disruptors are perhaps the most widespread. Certain pesticides and industrial chemicals, including those used in common household items, are made with so-called endocrine disruptors. These chemicals can affect the natural production of hormones or mimic the hormones within the body. Toxic metals and phthalates like bisephenol A (BPA) can significantly alter hormone levels, leading to damaging effects from fertility to pregnancy to breastfeeding. Due to the ubiquitous nature of these environmental factors, it can be difficult to detect and isolate them without assistance from reliable testing.
Understanding the hormonal element is vital to managing chronic conditions. To provide the best in patient care, you need accurate, microscopic data on your patients’ hormonal health. Comprehensive testing with Access Medical Labs allows you to monitor several hormones with a single, non-invasive test. We offer a variety of advanced hormone panels. From our comprehensive male and female panels, which provide a baseline of your patients’ most significant hormone levels, to our NextGen Adrenal panel, which measures cortisol levels throughout the day, we offer high-quality testing with trustworthy results. Each of our panels is customizable, so you can prioritize different hormone markers for different patients. With results in 48 hours, our testing is ideal for monitoring the effects of treatments or tracking the progression of a chronic condition. Explore more from Access Medical Labs.