Hormone Facts: Stranger than Fiction

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Hormones Are Pretty Amazing Things

Hormone Facts: Hormones are special chemical messengers in the body that are created in the endocrine glands. These critical messengers control most major bodily functions, from simple basic needs like hunger to systems like reproduction, and even emotions and mood. There is not a single person on Earth who is not completely dependent on their endocrine system. Without hormones, you would simply not be able to exist. It can get pretty complex, medical and factual if you really dig into them.

But There Are Many Facts and Theories About Hormones That Are Surprisingly Eye-Opening.

Even unbelievable. The only way to demonstrate these are to list some of them. Don’t be surprised if the thoughts “you’re kidding” and “no way” come to mind…

The Use of Electronics Can Really Mess Up Our Minds.

One week of camping, without electronics, can help the body synchronize melatonin hormones with sunrise and sunset, and get a normal sleep pattern back on track.

Heil Whaaat?

During World War ll, the Allies considered injecting estrogen into Hitler’s food to make him less aggressive and cause his moustache to fall off.

Your Hangover Is the Result of Drunk Hormones

When we drink alcohol, it messes with the job of the antidiuretic hormone. What follows is the incessant peeing that happens when you drink, which is a major contributor in being hungover. So think of it this way: every time you drink, you’re kind of getting your hormones drunk too, because they quit behaving appropriately — like you.

SPF For Your Eyeballs?

If you don’t want a sunburn, don’t wear sunglasses. Because sunlight triggers the optic nerve, it immediately puts the pituitary gland on the defense. In response, melanocyte is released to prevent you from getting a sunburn. However, when you put on sunglasses, nothing is triggered, so nothing is released. 

Testosterone Road Trip

Testosterone can cross the blood-brain barrier and be converted to estrogen, but estrogen alone, cannot cross. As a result, men have more “estrogen on the brain” than women.

No Bones About It

Responsible for producing hormones that control, well, pretty much everything, the pituitary gland is also known as the master gland. You can also have 95 percent of this master gland removed and your body will still function properly. That’s because every part of the body is able to make hormones — including bones.

Take This Seriously

There are some 50 different hormones swimming through your bloodstream that play a really big role in your body’s health and well-being. When they are out of balance, it can seriously affect how your body functions. In many cases, when you aren’t feeling well, it could well be hormones. The best way to find out is to find your way to Denver Hormone Health. If it has anything to do with hormones, the doctors at Denver Hormone Health know what to do about it. With simple tests they can tell what’s out of whack, and create a tailored treatment plan to get you back on track. And feeling better than ever. Call Denver Hormone Health for an appointment now. There’s nothing funny about not feeling well.

Hormones and Diabetes: It’s Not So Sweet

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Diabetes Basics

Did you know that the medical term for diabetes is actually “Diabetes Mellitus”?  (Although you probably never hear it called that.) Diabetes affects approximately 30.3 million people (9.4% of the population) in the United States, (Tom Hanks, Nick Jonas and Halle Berry to name a few) while another estimated 84.1 million people have prediabetes and don’t know it. What you probably know is that it has something to do with sugar. To put it simply, diabetes is a chronic condition in which the body does not produce enough of the hormone insulin, resulting in high levels of the sugar “glucose” in the bloodstream.

Every Type is Pretty Terrible

There are two main types of diabetes: type 1 and type 2. Both types of diabetes are lifelong diseases that affect the way your body regulates blood sugar, or glucose. Glucose is the fuel that feeds your body’s cells, but to enter your cells it needs a key. Insulin is that key. People with type 1 diabetes  (often known as juvenile diabetes) don’t produce insulin. You can think of it as not having a key. People with type 2 diabetes don’t respond to insulin as well as they should and later in the disease often don’t make enough insulin. You can think of this as having a broken key. Of the two, type 1 is the most severe.

When Hormones Have Their Way

Hormone imbalances definitely influence blood sugar levels. To better understand how hormones affect diabetes, it is important to identify which hormones can impact those levels in the blood. Insulin is the hormone that affects blood sugar levels the most, but it’s not the only one. Glucagon, Amylin, Epinephrine, Cortisol and Growth Hormone are others that are best left to medical minds. Let’s just say when it comes to diabetes, unbalanced, they’re “bad”.  This, we can all understand.

Some Serious Stuff Here

Many people with diabetes often “poo-poo” it, not believing it can really do that much damage. But consider just some of the symptoms and health-related problems:

  • Increased thirst and urination
  • Nerve pain
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Blurred vision
  • Hunger
  • Weight loss or gain
  • Fatigue
  • Dry mouth 
  • Depression
  • Slow-healing wounds, cuts, or sores 
  • Itching skin
  • Increased susceptibility to infections
  • Heart and blood vessel disease
  • Kidney disease

Still think controlling it isn’t something to think seriously about?

Eat This Up

The first thing people think about when it comes to diabetes and diet, is deprivation. No this, no that, and absolutely, positively, never-ever anything sweet. Not so. It’s just all about portion. That box of Valentine candy? Have a small piece or two, just don’t devour the whole thing or dig into a 5-lb chocolate heart. (Cupid won’t die if you don’t). A diet for diabetics is a sensible, healthy diet for anyone; fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein and heart-healthy fats. It’s about cutting back on sodium and processed foods. And really cutting back on carbs which are most easily broken down into sugar.  What are a few examples of things you should you totally try to avoid?

  • Frosting (Sorry, but you can ‘t get caught up in the cupcake craze)
  • Bagels
  • Soda (sugar-free is fine)
  • Sugary cereals- (Fruit Loops can really send your blood sugar in loops)
  • Stick margarine
  • Jarred tomato sauce- (Sure, it’s easy, but…Prego is a no-go)
  • Bacon (No more “Bs” in your BLTs)
  • Maraschino cherries (And the sugar-laden cocktails you love them in)
  • Soy sauce
  • Smoothies (Just being green, doesn’t make them healthy)
  • Vanilla cappuccino with whipped cream and hazelnut drizzle (Or any other Starbucks specialty where tons of sugar make them so special.)
  • The devilish duos of anything breaded and fried (bye-bye chicken McNuggets)
  • Fatty red meat (liverwurst’s the worst)
  • Hot dogs

It’s All in the Balance

Before you go bonkers over diabetes, you have to remember that it can be all about hormone imbalances. And imbalances, if treated correctly, by the right medical specialists, can be balanced. The place to start, is getting a good and accurate measure of your hormones, especially those that can contribute to diabetes. And in the Denver area, there’s no better place to do that than at Denver Hormone Health. Every one of the doctors that are at Denver Hormone Health are hormone specialists that know everything there is to know about hormones and getting them back in balance. Simple tests can tell them how they can help you if they determine you’re pre-diabetic or diabetic. Even if it turns out you’re not, they can see if something isn’t in balance with all the other hormones floating through your bloodstream. In any case, all they care about is getting you back to feeling your best. Call the experts at Denver Hormone Health now.

Diabetes doesn’t have to get you down.

Hormones and Health – Hormone Happy New Year

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Hormone Health in 2019

Oh Boy, Here It Goes Again

New Year’s resolutions. You know, those well-intended promises to yourself that make you feel righteous when you make them. One problem, is that most people makes lists that are longer than the list of our President’s Twitter rants. Resolutions that rarely last until February, if at all.

You’re not alone.

Here Are A Few Goodies

There are always the standards:” I’ll eat right. I’ll lose weight. I’ll exercise more. I’ll be a better person.” Always a good start. But maybe you should start the New Year with an overall inventory of your general health. Listen to what your body is telling you. You can’t depend on a Fitbit to get the whole picture.

Forget Trying to Google “Good Resolutions”

Try these instead; determine to get yearly physicals, check your blood pressure and cholesterol. And don’t forgo those Flu shots. Above all, if something is going on with the way you feel, don’t ignore it hoping it will go away. Don’t self-diagnose (or Google your symptoms).

Spend Time with Things Furry And 4-Legged

It never hurts to make some resolutions that wouldn’t make it to many lists:

  • Stop self-bullying
  • Take out your earbuds and listen
  • Spend less than half your day on devices
  • Sleep more
  • Say “no” more often
  • Call friends. Frequently.
  • Don’t become a life potato
  • Travel, if only to another side of town
  • Leave your bed unmade with guilting over it
  • Give envy a break
  • Treat yourself like #1

Get Out of Hormone Hell

Now this is a resolution everyone should make. Hormones? Yep. Those chemical messengers that tear through your body calling the shots as to what’s working and what’s not.

Those headaches?
Maybe just hormones.

That fatigue?
Hormones.

Depression. Unexplained weight gain. Brain fog?
Ditto.

Unbalanced hormones can have a heyday with your entire body.

A visit to Denver Hormone Health can tell you if your hormones are out of balance. Every doctor at Denver Hormone Health is a specialist in everything that has to do with hormones, so you couldn’t put yourself in better hands. Whatever your resolutions, make making an appointment at Denver Hormone Health a must.

New year? New you.