STRESS AND HORMONES; EVERYTHING TO FEAR FROM FEAR ITSELF

Who on this planet doesn’t experience stress in their lives? You worry about losing your job. Missing deadlines. Caring for your family. Losing a relationship. Getting sick. In today’s 100-mile-an-hour world, the list is endless.  You suffer from anxiety. Panic attacks loom. Your hearts race, your palms sweat, you shake and even feel like you could pass out. Yikes. It’s scary. And not the kind of scary that makes movies like Us and It become mega box office hits. Well the real scare is how these feelings of terror can create hormone imbalances that can throw your whole life out of balance.

WHEN IT GOES BEYOND “FIGHT OR FLIGHT” YOU’RE IN FOR A REAL BATTLE

You’ve probably heard the expression “fight or flight”, but do you really know what it means? This is the stress response action that happens when you feel threatened or truly scared. When this happens, the body releases several stress hormones, such as cortisol and adrenaline into the bloodstream. These hormones increase your strength, concentration, and ability to react. Your heart rate and blood pressure increase, and your immune system and memory are sharper. After you have dealt with the short-term stress, your body returns to normal. Chronic or long-term stress, however, poses a problem. If you frequently face challenges, your body is constantly producing higher levels of stress hormones and does not have time to recover. These hormones over time can cause serious health problems.

CORTISOL; PUBLIC STRESS ENEMY NO. 1

Excess cortisol is often hard to diagnose as symptoms usually develop slowly and often overlap with many other conditions. Conditions your primary doctor could prescribe the wrong treatment for. These include:

• Depression
• Fatigue
• Weight gain
• Back pain
• Thin skin
• Decreased concentration
• Swelling in the hands and feet
• Low libido
• Acne
• Impaired memory (especially short-term memory)
• Female facial hair or female balding
• Insomnia
• Poor skin healing
• Irritability
• Menstrual abnormalities
• Increased blood sugar
•  Decreased bone mineral density
• High blood pressure
• Easy bruising
• Muscle wasting and weakness of arms and legs

Talk about high anxiety…

STRESS AND HORMONES; MEDITATE ON THIS:

Unless you’re the king or queen of Zen, stress is bound to take a serious stab at your health. Yes, following a diet higher in lean protein and fiber and lower in carbohydrates that have a high glycemic index (especially sugar) can partially lowering cortisol levels, as well as the regular practice of relaxation or mind-body techniques such as meditation or progressive muscle relaxation. All things considered, how realistic is that? You could try supplementing your diet with natural compounds such as phosphatidylserine, magnolia bark extract, and ashwagandha root. Oh yeah, you’re going to run out and try that. And do they really do the job? Simple answer? No way. So what can you do? Here’s where we can actually say, “relax”. The hormone professionals at Denver Hormone Health are uniquely expert in diagnosing hormone imbalances and getting them back to the levels they need to be for your body (and mind) to function at its optimal best. Simple tests will tell them if your cortisol has shot into hyperdrive, dragging your health and well-being behind. Then they are able to create a treatment plan tailored to your individual needs. In your whirlwind of a life, take just a few minutes to call and make an appointment at Denver Hormone Health now. They’re experienced, they care and they take you through the entire process nice and easy. How stress-free is that?