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Hormonal failure - causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment. Hormonal disorders in women - it's time to turn to an endocrinologist Basic principles of recovery

Adrenaline is one of the hormones produced in the human body. It is secreted by the adrenal glands in situations that people call stressful. In other words, this hormone helps to mobilize and get additional physical and psychological opportunities to overcome the situation that has arisen. Without adrenaline, a person will never experience that surge of strength that helps to cope with all sorts of difficulties in this life. But at the same time, it is impossible to allow the level of adrenaline in the blood to be constantly elevated, this has a very negative effect on health.

How to get out of such a situation when stresses are inevitable and they need to be overcome, but at the same time you want not to lose your health? How to reduce adrenaline levels without losing the ability to actively act in emergency situations?

Hormone without which it is impossible to survive

When a person gets into a situation called stressful, he needs to find a way out as soon as possible, and use his abilities as efficiently as possible. In this case, the adrenal glands release adrenaline into the blood - a powerful stimulant of brain activity, which allows you to mobilize all the forces of the body in the shortest possible time to solve the problem that has arisen. This hormone allows you to become a “superman” for a while and cope with such a load, psychological or physiological, that you can hardly cope with in a normal state.

The purpose of adrenaline is to mobilize a person, "spur" his hidden strengths and capabilities in order to overcome an extreme situation and help him survive in it. This substance-mediator is released during dangers, injuries, during some boundary natural disasters, during sports competitions, and the like. In order for such a reaction to occur, nature provided for adrenaline receptors, which are supplied to all cells of the human body. An increase in the level of adrenaline in the blood gives the cells the opportunity to respond to something in a new way. This is the ability of man to survive.

But the action of adrenaline is limited in time, since its purpose is to "turn on" the body, to give it superpowers. Therefore, adrenaline as a drug is used in anti-shock medicine when it is necessary to start the fading or stopped functions of the body.

Causes

The release of adrenaline is a reaction to stressful situations:

  • danger,
  • state of shock
  • serious injury
  • sudden psychological shock
  • extreme environment,
  • strong pain,
  • a significant increase or decrease in human body temperature,
  • doing some sports.

On some diets, periodic adrenaline rushes can also be observed - for example, on a low-carb diet. The reason is that insufficient intake of nutrients for the body is also a stressful situation. And it forces the adrenal glands to produce adrenaline in the hope that in this way additional resources will be found that will help increase blood glucose.

Symptoms

When adrenaline is released in the body, certain physiological mechanisms are triggered:

  • the frequency and strength of heart contractions increase, which allows more actively and in large volumes to “supply” blood to the tissues;
  • there is a change in the musculature of the vessels;
  • relaxes the muscles of the intestine;
  • pupils dilate.

If adrenaline is released into the blood for a long time, there may be an increase in the myocardium, as well as skeletal muscles. Against the background of intensive protein metabolism, depletion of the body may begin.

According to subjective sensations, a person can also determine an adrenaline surge. The symptomatology is the following:

  • tachycardia,
  • sudden release of large amounts of sweat,
  • respiratory failure (shortness of breath, rapid breathing),
  • blurred vision due to spasm of accommodation (the lens of the eye loses the ability to "sharpen"),
  • headache and heartache.

With frequent and violent release of adrenaline, a person begins to experience chronic fatigue, it is already difficult for him to do routine work, he develops insomnia. Along with this, there is an increase in the pain threshold: the body becomes less sensitive to pain.

All this has an extremely negative effect on health, and if a person observes these symptoms in himself, then it's time to think about how to lower adrenaline in the blood. If it is constantly allocated, then:

  • hypertension develops;
  • the processes of inhibition are intensified, since, in contrast to adrenaline, the production of norepinephrine begins to bring the body into a state of hormonal balance;
  • the risk of a stroke or heart attack in a perfectly healthy person increases due to a sharply increasing load on the heart and blood vessels;
  • and worst of all, a condition called adrenal insufficiency can occur, in which cardiac arrest is possible.

In addition, excess adrenaline has the same effect on the body as large doses of alcohol. With all the ensuing consequences.

It is possible to accurately determine whether increased adrenaline is taking place using blood and urine tests. The accuracy of the analysis is ensured if certain requirements are met for three days before taking the tests:

  • not to drink,
  • Do not smoke,
  • do not use alcohol and medicines containing alcohol,
  • avoid stress and heavy physical exertion,
  • do not take caffeine, nitroglycerin and some other drugs (the doctor should give a complete list),
  • and also do not eat bananas and chocolate.

How to reduce

It is possible to avoid constant adrenaline releases and the harmful effects of adrenaline on the body both without the help of medications and by medication.

If you try to do without drugs, then, first of all, you need to protect yourself from unnecessary stressful situations, from unnecessary increased stress, both physiological and psychological. Here, folk wisdom is very appropriate, which says: do not ask for trouble. You can not force the body to always work at the limit, you need to provide him with proper rest, sleep and nutrition.

Be sure to switch to a healthy lifestyle with an established sleep and nutrition regimen. And even such seemingly trifles as the usual physical exercises every morning and a walk in the fresh air before going to bed have an extremely beneficial effect on the body. If you wish, you can do yoga, auto-training. This will help to cope with stress, which, of course, is unlikely to be completely avoided.

If you need a medical solution to the problem, then only a doctor should prescribe medications. Self-medication can cause irreparable harm to health, and, in addition, drugs can reduce the effect of adrenaline, but do not block its production by the adrenal glands. Therefore, it is much better to drink herbal teas with mint, motherwort, and also take baths with herbal infusions before going to bed.

I will never forget the words of the institute professor who taught psychiatry in our country. He used to be a dermatologist. One day I asked him why he left dermatology and went into psychiatry. He answered like this : “An endless stream of people suffering from psoriasis and eczema flowed to me. Ultimately, I came to the conclusion that these patients were crying out their pain through their skin. Practically all such patients had difficult experiences - they had the right to sob and moan. But they did not allow themselves to cry. And their grief came out through the skin - in the form of a painful, itchy and weeping rash.

Studies have shown that when a person experiences stress, psoriasis and eczema flare up.

Even though I'm not a dermatologist, my advice is: : "If your skin starts to scream - listen". And as a therapist, I strongly recommend that you learn to relieve stress.

What is perception?

Stress is caused not so much by the events themselves, but by perception what is happening. The level of stress of a person is determined by what certain circumstances mean to him.

What one person considers terrible or unbearable, for another turns out to be a trifle.

One professional footballer told me that he does not experience much stress when playing football. Yes, he gets tired by the end of the game, but it's a "good" tiredness. But after he has been busy with financial matters for an hour, he needs to take a nap - he feels so exhausted. Is writing bills harder than playing football? No. But for this man, football is a favorite thing that brings joy. Accounting is hard and boring.

The stress that a footballer receives is determined by how he perceives his activities.

American psychologists Thomas Holmes and Richard Ray, who developed a stress scale that assesses the risk of a nervous breakdown and some somatic diseases, found that even joyful events - for example, the birth of a child - can turn out to be stressful. It's all about the perception of happy events.

You've probably heard tragic stories about a man who suffered a stroke when he found out about a big lottery win. Or about a mother having a heart attack when her long-lost son unexpectedly returned home. Stress researcher Robert Sapolsky writes: “Why can unexpected joy kill a person in the same way as sudden grief? Yes, because these feelings cause similar physiological reactions. Yes, insane anger and great joy have different effects on the reproductive system, on the growth of the body, and probably on the immune system. But they affect the cardiovascular system in the same way.

This is the essence of the connection between emotions and physical condition.

Long-term effects of stress

Have you ever woken up in the morning with memories of some difficult event in your head? And the whole day is unfortunate, as if this event had just happened. The past often comes back to us in dreams. For many people, even memories of difficult events are so painful that they become a source of stress.

The biochemical processes of the brain do not care whether the misfortune happened yesterday or twenty years ago. Once the brain rewrites the memory in terms of neurotransmitters and hormones, the body responds to specific chemicals. And the body is all the more unaware of what kind of event it responds to. Pain from an old spiritual wound causes the same feelings (and therefore the same reaction of the body) as today's pain.

Moreover, the longer a person is immersed in old wounds and resentments, the more habitual they become for the brain, and the stress reaction when memories arise develops more and more quickly. The body re-experiences the stress of being fired from a job, denied a promotion, or divorced over and over again. This happens every time he vividly draws for himself scenes from the past and again plunges into the feelings that accompanied them. That is why somatic illnesses develop months or even years after a serious mental injury - for example, after rape or the death of a loved one.

Relationship between mental illness and physical illness

Many people, including doctors, do not recognize that bodily ailments are somehow connected with the state of the soul. They do not attach importance to psychosomatic processes. Many medical schools hold the view that psychosomatic illnesses do not exist at all: they are just a figment of the imagination. But any sane person intuitively understands that these diseases exist. They begin with processes that occur only in the brain - imagination, thinking, perception, memories. But these processes end with very real physical ailments. Ask a person who has been suffering from a psychosomatic disorder for a long time. He will confirm to you that it is no better or easier than any other disease. Sometimes these diseases are very painful for patients. Do not be dismissive of a disease that originates in a state of mind. Modern scientific data more and more convincingly show that the mental component is inherent not in individual rare diseases, but in most diseases.

Here are some psychological disorders associated with long-term stress: general anxiety disorder, panic attacks, post-traumatic anxiety syndrome, depression, phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorders (compulsive disorder) and other, more rare, pathologies.

Prolonged stress also manifests itself in physical ailments. With chronic overvoltage, almost every organ is seriously threatened. And, if the necessary measures are not taken, then chronic stress leads to a number of physical problems:

CARDIOVASCULAR DISORDERS:

hypertension, dizziness, mitral valve prolapse, palpitations,

paroxysmal atrial tachycardia (suddenly starting and suddenly stopping increased heart rate), arrhythmia (disturbances in frequency, rhythm and sequence of excitation and contraction of the heart), ventricular or atrial extrasystole (premature cardiac contraction).

GASTROINTESTINAL DISORDERS:

gastroesophageal reflux (reverse movement of the contents of the stomach through the lower esophageal sphincter into the esophagus), ulcer, gastritis, heartburn, dyspepsia (disturbance of the normal functioning of the stomach, accompanied by a feeling of pain or discomfort, early satiety, fullness, heaviness in the epigastric region), constipation, diarrhea, syndrome irritable bowel, intestinal inflammation (including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis).

HEADACHE:

migraine, tension headaches.

SKIN PROBLEMS:

psoriasis, eczema, urticaria, acne.

URINARY SYSTEM:

chronic prostatitis, chronic and recurrent fungal infections, frequent urinary tract infections, frequent urination, loss of sexual desire and impotence, low levels of sex hormones (progesterone and testosterone).

PAIN AND INFLAMMATION:

chronic back pain, fibromyalgia (complex disorder with generalized musculoskeletal pain, depression, sleep disturbance, morning stiffness and constant fatigue), chronic pain syndromes, tendinitis (inflammation of the tendons), carpal tunnel syndrome (pain and numbness in the index and middle fingers and weakness of the thumb), dysfunction of the temporomandibular joints (chronic subluxation of the lower jaw).

RESPIRATORY AND LUNG DISEASES:

chronic and recurrent colds, sinusitis, pharyngitis and otitis, chronic and recurrent bronchitis, pneumonia, asthma, bronchospasm, shortness of breath, hyperventilation of the lungs.

WEAKENING IMMUNITY:

chronic fatigue, chronic and recurrent infections of all kinds.

How certain diseases are associated with stress

Cancer

The immune system contains cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (T-killers, "killer cells"). They are the body's first line of defense against cancer cells, viruses, bacteria, and fungi. Only a few of us know that malignant cells occur with some frequency in all people. But if the immune system works properly, then it copes with dangerous cells quickly and efficiently. The "killer cells" pounce on the transformed cell before it can grow into a tumor. The most effective way to prevent cancer is a strong and stable immune system. And long-term stress seriously undermines it.

Autoimmune diseases

Now there is a lot of talk about strengthening the immune system, but I would like to note that its excessive strengthening is also dangerous. The immune system is controlled by the brain. When something is broken in this interaction, the consequences can be twofold. Sometimes immunity responds not with weakening, but, on the contrary, with unrestrained activity. Then immune cells attack not only enemies, external and internal, but also healthy cells. As a result, autoimmune diseases develop, such as rheumatoid arthritis or systemic lupus erythematosus.

One of the main dangers that disrupts the balanced interaction of the brain with the immune system is chronic stress!

Allergy

All types of allergies - allergic rhinitis, food allergies, urticaria, eczema, bronchial asthma and others - are directly related to malfunctions of the immune system, when it takes completely harmless substances for dangerous ones and starts to fight them. These failures are usually caused by severe stress. The body takes dust, particles of bird feathers, animal fur and hair, mold and pollen for enemy infiltrators, and the immune system rises to fight them. Highly specialized immune cells (so-called mast cells, or mast cells) secrete histamine, which causes an allergic reaction: sneezing, runny nose, irritation of the mucous membrane of the eyes, redness of the skin. The body does its best to get rid of irritants.

If the allergen is in food, then the gastrointestinal tract is irritated and skin reactions appear: this is how the body tries to remove the unwanted substance. The extreme degree of an allergic reaction is anaphylactic shock, often ending in death. It occurs in response to a wasp or bee sting, to antibiotics, and from food to shellfish, peanuts, and some other foods.

Skin diseases

Numerous studies show that stress causes psoriasis. Psoriasis can be compared to a volcano that begins to erupt under the influence of invisible forces raging under an apparently calm surface. The body begins to splash fear, frustration, anger and other destructive emotions through the skin. Painful, itchy psoriasis lesions signal that the body has rebelled against excessive stress.

The relationship between stress and acne is well documented. Stress acne most often occurs in middle-aged business women who are actively pursuing a career. Acne is a common occurrence in those who take final exams or perform urgent work, in a word, in people whose activities require constant stress.

Sometimes skin diseases are accompanied by complications. Psoriasis, eczema and stress acne reduce the protective function of the skin. Small open wounds form on the surface of the skin - a gateway for various microorganisms. When microbes get inside, diseases develop that, when infected with skin, are difficult to treat and can even lead to death. The medical literature describes cases of fatal outcomes in staphylococcal infections that have spread through abscesses and other skin lesions. Open wounds on the face or head are especially dangerous - the infection can easily penetrate the brain.

Stress leaves its marks on the skin not only in the form of painful rashes. The state of mind of a person is reflected on his face - sharp "stress" wrinkles appear on the forehead and in the corners of the mouth. They do not smooth out even when a person is sleeping.

Other diseases

Chronic stress sometimes causes people to grind their teeth and clench their jaws in their sleep. Among people who suffer from dysfunction of the temporomandibular joints, there are many who have this disease caused by stress.

The results of one study showed that about 80% of patients with multiple sclerosis experienced a traumatic event about a year before the exacerbation of the disease. In the control group (people who do not suffer from this disease), only 35-40% of the respondents suffered something similar.

Perhaps stress is not the direct cause of some of these diseases, but it significantly aggravates their symptoms and the suffering of the patient.

The power of stress hormones

The stress hormone, adrenaline, puts a person in the same state as morphine. And at the molecular level, their action is very similar: the same receptors are involved in it.

And, like opium addiction, adrenaline addiction leads not to a joyful future, but to undermined health - to a weakened immune system, heart problems, premature aging and early death.

Stress hormones are like a carrot hanging in front of a donkey's snout. We are chasing our "carrot", but as soon as we get it, the fuse ends. It doesn't taste as good as we expected. Chasing her was what was most exciting. A person who is addicted to adrenaline is unable to part with the pursuit and is constantly looking for new targets to pursue.

People driven by stress hormones often achieve great success in their careers. They are constantly pushing themselves - bigger, better, higher! Having reached the goal, they experience satisfaction (albeit quickly transient). And in other areas of life, no matter what reward looms before their noses - lifestyle, financial situation, a beautiful partner - they are inspired by the excitement of persecution.

It is perfectly acceptable to occasionally and for a short time recharge with energy. But if a person constantly strives for such an excited state, then he embarks on the path of complete combustion. Keep in mind that the heart, nervous system, and other organs sometimes respond to positively charged stress in the same way they do to stress caused by a bad event.

Other people, in their addiction to adrenaline, do not storm the peaks. They get the desired hormone, being in a constant emotional crisis. Their life is a run from one heartbreaking story to another. Around them, everything is always boiling and exploding. In relationships, there are eternal conflicts and passions, and you definitely need to stick your nose into other people's affairs, and if there is no one to control, then this is a whole tragedy. Have you ever wondered why some people are just not able to live in peace? They are necessarily involved in some kind of crisis situation. And the answer may be simple: it is possible that these people are so accustomed to living in the heat of passion that they have become addicted to adrenaline and cortisol.

I know families where the father is always angry and the mother is constantly depressed. And now the quiet teenage daughter shocks the family with the message that she is pregnant. And soon the parents find out that their son is a drug addict. I suspect that all members of these families are addicted to adrenaline and cortisol in one form or another.

Get to the Root of Stress

If you live in a constant rush and stress, then it is possible that you, too, are addicted to stress hormones. You may feel well now, but if you have lit the candle on both sides, then the time will soon come when it will burn out completely.

Adrenaline addiction is based on a person's need to feel at their best, or at least better than usual. People addicted to adrenaline are constantly busy chasing their desires - for them this is the path to happiness. Gradually, they become completely insensitive to true values.

Stop for a moment. Think about what you really want, what your soul is silently praying for. It is unlikely that any material wealth or new achievements will come to your mind. It is unlikely that you will want a narcotic dope. Most likely, your heart will not ask for any of those achievements and acquisitions that are associated with a luxurious "glamorous" life. Please note: people who are on the verge of death usually change their value system and devote themselves to what is truly important and necessary for them. Here's what comes to the fore:

. peace with God;

. mutual understanding and love in the family;

. health, strength and vigor;

. peace in the soul;

. simple pleasures that bring joy;

. time to chat with friends;

. finding meaning in life, usually indicated by a desire to be a blessing to others.

At such times it becomes clear what a person does not want. As a rule, people do not want to scandal and argue at all, to live among violence and rudeness. They do not want an oversaturated schedule, excessive obligations, excessive responsibility. They do not seek to be frazzled and exhausted, to lose their taste for life, or to spend their days listlessly and aimlessly. And among those who do not yet think about the end, there are hardly any individuals who consciously desire a meaningless life in which there is no place for spirituality.

So why wait for a terrible diagnosis or old age to start living the life that you like? Why wait for anything to get the mental and physical health that your soul craves?

Don Colbert

Deadly emotions


The site provides reference information for informational purposes only. Diagnosis and treatment of diseases should be carried out under the supervision of a specialist. All drugs have contraindications. Expert advice is required!

What is a hormonal imbalance?

All life cycles of the human body are directly related to physiological changes in the hormonal background, which ensure growth and reproduction, development and decay.

It is difficult to overestimate the importance of the normal state of the hormonal background, since the endocrine system has a decisive influence on many functions of the central nervous system (emotions, feelings, memory, physical and intellectual performance), and also participates in the regulation of the work of all vital organs.

Initially, "hormonal failure" was called the pathology of the endocrine system in women, which was clinically manifested, first of all, by menstrual irregularities.

Recently, however, more and more often the phrase "hormonal failure" is used to refer to various kinds of troubles associated with endocrine regulation disorders in men.

The fact is that, despite all the differences in the structure of the reproductive system, hormonal disorders cause both in men and women many similar symptoms that have a systemic manifestation (disorders of the central nervous activity, obesity, osteoporosis, the development of severe diseases of the cardiovascular system and etc.).

Causes of hormonal failure in women and men

The causes of hormonal disruptions in men and women are very diverse. First of all, it should be noted that the hormonal background is the result of a complex interaction between the central system of neuroendocrine regulation located in the brain (the so-called hypothalamic-pituitary system) and the endocrine glands located on the periphery (male and female gonads).

So all the factors of hormonal failure in their origin can be divided into:
1. Causes associated with violations of the central regulation.
2. Causes due to the pathology of the peripheral glands (infectious and inflammatory diseases, congenital hypoplasia (underdevelopment), tumors, injuries, etc.).

Disorders of the hypothalamic-pituitary system, in turn, can be caused by its direct organic damage (severe traumatic brain injury, tumor, encephalitis), or by the indirect influence of adverse external and internal factors (chronic fatigue syndrome, general exhaustion of the body, etc.). P.).

In addition, the general hormonal background is strongly influenced by endocrine glands that are not directly related to reproduction. This is especially true of the adrenal cortex and the thyroid gland.

The causes of hormonal failure can be nervous or physical overexertion, acute infectious diseases, beriberi. According to statistics, practically healthy girls who study on an intensive schedule (lyceums, gymnasiums, etc.) fall into the risk group.

Clinically, JUB is uterine bleeding that develops in girls during puberty (usually within 2 years after the first menstruation), after a delay in the next menstruation for a period of two weeks to several months.

Such bleeding, as a rule, is profuse, and leads to severe anemia. Sometimes SMCs are not abundant, but long (10-15 days).

Severe rebleeding can be complicated by an imbalance between the coagulation and anticoagulation systems of the blood (DIC), against which the bleeding intensifies even more - this condition poses an immediate threat to life and requires emergency medical care.

Signs of hormonal imbalance in women of reproductive age

Amenorrhea

The prolonged absence of menstruation, not associated with pregnancy or lactation, in women of reproductive age is called amenorrhea, and indicates a hormonal failure.

According to the mechanism of occurrence, they distinguish:
1. Amenorrhea of ​​central origin.
2. Amenorrhea associated with dysfunction of the adrenal cortex.
3. Amenorrhea caused by ovarian pathology.

Severe mental trauma, as well as physical exhaustion caused by prolonged illness or alimentary factors (prolonged fasting), can lead to amenorrhea of ​​the central genesis. In addition, direct damage to the hypothalamic-pituitary system is possible in case of injuries, infectious-inflammatory or oncological processes.

In such cases, hormonal failure occurs against the background of nervous and physical exhaustion, and is accompanied by symptoms of bradycardia, hypotension, anemia.

Amenorrhea can also be one of the manifestations of Itsenko-Cushing's syndrome. In such cases, hormonal imbalance leads to severe damage to many organs and systems. Patients have a very specific appearance: cushingoid obesity (moon-shaped purple-red face, fat deposits on the neck and upper half of the body with atrophy of the muscles of the limbs), male-type hair growth, purple striae on the body. In addition, arterial hypertension and osteoporosis are characteristic, and glucose tolerance is reduced.

Itsenko-Cushing syndrome indicates hyperproduction of adrenal hormones, so its cause may be neoplasms that secrete these hormones, or pituitary tumors that stimulate the synthesis of steroids in the adrenal glands.

However, the so-called functional hypercortisolism (pseudo-Cushing's syndrome) is quite common, when the cause of hormonal failure is functional disorders of the neuroendocrine system associated with obesity, alcoholism, and neuropsychiatric diseases.

The most common cause of ovarian amenorrhea is polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), which can occur under the influence of stress factors such as the onset of sexual activity, abortion, childbirth, etc. In addition to amenorrhea, the leading symptom of hormonal failure in PCOS is obesity, reaching the second or third degree, as well as male pattern hair growth (on the upper lip, chin, on the inner thighs). Very characteristic signs are also dystrophy of the skin and its appendages (stretch marks on the skin of the abdomen, chest and thighs; brittle nails, hair loss). In the future, lipid and carbohydrate metabolism disorders develop - there is a tendency to develop atherosclerosis and type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Dysfunctional uterine bleeding

Dysfunctional uterine bleeding in women of reproductive age occurs, most often, due to hormonal failure caused by nervous or mental stress, infectious diseases, abortion, etc.

This disrupts the normal periodicity of the menstrual cycle, and there is a predisposition to malignant neoplasms of the endometrium. The ability to conceive and normal childbearing in women with DMC is reduced.

This kind of hormonal failure most often occurs after 30 years, but it can also develop in young girls. The causes of PMS are not fully understood. Hereditary predisposition is of great importance (the family nature of the pathology is often traced). Provoking factors are often abortions, severe nervous shocks, and infectious diseases.

Risk factors for the development of PMS are susceptibility to stress and physical inactivity (living in big cities, intellectual work, a sedentary lifestyle), as well as malnutrition, chronic gynecological diseases and lesions of the central nervous system (trauma, neuroinfection).

PMS got its name from the time of onset: symptoms appear a few days before the onset of menstruation, peak on the first day of menstrual bleeding, and disappear completely with the end. However, in severe cases, progression of PMS is observed - its duration increases, and light intervals are reduced.

Conventionally, all the symptoms of PMS can be divided into several groups:
1. Neurosis-like disorders: irritability, tendency to depression, fatigue, sleep disturbance (drowsiness during the day and insomnia at night).
2. Migraine-like syndrome: severe headache, often accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
3. Signs of metabolic disorders (swelling of the face and limbs).
4. Symptoms of vegetative-vascular dystonia (lability of pulse and blood pressure, flatulence).

In severe cases, vegetative-vascular disorders proceed according to the type of sympathoadrenal crises (unmotivated bouts of fear of death, accompanied by an increase in blood pressure and an increase in heart rate, ending in profuse urination). Such crises indicate the involvement of the adrenal medulla in the process.

Most women complain of hypersensitivity to smells and painful breast engorgement. Often there are violations from various organs and systems (pain in the heart, a slight increase in body temperature, itching of the skin, allergic manifestations).

Today, the list of symptoms of hormonal failure in PMS has exceeded 200 items, but psycho-emotional disorders are the most common. At the same time, depression is more characteristic of young women, and irritability is more characteristic of mature women.

Hormonal failure in women after an abortion

Hormonal failure is one of the most common complications of abortion. It is caused by both a serious mental shock and a breakdown in the complex neuroendocrine restructuring of the body, which begins from the first weeks of pregnancy.

As a general rule, primiparous abortions are much more likely to have complications, regardless of the method of abortion. Of course, the earlier the intervention was made, the lower the risk.

But if we are talking about medical abortion, then in this case, hormonal failure occurs already during the intervention itself. That is why after a medical abortion, a course of hormonal therapy is required to restore the cycle.

Normally, the menstrual cycle should be restored a month after the abortion. If this does not happen, you should immediately consult a doctor.

In addition, the symptoms of hormonal failure after an abortion are:

  • weight gain;
  • the appearance of stretch marks on the skin;
  • symptoms from the nervous system (irritability, headache, fatigue, depression);
  • instability of blood pressure and pulse, sweating.

Hormonal failure in women after childbirth

After childbirth, a physiological restructuring of the body takes place, which takes a fairly long period of time. Therefore, the timing of the restoration of a normal menstrual cycle is very variable, even in cases where a woman is not breastfeeding.

Weight gain after childbirth during lactation is physiological - this is a side effect of hormones that stimulate milk production. Therefore, lactating women can only be advised to move more, and also to exclude easily digestible high-calorie foods (sweets, muffins, etc.). During lactation, diets are contraindicated.

As a rule, after a period of feeding, the weight gradually decreases as the hormonal background returns to normal.

If in the post-lactation period, despite dietary restrictions and normal physical activity, the weight does not return to normal, the presence of hormonal failure can be suspected.

Thus, it is necessary to consult a doctor in cases where, after childbirth and the end of the lactation period, the following symptoms are observed:

  • unmotivated weight gain;
  • signs of virilization (male pattern hair growth);
  • irregular menstrual cycle, spotting bleeding between periods;
  • symptoms of neurosis (headaches, irritability, drowsiness, etc.).

Such a hormonal failure after childbirth can be triggered by various adverse factors: stress, acute infectious diseases, exacerbation of chronic somatic ailments, gynecological pathology, overwork.

Signs of hormonal failure in women during menopause

Menopause is the period of attenuation of the reproductive function. In women, it occurs after 45 years, and continues until the end of life. Irregular menstruation after the age of 45 is considered a physiological phenomenon if it does not lead to heavy bleeding and is not accompanied by any unpleasant symptoms. It should be noted that for many women, the cessation of menstruation occurs suddenly and painlessly.

However, the physiological decline of the reproductive function today is less common than the so-called climacteric syndrome - a symptom complex caused by hormonal failure.

By the time of onset, all the symptoms of pathological menopause are divided into the following groups:
1. Early - appear two to three years before menopause (complete cessation of menstruation).
2. Delayed - develop over two to three years after menopause.
3. Late - occur five or more years after menopause.

Early signs include the most characteristic symptom of hormonal failure in menopausal syndrome - the so-called hot flashes, which are bouts of heat, especially strongly felt in the face.

Other early symptoms of pathological menopause are in many ways similar to signs of hormonal failure in premenstrual syndrome: psycho-emotional disorders (irritability, depression, fatigue), vegetative-vascular pathology (palpitations, blood pressure lability, pain in the heart), possible attacks of headaches resembling migraine.

Delayed symptoms are associated with insufficiency of female hormones - estrogens. Estrogen deficiency causes dystrophic lesions of the skin and its appendages.

These processes, as a rule, are most pronounced in relation to the mucous membranes of the female genital organs, and lead to the development of a complex of urogenital disorders (dryness of the vagina, lowering of its walls, pain during intercourse, discomfort during urination, urinary incontinence), in severe cases inflammatory processes (cystitis, vulvovaginitis).

In addition, increased dryness of the skin, brittle nails, and hair loss are often observed.

Late symptoms of hormonal failure in pathological menopause are signs of a gross violation of metabolic processes. The most characteristic are systemic osteoporosis, lipid metabolism disorders (vascular atherosclerosis) and carbohydrate metabolism (decreased glucose tolerance, development of type 2 diabetes mellitus).

The causes of hormonal disruptions in pathological menopause are not fully understood. However, the importance of hereditary predisposition has been proven. As provoking factors, stress, malnutrition, physical inactivity, bad habits (smoking, frequent alcohol abuse) are distinguished.

The risk group for the development of pathological menopause includes women with the following pathologies:
1. Neuroendocrine disorders: premenstrual syndrome, toxicosis of pregnancy and dysfunctional uterine bleeding in history.
2. Diseases of the central nervous system: neuroinfections, neurosis, mental illness.
3. Gynecological pathologies: chronic inflammatory diseases of the pelvic organs, endometriosis.
4. Complicated obstetric history: abortions, miscarriages, difficult births.

Causes of hormonal failure in men

Male sex hormones (androgens) are produced in the gonads - the testicles. Their products ensure the development of secondary sexual characteristics in boys, as well as high growth, powerful muscles, aggressiveness.

Interestingly, for the normal functioning of the male body, female sex hormones (estrogens) are also needed, so the blood of a healthy man contains more estrogens than the blood of a woman during menopause.

Clinical studies have proven that it is estrogens that provide normal libido (sexual desire decreases both with an excess and a lack of female sex hormones in men). In addition, estrogens are responsible for the normal maturation of spermatozoa and cognitive abilities, and also affect lipid metabolism. Another important function of estrogens is to ensure normal calcium metabolism in the bones.

Most of the estrogen in the male body is formed as a result of the transformation of testosterone in the liver and adipose tissue. Only a small percentage is synthesized directly in the sex glands.

In men, as well as in women, the regulation of the activity of the sex glands is coordinated with the help of a complex hypothalamic-pituitary system.

Thus, hormonal disruptions in men can occur as a result of direct damage to the testicles (congenital anomalies, trauma, infectious and inflammatory processes, etc.) and in violation of the functioning of the hypothalamic-pituitary system. Accordingly, primary and secondary hypogonadism (primary and secondary insufficiency in the production of male sex hormones) are distinguished.

Secondary hypogonadism (hormonal deficiency of central origin) in men occurs for the same reasons as in women (tumors of the hypothalamic-pituitary zone, trauma, neuroinfections, congenital malformations).

In addition, hormonal failure in men may be associated with an increase in the formation of estrogen from testosterone. This often happens with chronic intoxications, when the metabolism of androgens in the liver is disturbed, and their transformation into estrogens increases (chronic alcoholism, drug use, professional contact with certain poisons, exposure to radiation).

Less commonly, male hormone deficiency can be caused by endocrine pathologies (hyperthyroidism), hormone-active tumors, severe liver and kidney damage that occurs with intoxication (uremia, liver failure).

Symptoms of hormonal failure in men

puberty

Just like in women, men have untimely (too early or too late) sexual development. Despite the difference in the structure of the sexes, the causes and symptoms of untimely development are similar.

Premature sexual development (PPR) in boys is usually associated with neoplasms of the hypothalamic-pituitary system. Also found constitutional early sexual development. With PPR, secondary sexual characteristics in boys appear before the age of 7-8 years, there is increased growth, which suddenly stops in adolescence due to premature ossification of bone growth zones.

There are also false PPR associated with the pathology of the adrenal cortex. In such cases, it is combined with obesity and other signs of metabolic disorders. A similar clinical picture develops when eating foods containing a large amount of hormones (milk and meat of animals stimulated with steroid drugs).

Sexual retardation (SPR) in boys is said to be when development is more than two years late compared to the average. Hormonal failure in such cases is most often associated with damage to the central nervous system (trauma, infection, intoxication, etc.), endocrine pathology (obesity, thyroid pathology) or severe chronic diseases that led to general exhaustion of the body.

When making a diagnosis of mental retardation, differential diagnosis with hypogonadism (primary or secondary) should be carried out, as well as the possibility of constitutional mental retardation (hereditary developmental features in healthy children) should be taken into account.

Symptoms of hormonal disruptions in men of reproductive age

Hormonal disruptions in men of reproductive age, as a rule, occur with absolute or relative hyperestrogenemia, and are manifested by the following symptoms:
  • gynecomastia (breast enlargement);
  • obesity;
  • disorders of the nervous system;
  • decreased libido, disorders in the sexual and reproductive sphere.
Hormonal imbalance can be caused by a variety of reasons: both external (stress, unhealthy lifestyle, overeating, smoking, excessive drinking), and internal (diseases of the central nervous system, endocrine diseases, intoxication, severe damage to the liver or kidneys). Therefore, the clinical picture will be supplemented by signs of the pathology that caused the hormonal failure.

Signs of hormonal failure during menopause in men

Normally, in men, sexual function gradually decreases with age. However, this process is often accompanied by a number of pathological symptoms, the totality of which is called "climacteric syndrome in men."

With pathological menopause in men, as well as in women, symptoms of a violation of higher nervous activity come first:

  • irritability;
  • fast fatiguability;
  • mood lability with a tendency to depression;
  • tearfulness;
  • low self-esteem;
  • feeling of own uselessness;
  • panic attacks;
  • decrease in cognitive and creative abilities.
Another characteristic symptom of pathological menopause in men is a sharp decrease in sexual function, which is accompanied by disorders of the genitourinary system (painful urination, urinary incontinence, etc.).

A hormonal failure is manifested by symptoms characteristic of relative hyperestrogenemia: the mammary glands enlarge, there is a rapid weight gain with fatty deposits according to the female type (on the abdomen, thighs, chest), often the type of pubic hair growth resembles a female, facial hair growth stops or weakens and on the body.

Dystrophic changes in the musculoskeletal system are rapidly growing: osteoporosis, muscle flabbiness and weakness develop, patients complain of pain in the joints and bones.

Violations of the cardiovascular system are very characteristic: pain in the region of the heart, palpitations, hypertension and atherosclerosis develop.

The skin becomes dry and atrophic, brittle nails appear, hair falls out.

Violations of the vegetative-vascular system resemble the symptoms of female menopause: hot flashes, excessive sweating are often encountered.

The development of pathological menopause in men is facilitated by diseases of the central nervous system (traumatic brain injury, neuroinfections, intoxication), pathologies of the endocrine system (obesity, thyroid disease), liver disease, unhealthy lifestyle (physical inactivity, malnutrition, alcohol abuse, smoking) .

To provoke a hormonal failure can be a strong prolonged nervous strain or a severe somatic disease. There is evidence of a hereditary predisposition to the occurrence of hormonal disruptions. In addition, men with a history of hormonal disruptions (delayed puberty, sexual dysfunction during the reproductive period) are at risk for the development of pathological menopause.

Diagnostics

When signs of hormonal failure appear, it is necessary to conduct a comprehensive medical examination, including all the necessary tests to determine the level of hormones, as well as a study of the state of internal organs that could suffer from hormonal imbalance (diagnosis of osteoporosis, atherosclerosis, diabetes mellitus, etc.).

In addition, it is necessary to exclude severe organic pathologies that often cause hormonal failure (hormone-producing tumors, severe lesions of the central nervous system, cirrhosis of the liver with gynecomastia, etc.).

Of course, differential diagnosis should be carried out between various neuroendocrine disorders (primary or secondary hypogonadism, hormonal deficiency or Itsenko-Cushing's syndrome, etc.).

Treatment of hormonal failure

In cases where it is possible to radically eliminate the cause of hormonal failure (hormone-producing tumor), etiological treatment is carried out.

If the cause is unremovable (climacteric syndrome, primary hypogonadism), according to indications, hormone replacement therapy is prescribed.

Hormonal disruptions in women and men of the reproductive period can often be corrected by the course administration of hormonal drugs, in cases where they are not caused by a serious organic pathology.

Of great importance in the treatment and prevention of hormonal disruptions in women and men is a healthy lifestyle:

  • correct daily routine;
  • healthy eating;
  • dosed physical activity;
  • getting rid of bad habits (smoking, alcoholism, drug use);
  • prevention of stress reactions.
According to indications, vitamin therapy, herbal medicine, physiotherapy, spa treatment are carried out.

16 Symptoms of Hormonal Failure Everyone Should Know to Take Action on Time - Video

Before use, you should consult with a specialist.

Substances that are produced by the endocrine glands play the role of chemical coordinators in the body, ensuring the optimal mode of operation of the organs and adjusting the finest mechanism of their interaction. Not only the physical condition of a person, but also his feelings and emotions depend on the minimal fluctuations in the level of hormones in the blood.

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Serotonin and an optimistic attitude towards life

Serotonin performs the most important function: it ensures the transmission of impulses between nerve cells. Insufficient production of this hormone leads to the development of depression, a decrease in mental and physical activity, memory, and difficulties in assimilating new information. Serotonin deficiency has a bad effect on the state of the digestive, cardiovascular and immune systems, increases pain sensitivity, and causes sleep disturbances. Excessive concentration of the hormone in the blood is also harmful: it has a depressing effect on the work of the organs of the reproductive system.

For the production of serotonin, the body needs one of the essential amino acids - tryptophan. This substance is rich in vegetables of the legume family, cottage cheese, hard cheeses, buckwheat and oyster mushrooms. In addition, magnesium, contained in seafood, seaweed, nuts, dried fruits and bran, is involved in the production of serotonin. In the event of a drop in hormone levels, the situation can be corrected by eating foods rich in B vitamins (bananas, dates, melon, offal).

It is important that the body becomes more serotonin under the influence of sunlight. It is not for nothing that in the autumn-winter period, with a lack of insolation, many complain of a bad mood, lethargy and a drop in working capacity. Normalization of serotonin levels can also be achieved with the help of reasonably dosed physical activity. Hiking, easy sports and outdoor games are perfect for this purpose.

It has been established that there is not only a direct dependence of mood on the level of serotonin, but also an inverse relationship: people with an active lifestyle and an optimistic outlook on the world almost always have a high concentration of this hormone in the body. This means that an increase in the production of serotonin can be achieved by methods that contribute to the creation of positive thinking (psychological training, relaxation practices, etc.).

Dopamine - the hormone of pleasure

Like serotonin, dopamine is a neurotransmitter. It creates a feeling of pleasure. The action is especially noticeable during sexual intercourse, eating your favorite food, etc. A distinctive property of dopamine is an increase in its production not only at the moment of a pleasant event, but also in the process of its approach (the so-called anticipation effect). This also determines the negative effect of the hormone: a person can get pleasant sensations not so much from actions (situations), but from the anticipation of their result. This is one of the ways alcohol addiction develops: the "habitual" drunkard drinks alcohol because he remembers the feeling of satisfaction that libations caused him before. One of the modern theories of the occurrence of schizophrenia is based on the concept of “dopamine deception”: it is believed that the patient concentrates on his dreams, providing him with spiritual comfort, and voluntarily refuses to actively exist in the real world.

Adrenaline and norepinephrine: help with stress

Nature has provided two types of reaction to a dangerous situation: attack and flight. The hormone norepinephrine is responsible for the success of the first option. It helps to mobilize all the forces of the body: the brain begins to work more actively, blood flow accelerates, blood pressure and muscle tone increase. On an emotional level, this is manifested by a sense of courage, and sometimes rage. Adrenaline is designed to help in time and quickly enough to get away from danger. It doesn't always mean running away. The release of adrenaline into the blood is used by the body in order to resolve the situation associated with fear without loss (for example, during a conflict, an exam, a traffic accident).

Both hormones are produced by the adrenal cortex. An excessive concentration of these substances in the blood is dangerous: a high level of norepinephrine leads to exhaustion of the body, and excess adrenaline can cause uncontrollable fears and phobias.

However, the production of adrenaline and norepinephrine is not always due to negative emotions. These substances are also released in situations associated with strong pleasant experiences - with successful transactions, large purchases, public speaking, etc.

Endorphins and euphoria

Endorphins usually act in parallel with serotonin and dopamine. They have a strong analgesic and sedative effect. However, the main property of endorphins is that they cause a feeling of pure, sublime joy. The state of euphoria can occur after severe stress, but is often associated with the psychological impact of music, movies, plays or books. Powerful positive emotions that are caused by the release of endorphins can be triggered by natural phenomena or the closeness of loved ones.

A high concentration of endorphins in the body is a short-term phenomenon, which is why many define the feeling of happiness as something fleeting.

Love at first sight does exist. A sudden feeling of sympathy, sexual attraction and emotional uplift in a person causes the hormone phenylethylamine, which belongs to the group of neurotransmitters. The release of this substance into the blood, as a rule, occurs along with the effect on the body of serotonin and dopamine. This is what explains holiday romances: short-term casual loves often arise against the backdrop of a festive mood, typical for people spending holidays in unusually comfortable surroundings.