Hormones are tiny chemical messengers in your body that play a significant role in your overall health. While you might not think much about them until you notice changes or related health issues, they’re perpetually essential for your well-being. 

Dr. Javier Sosa and our expert team at Woodlands Primary Healthcare, located in The Woodlands, Texas, provide hormone testing and therapy to promote positive health and counteract the effects of aging. 

Read on to learn more about hormones, including the role they play in your health.

Hormones 101

Hormones are like tiny mail carriers that travel around your body, delivering important information. Once they’re produced by glands or organs, hormones flow through your blood to your muscles, skin, and other tissues, letting your body know what to do and when.

To date, scientists have identified over 50 human hormones that make up your endocrine system. And the various types play essential roles in bodily processes, including your:

• Metabolism, including your digestion and body temperature
• Blood pressure and blood sugar regulation
• Fluid and electrolyte balance and body temperature
• Growth and development
• Moods
• Reproductive health
• Sexual function
• Sleep/wake cycles

When hormone levels change

Your hormone levels shift throughout your life, but dramatic changes can stem from medical conditions, natural changes in your body, and age-related changes. 

Medical conditions that can cause hormone imbalances include diabetes, eating disorders, and thyroid disease. Cancer treatments, certain medications, and stress also play a role.

Hormones that your body produces less of as you age include:

• Aldosterone: helps control the balance of salts and water in your kidneys 
• Cortisol: regulates processes related to stress
• Estrogen: plays a role in menstruation, moods, and libido
• Growth hormone: stimulates growth and cell production
• Insulin: regulates your blood sugar levels
• Testosterone: plays a role in body mass, energy, and libido
• Thyroid hormones: impact your appetite, metabolism, and energy levels

What to do about hormone imbalance

In some cases, a hormone imbalance is a symptom of a condition in need of treatment. If your thyroid levels are off, for example, treatment that regulates your thyroid hormones can help reduce symptoms, like unintentional weight changes and mood swings.

And while it’s natural for your hormone levels to shift with age, especially around middle age or menopause, you don’t have to live with the bothersome effects.

At Woodlands Primary Healthcare, we provide hormone replacement therapy to reverse signs of low estrogen or testosterone, such as low sex drive, difficulty concentrating, painful intercourse, and hair or muscle loss.

By restoring health hormone levels, you may have a reduced risk for age-related issues like aging skin, heart disease, and memory loss.

To learn more about hormonal health or get the care you need, call Woodlands Primary Healthcare, located in The Woodlands, Texas, or request an appointment with Dr. Sosa on our website today.