Well, sometimes it turns out there is a scientific explanation – it’s just one that you can’t easily see. If your hormones are out of balance, either too high or too low, that can do strange things to your mood. That includes increasing the likelihood that you will experience anxiety. There may not be an outside cause; it may be internal.

Hormones are chemical messengers that tell your body how to react. They serve a variety of roles, and different hormones can impact anxiety in different ways. That includes thyroid hormones, sex hormones like estrogen and testosterone, and stress hormones like adrenaline/epinephrine and cortisol.

The thyroid is a gland in the neck that releases three different types of hormones: triiodothyronine, thyroxine and calcitonin. When it becomes overactive and starts producing too much of these hormones, it’s called hyperthyroidism. Symptoms include heart palpitations, sleep disruption, sweatiness and shaking hands. All of these things are associated with anxiety.

Anyone who has been through puberty knows that sex hormones are tricky things. When they start to fluctuate, as they do naturally during adolescence or as part of the menstrual cycle, it has a big influence on your mood. That’s why anxiety can seem to increase or decrease suddenly. Testosterone levels also have an impact on cortisol levels, and vice versa, so sex hormones and stress hormones can be related.

Stress hormones are the ones that are released when you perceive a threat. They allow you to enter the “fight or flight” response when things like your heart and breathing change to get ready for potential conflict. When these hormones are released and there isn’t a threat, or if you remain in that heightened state for an extended period of time, you could find yourself trying to manage ongoing anxiety symptoms.

Luckily, hormones can also regulate and lower anxiety. That doesn’t just mean changing your levels of estrogen and testosterone, although that can help. Hormones like vasopressin and oxytocin can help relieve anxiety. You can also influence your hormone levels through diet, exercise and other lifestyle changes. Therapy may also assist in learning how to manage symptoms.

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When you have a condition like diabetes, however, you need to be extra careful about what you put in your body in case it interferes with your blood sugar. You definitely need to supplement your insulin if your pancreas isn’t producing it or is not working properly. But just as diabetics have to watch what they eat, they also have to be cautious about supplements.

However, there may be supplements that can reduce the risks of developing diabetes or mitigating its effects. You can’t cure diabetes, so be skeptical of any miraculous-sounding claims, but there’s been lots of research into whether certain herbs, spices and other plant-based additions can help diabetes.

The evidence is mixed (https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/diabetes-and-dietary-supplements). Popular herbal supplements for diabetes include cinnamon, ginger, aloe vera, bitter melon, ginseng and fenugreek. There are some studies that suggest they have a slight benefit on blood sugar levels and others that say they have no effect at all. You do need to be careful if you’re taking other medications or have other medical conditions in case they interact.

One mineral that definitely has a relationship with blood sugar is chromium. A chromium deficiency in your diet can stop your body from properly controlling its glucose levels. People with a chromium deficiency can take chromium supplements. There is some evidence that these supplements may also help diabetics, although the research is limited.

Another potential substance that is being researched with some positive signs is alpha-lipoic acid, which may lower the risk of diabetic neuropathy. Magnesium may make you less likely to develop diabetes in the first place. Other vitamins and probiotics are also being researched. The evidence pool is only growing.

The key things to remember when it comes to supplements, whether you’re diabetic or not, is that they’re no substitute for a healthy diet, and they should only ever be taken in moderation. Always talk to your doctor about your specific situation before embarking on any course of supplements.

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That may be true, but don’t get carried away. Exercising is good. Overtraining is bad, wearing out your body and mind until they can’t function properly. You need time to rest and recover. Without taking breaks, you may be more at risk of what’s known as “adrenal insufficiency” (https://www.omicsonline.org/open-access/overtraining-exercise-and-adrenal-insufficiency-2165-7025.1000125.php?aid=11717).

Adrenal insufficiency is a pretty self-explanatory condition. It’s when your adrenal glands aren’t working properly and don’t produce enough of the hormones you need. This can lead to tiredness, physical weakness and lack of energy. You may also experience low moods.

Lots of things can cause problems with your adrenal glands, but overtraining doesn’t help. That’s especially true when the training is accompanied by significant stress. This can overwhelm the glands and leave your body unable to cope with the extreme demands being placed on it.

The adrenal glands react strongly to stress, whether it’s physical, mental or emotional. It’s the adrenal glands that release stress hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol. These are what control your so-called “fight or flight” response, when things like your heartbeat and breathing change to make you ready to run away or to battle an apparent threat. It’s a state you can only be in for a short length of time before your body starts experiencing damage.

Occasional overtraining probably isn’t going to cause significant issues. It’s when it becomes chronic, or you do it all the time, that it becomes a source of worry. The more and more you overtrain, the less and less time you have for recovery. This can lead to ongoing symptoms and an inability to perform even when you have a major event or competition approaching.

You do need to be aware of the risks of overtraining because symptoms may not be immediately apparent. Your adrenal glands could be overworking and underproducing for a while before you notice anything’s wrong. If the first time the problem is officially acknowledged is when you reach a crisis point, it’s going to be much harder to fix it. The earlier it’s caught, the more chances you have to heal.

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Endocrine glands are the ones that send hormones straight into the blood. Exocrine glands are the ones that send their products, including tears and sweat, to the outside of the skin. Humans have several endocrine glands responsible for a range of different hormones, which in turn direct a wide variety of the body’s processes.

Major endocrine glands include the adrenal, thyroid, pituitary, pineal, pancreas and parathyroid glands, as well as the hypothalamus, testes and ovaries. They are found through the brain, neck and abdomen and in the reproductive system.

Then there are the hormones themselves, which can also be divided into different categories. Peptide hormones, like insulin, are made of chains of amino acids. They’re water-soluble and mostly act on the surface of cells. They can’t pass through the membrane to the cell’s interior.

Steroid hormones, on the other hand, are fat soluble and can pass through cell membranes. They’re derived from cholesterol. Well-known steroid hormones include the sex hormones, like testosterone, as well as some stress hormones like cortisol. Peptide and steroid hormones between them make up most of the hormones in the body.

If one of your endocrine glands is damaged or malfunctioning or if you’re producing too much or too little of a certain hormone, you might become ill. Hormone imbalances can be responsible for everything from mood swings to diabetes and some forms of osteoporosis. Many of these conditions will require you to take some form of hormone replacement therapy.

Doctors who study the endocrine system and try to treat its disorders are known as endocrinologists. They may have subspecialties, such as fertility/reproductive endocrinology, neuroendocrinology (how the endocrine system interacts with the nervous system) and pediatric endocrinology (child endocrine systems).

Like most of the body’s functions and processes, the endocrine system can be a complicated thing. You don’t need to understand every aspect of it to realize how important your glands and hormones can be or to know you need to take care of it.

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One factor that influences your blood pressure is your autonomic nervous system, which tells your organs what to do. It affects a lot of bodily processes that you don’t have conscious control over, like your heart rate and breathing. The brain takes in information from sensory input, then directs the body on how to respond (like your heart rate going up when you’re stressed).

Sometimes, a fault in the autonomic nervous system means messages between the brain, heart and blood vessels don’t always come through properly. Misunderstandings could lead to your heart trying to correct non-existent high blood pressure or otherwise wrongly believing that your blood pressure needs to drop, even if it’s at normal levels.

Damage to the autonomic nervous system can come from injury, which can be a side effect of surgery as well as a result of trauma to the head, neck or spine. There are also a range of neurological conditions that can contribute. Malfunction in the autonomic nervous system is known as dysautonomia.

People with diabetes are particularly at risk of autonomic neuropathy, one of the most prominent examples of dysautonomia that can cause low blood pressure, among other symptoms, including disturbed heart rate, stomach pains and incontinence.

Other neurological conditions, such as Parkinson’s disease, multiple system atrophy, some types of dementia, and multiple sclerosis may also be related. Autoimmune diseases like Guillain-Barré syndrome, certain genetic disorders, some infectious diseases such as HIV, and a range of other conditions can all also be involved. It’s a lengthy list.

With such a range of causes, there are a variety of potential treatments. Different medications can be targeted at different symptoms or underlying conditions, although for many people, there’s no complete cure. Management may include lifestyle changes related to factors like diet.

It may not look like much on its own, but low blood pressure can be connected to more serious diseases. As always, an awareness of your own body and health may be the best way to spot when something is wrong.

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There are several main types of hormones produced in the adrenal glands and all have an important role to play. Hormones are messengers, instructing organs, tissue and other parts of the body on how to behave. They control everything about how we grow and change.

First up are the corticosteroids. Of particular note are aldosterone and cortisol. Then there are sex hormones, particularly androgens. Catecholamines include epinephrine and norepinephrine (adrenaline and noradrenaline in other parts of the world).

Aldosterone is what’s known as a mineralocorticoid. It works by sending messages to the kidneys, telling them when they need to absorb salt/sodium or release potassium. It also has an impact on blood volume. Salt and blood volume are both important when it comes to controlling your blood pressure. Aldosterone also has a role regulating electrolytes in the blood.

Cortisol is the most prominent of the glucocorticoids. Its many roles include influencing your glucose levels, partially because of how it controls protein and fat. It also has anti-inflammatory properties and can reduce the amount of bone your body creates. Cortisol is connected to your circadian rhythms, or sleep cycle. Another famous function is giving you an energy boost in times of high stress.

Androgens are male sex hormones, but in the adrenal glands, they aren’t particularly strong. Instead, they can be converted into the more powerful testosterone or estrogen. This happens in the sex organs, the testes and ovaries. Most important of the adrenal androgens is dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA).

Epinephrine and norepinephrine are even more famous than cortisol when it comes to your stress response. They can make your heart rate rise and your blood flow increase. Your blood pressure may go up, and your blood vessels may narrow. It’s also likely to affect your breathing. This is all part of what is commonly called the fight-or-flight response, one of our most natural instincts when we’re facing danger.

We need all of these hormones to function properly, and that means we need to have healthy adrenal glands. Adrenal health may not sound like the most exciting topic, but it is vital.

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When people who live in the same area start experiencing the same health problems, that suggests there’s something going wrong in the local environment. Pollution is a key suspect in these cases, whether it’s in the air, ground or water, and pollution is often a result of our ongoing quest for energy.

Humans don’t just need the energy they get from food to keep their body moving. They also need energy to power their homes and cars so they can function in modern society. And while there are many sources of fuel available, from the traditional coal, oil and gas to renewables like wind and solar, all involve at least some incursion on our surroundings.

Admittedly, fossil fuels are probably the most obnoxious when it comes to pollution. Mining and factory towns that are constantly exposed to dust and smoke tend to have much higher rates of respiratory illnesses like asthma. When oil drilling goes wrong or oil pipelines are damaged, sources of drinking water can be contaminated and everyone suffers.

It’s not just the people directly involved in extracting fuel who suffer the consequences, although it may be most severe for them. Entire communities can feel the impact. The challenge of securing enough energy while still protecting community health is one that is ongoing and still seems to have no easy solutions.

Health and energy can be linked in other ways, and sometimes in what seems the opposite direction. People who live with energy insecurity are more likely to be living in poverty and generally have less access to support, and these people tend to be living in the same communities. This can be damaging to physical and mental health and affect wellbeing in the long term.

When trying to target health interventions at certain communities, it helps to consider local energy production and any energy insecurity. A thorough understanding of the surrounding environment can help to mitigate the risks of pollution and provide people with safer homes, leading to a general improvement in health outcomes while still trying to establish energy security.

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The most obvious source of energy is food. You eat carbohydrates – preferably starches, like bread and pasta, but sugar as well – and the body converts it into energy. You eat before exercise so you’re fueled up and ready, and you eat afterwards to replenish yourself. Regular meals through the day ensure you always have enough energy.

What food also does, however, is help you focus and concentrate. That can make you feel more energetic, too, regardless of your physical state. You need to feel like you’re ready to exercise, and that requires mental preparation. It also helps make other things that sap your energy levels, such as stress and depression, feel a little less daunting.

Sleep is another factor with a similar impact. You need to get enough sleep for your body to recuperate and restore your energy levels, but you also need it to clear and sharpen your mind. Both of these things together will ensure that when you get up in the morning, you’re feeling ready for any challenge, both physically and mentally.

Motivation and energy are closely related. They’re both forces that can push you to go further. In yoga, tai chi and similar exercises, there’s a particular focus on the body’s energy flow and on using meditation and your mindset to influence it, but exercises that combine mind and body are becoming more popular across the health and fitness worlds.

You may also be surprised to know that by exercising hard, you can actually give your energy levels a boost. Lying around at home can just leave you feeling lethargic. A good workout will set all your endorphins firing, filling you with energy and positivity. That’s why it may be difficult to get started, but once you do, you might actually find you’re enjoying yourself and want to do more.

Similarly, an active day with lots of exercise will make it easier for you to sleep at night. Then you’ll be able to store up even more energy for tomorrow. It’s a self-fulfilling cycle where as soon as one aspect is improved, the others will follow, which in turn boost those original parts again. That’s how you can continue building, spending and rebuilding your energy levels, getting stronger and fitter every time you do so.

This doesn’t always work. Sometimes your low energy levels are through no fault of your own, such as because of a medical condition. Sometimes exercising too hard will make you feel worse, whether that’s because of physical or mental injury. If that’s the case, feeling too guilty is only going to aggravate the situation. You need to know your own body, and if you’re unsure, talk to your doctor or another professional. What works for you may be slightly different than what works for everyone else.

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There’s only one way to find out whether you have hypotension, and that is by measuring your blood pressure. You can do this at home if you have a blood pressure monitor, or it can be done by your doctor.

If regular blood pressure is around 120/80 and high blood pressure is 140/90 or more, then low blood pressure is 90/60 or below. It’s a way of measuring the force of the blood pumping round the body as the heart expands and contracts. For many people, hypotension won’t even show any symptoms and they don’t need to worry about it.

For other people, low blood pressure can show in a variety of ways. It might cause dizziness or weakness. It might even make you faint. Other potential problems include confusion, blurred vision and feeling sick. In some cases, these symptoms may only emerge when you stand or sit too quickly, which is known as orthostatic or postural hypotension.

Postural hypotension is something many people will experience at some point in their lives, but it’s generally a transient condition. It’s more common in the elderly and those who have regular hypotension. Basically, it means the blood vessels and nervous system have a delayed reaction when you stand, reducing both the flow of blood to the brain and your heart’s output.

In general, hypotension has a range of possible causes. People who are particularly fit and exercise a lot will often have low blood pressure, and this isn’t normally something to worry about. It can also change because of the time of day or your mood and activities. You can inherit hypotension from your parents, and you’re more likely to develop it as you get older or when you’re pregnant.

The most common cause of low blood pressure is what’s known as hypovolemia, which is when you have low blood volume, or not enough blood in your circulatory system. Other causes and associated conditions include heart and endocrine (hormonal) problems, anemia, vasodilation (widening of the blood vessels), diabetes and the side effects of certain medications.

There are ways you can reduce or alleviate the symptoms of low blood pressure by yourself. These include being more careful when sitting or standing up instead of moving quickly or suddenly. Avoid sitting or standing in one position for too long. Propping up the head of your bed by about six inches can also help. You should try to drink plenty of water, and keep meals small but relatively frequently (don’t get up too quickly after eating either) while avoiding too much alcohol or caffeine.

Should you need intervention from your doctor, they may recommend wearing support stockings, which can improve your circulation, including your blood pressure. Medication isn’t a very effective way to treat hypotension itself, but adjusting or changing your medication for other conditions may reduce symptoms. In general, treating any underlying conditions contributing to hypotension, along with lifestyle changes, is the best way to manage it.

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We can’t do anything without energy. Take it away and our muscles don’t work, we can’t move, and our metabolism stops. It’s the power we need for even the smallest things. If you’re someone who’s on your feet all day or who does a lot of exercise, you’re going to need even more energy than the average person.

Energy levels can also be affected by age. I’m sure you’ve seen young children tearing around and wondered how they manage it. They definitely burn more energy than an adult, but that means they need more energy first. This is especially true as they’re still growing, and as I’ve already mentioned, their metabolism won’t work properly if they don’t have energy.

Metabolism is a collection of bodily processes where the food we eat gets turned into energy, muscle and fat, all the things that keep the body running. As we grow older, our body’s processes slow down and we have less energy for doing things. You can mitigate some of these effects, but you cannot stop them completely.

If you want to keep your energy levels high and maintain a strong body and good metabolism, you can start with a few basic steps. Sleep. Food. Exercise. You probably realize by now that these are at the core of any healthy lifestyle.

Figuring out a regular sleep pattern that works for you means you have plenty of time to recharge. As we get older, we tend to wake earlier and fall asleep earlier, and it’s harder to reach the deep state of restful sleep that we need. Having a set schedule, plus a wind-down period of relaxation before you go to bed, can help.

When it comes to food, you need a balanced diet that contains all the nutrients the human body could want. There are some things to watch out for, though. Starchy carbohydrates like whole grain bread and pasta are generally considered better than sugary carbs from candy and soda. You do need fat, but unsaturated fat like olive oil is preferred to saturated fats like those found in butter and other dairy products.

It might seem strange saying you need exercise to give you energy when exercise tires you out and you can’t do it if you don’t have some energy first. However, exercise can give a powerful boost to the body and mind, making you feel stronger and happier even in the face of stress and anxiety in daily life. This, in turn, means you’ll be more energetic.

Physically speaking, stronger muscles mean that movement is easier, which links closely to your energy levels. Mentally speaking, motivation and concentration are vital to being able to do any of the things listed above and are factors that will improve as your physical health and energy grow. As always, everything in the body is linked, and energy is vital to all of it.

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Skincare starts with keeping it healthy. That’s more about cleanliness, hydration and moisturizing. There is a pressure to look good at the same time, however, which generally means trying to avoid wrinkles and blemishes and possibly making use of cosmetics. You can feel happier and more confident when you go out with skin that’s both healthy and attractive.

It does depend a bit on your individual circumstances. Some people have particularly dry skin, while others have skin that is oily. You’ll be looking for different types of products, like moisturizer or toner. If you are unlucky enough to have sensitive skin, you’re going to be very limited in what you can use without causing an adverse reaction.

Whether you have sensitive skin or not, some things are pretty much universally bad for you. That starts with too much sunlight, which doesn’t just cause leathery skin, burns and blisters, but can also increase your risk of skin cancer. There are similar risks from the UV rays in a sun bed at a tanning salon. Never skimp on the sunscreen.

Other things are pretty common when caring for your skin, regardless of the product. Vitamins A and C are well-known for their importance in maintaining healthy skin. Aloe vera and tea tree are both known for being soothing and are unlikely to trigger skin conditions. The healthier your skin is, the better it will look; the better it looks, the better you’ll feel.

If you do choose to wear makeup, don’t overdo it. Check the ingredients first and make sure you remove it properly when you’re done. Cosmetics can enhance how you look, including your skin, but they’re no substitute for making sure the skin is glowing with health first.

There are a lot of wild claims about skincare floating around the internet. It’s a confusing realm to navigate, especially as individual people can be so different in what works for them. That’s why it’s best to start with a simple cleansing and moisturizing routine, and to check ingredient lists carefully.

If you do have doubts about any product or you have a bad reaction, talk to your doctor. One way to minimize the risk is with a patch test, which enables you to try a small sample of the product on an unexposed piece of skin (not right in the middle of your face). It’s a good way to test how your body will react without having to risk covering yourself in side effects.

Once you have found the products that work for you, figure out a routine so you can take care of your skin every day. Combine this with a good night’s sleep, a healthy diet and plenty of exercise, and you’ll soon be looking and feeling your best.

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I’m not a physicist, but I do know that the human body needs energy to keep going. It’s what powers our muscles and metabolism. Without it, we’d just stop. That’s especially true for children and the physically active, who burn more energy through the day. As we grow older, the need declines, but it never disappears.

Humans get most of their energy from food. A lot of it comes from fats and carbohydrates. Protein is best known for its role in growth and building muscle, but it can also play an important role in energizing the body. These nutritional groups can, in turn, be divided into subcategories with varying degrees of effectiveness as sources of energy.

Fat is often divided into saturated and unsaturated, with unsaturated fats generally considered healthier because there is a lower risk of cardiovascular disease. Saturated fat includes many dairy products, such as butter and cheese. Unsaturated fats include vegetable oils and meat. When we burn fat during exercise, it’s because we are using it as a source of energy. If you’re trying to lose weight, too much fat is what you want to avoid.

Carbohydrates are often divided into simple or complex. This can be a pretty complicated division, but it generally means sugary carbs are considered simple, while complex is used to refer to starchy foods (those made with whole grains, such as some flour). Sugar can provide a quick energy boost that also burns out quickly, while starch is longer lasting and probably better for your health in the long run.

If you’re embarking on a new fitness regimen, you’re going to need to think a lot about your energy levels. Not only do you need to make sure you have enough energy to sustain your exercise, but exercise can actually help boost your energy.

That may sound strange, but a good exercise regimen can increase your endorphin levels, filling you with energy and generally making you feel good. Your heart health will improve, which increases your stamina and makes you better able to face a challenging workout. Improvements in your quality of sleep and your ability to focus are also linked to your exercise, in addition to making you more energetic. In the long term, this is likely to improve your mental and physical health alike.

How can you make sure you’re fueled up before you start exercising? You need to ensure you’re eating plenty of carbohydrates, storing up energy for your workout. A balanced diet should provide enough energy for a regular fitness routine, but competitive athletes will probably eat much more. Increase your level of carbohydrates depending on your workout intensity, including eating just before and just after a session.

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I’m not the only person offering you advice on skincare, and there are so many conflicting guides around that you can’t be blamed for wondering whether any of it is actually helpful. That’s especially true if you have sensitive skin that is more prone to wear and tear in your daily life and less tolerant of the many products available that are supposed to help it. You don’t want to try applying some supposedly magic cream only to end up with a rash.

Skincare isn’t all about what you do or don’t put on your skin, either. As with most aspects of health, factors like diet, hydration and sleep can all affect how your skin looks and feels. Too much stress can also cause damage. If you can’t remove the source of the stress – and let’s be honest, quite often we can’t – you can still take steps to look after yourself, including paying attention to your skincare regimen.

Start simply. You need to keep your skin clean and hydrated, which generally means a twice-a-day cleansing to remove dirt, impurities and cosmetics. Moisturizer is good for dry skin, while toner can help if your skin is oily. You can get rid of dead skin by exfoliating, either mechanically (such as with a brush or scrub) or chemically (such as with a mud mask). While you’re doing this, you can also keep an eye on any new marks or blemishes that may be an early sign of more serious health problems.

That brings us to how what you avoid can be as important as what you use. Exposure to the sun or tanning beds can increase the risk of skin cancer as well as causing leathery skin, wrinkles and sunburn. Some chemicals (such as those in tobacco as well as in some beauty products) can cause discoloration or allergic reactions. If there is anything strange going on with your skin, talk to a doctor or dermatologist.

Popular products for skin care often include vitamin supplements. Other ingredients can include aloe vera, which is considered to have a soothing impact, and tea tree oil. If you know you have sensitive skin, you want the mildest products with as few ingredients as possible. These days, there is an increasing focus on natural and ethically sourced products.

Many beauty products are unregulated, which means you can’t know for sure what’s in them. This is especially true when shopping online. Always check the ingredients list. You should do a patch test or try it on just a small area of skin before you spread it all over your body. If something sounds too good to be true, there’s probably a catch. When in doubt, simpler is better.

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Go for a walk

As noted by Everyday Health, while it can be tempting to just sit and doze after a big meal, getting yourself moving can help ward off or ease bloating (https://www.everydayhealth.com/hs/gas-and-bloating/get-active-to-beat-bloating/). When you are upright and moving, the position stimulates the movement of gas in your intestinal tract. Lying down, of course, may feel better in the short term, but what you’re actually doing is keeping the gas trapped instead, prolonging your bloated sensation.

Take a bath

A warm bath is great for a lot things, and the heat from one can relieve any pain you’re feeling from a bloated stomach. In addition, it can help you lower your stress, which is also known to contribute to bloating.

Drink some water

The carbonation in fizzy drinks such as soda and champagne can add to the gas already in your system and make bloating worse. Drink water instead as this won’t add to your gas and can also help ease constipation, another condition that can cause or worsen bloating. Add lemon to the water to help stimulate the digestive process; it’s also a diuretic, which removes excess water from your body that might be making your bloating discomfort worse.

Take some probiotics

A probiotic supplement can help boost your digestive process overall as it helps restore the delicate balance of good and bad bacteria in your gut.

Add some fiber

Soluble fiber is food for the good bacteria in your gut, while insoluble fiber adds bulk to your stool, which makes it move through your digestive tract faster for better elimination.

Sip some tea

Chamomile or peppermint tea can help ease bloating by soothing your GI tract and boosting your digestive process. Other teas that can help relieve bloating include green, fennel and ginger.

Although often connected to it, the holiday time doesn’t have to mean weight gain and bloating. Enjoy yourself without overindulging so you don’t have to experience any added discomfort during this fun time!

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The best way to describe hormones is as messengers. They carry instructions to the organs telling them how to behave. If you’re lucky, they keep your body doing exactly what it’s supposed to do, but as anyone who had an uncomfortable puberty knows, they can also throw everything out of balance.

We all have hormones, but in different combinations and levels. They’re part of the reason that some people are bigger than others, or some people have beards and some people don’t. Puberty is the time when it becomes most obvious. A surge in testosterone is what leads to a deeper voice and more facial hair, while increased estrogen means breasts and periods. Hormones are generally essential to the reproductive system developing and functioning properly.

Testosterone can still have a big role in adulthood, though. Weightlifters sometimes use testosterone supplements to help build muscle. In other athletic disciplines, too high of a testosterone level can disqualify you from competing and may even lead to sanctions. Growth, weight and muscle mass are all heavily linked to hormones, and testosterone in particular. Men whose testosterone drops too low may seek androgen replacement therapy to restore them to healthy levels.

There are some other important hormones you may want to know about. Some of them you’ll have heard of before but may not realize are hormones. For example, insulin, the stuff that controls blood sugar, is a hormone. Diabetics are people whose bodies don’t produce the proper amount of insulin and who therefore need injections or insulin pumps to survive.

Other well-known hormones include cortisol and adrenaline. They both increase in stressful situations and contribute to the body’s “fight or flight” response. Thyroid hormones regulate metabolism, while leptin can inhibit hunger. ADH regulates the body’s water levels. Endorphins are triggered by painful stimuli, but can also cause euphoria as a response to everything from eating chocolate to having sex. There are lots of hormones that can affect your mood in one way or another.

With hormones playing such an important role in the body, it’s no wonder that hormone therapy is used to treat or manage many conditions. As mentioned, insulin plays a significant role in the management of diabetes. Sex hormones are used in contraception and in hormone replacement therapy during menopause. Many transgender people will use hormone therapy to manage dysphoria and help them transition to their identified gender. Thyroid problems can be treated with thyroid hormones, and there are several respiratory and autoimmune conditions treated with steroid hormones.

Depending on the circumstances, hormone therapy can involve tablets or capsules that you swallow; creams, gels or patches that are applied to the skin; or injections or implants. Like with any treatment, always discuss what would be safest and most appropriate for you with your doctor.

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