The human body contains 50 hormones. These hormones are chemical messengers excreted by the body’s eight endocrine glands. Once they enter the bloodstream, each of these hormones travels to specific sites and activates target cells. Many hormones act in a cyclical process or feedback loops.
The endocrine system produces many kinds of hormones necessary for optimal health and bodily function. These include adrenal hormones, sex hormones, steroid hormones, growth hormones, peptide hormones, thyroid hormones, and more.
When something is wrong with your hormone receptors or hormone levels (whether they’re too high or too low), it has the potential to impact many aspects of your health; everything from your sleep cycle, metabolism, weight gain or loss, sexual function, reproduction, nervous system, immune system, and growth and development (especially in children). The symptoms you may experience will depend on which hormones are off-balance and the root cause behind the imbalance.
Endocrine Glands and Hormones They Produce
The eight glands of the endocrine system and hormones which they produce are:
- Hypothalamus: Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH), Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), Growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH), Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), Somatostatin, Dopamine, Vasopressin, Andoxytocin
- Pineal Gland: Melatonin
- Pituitary Gland: Oxytocin, Adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH), Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), Luteinising hormone (LH), Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), Prolactin (PRL), Growth hormone (GH), Melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH), Anti-diuretic hormone (ADH), Oxytocin
- Thyroid: Triiodothyronine (T3), Thyroxine (T4)
- Parathyroid: Parathyroid hormone (PTH)
- Thymus: Thymosin
- Adrenal: Cortisol, Aldosterone, DHEA and Androgenic Steroids, Epinephrine (Adrenaline), Norepinephrine (Noradrenaline)
- Pancreas: Glucagon, insulin
Risk Factors for Hormone Disorders
Some of these risk factors or causes of hormone disorders include:
- endocrine disruptors (chemical or environmental toxins)
- chronic stress (physical or mental)
- poor diet and/or lifestyle
- underlying immune condition (like Hashimoto’s causing thyroid dysfunction)
- inflammation
The more traditionally recognized and accepted causes behind hormone issues include things like a tumor or injury of the endocrine gland in question, infection, and genetics.
Unfortunately, in allopathic medicine, your endocrinologist or primary care physician may overlook these factors and instead simply try to manage your pain and other symptoms with medication. This can be helpful to manage symptoms but doesn’t often lead to your condition improving.
At Rejuvagen, we recognize that we focus on identifying the root cause of hormone disorders and getting your hormones back in balance.
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