Chronic stress can cause hormonal imbalances. Any or all of the factors below could point to stress being the cause of the imbalance.
-
High blood pressure
Cortisol can raise systolic blood pressure by a highly significant measure, as well as increase your risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease, such as stroke. -
Elevated blood sugar
The stress hormones, including adrenaline and cortisol, increase your blood sugar and then insulin. This is particularly problematic if you’re diabetic because you may not produce enough insulin to bring your blood sugar back down to normal levels. This is also an issue for people with or without diabetes who also have Candida overgrowth, because Candida feeds on sugar. -
Loss of libido and fertility
Stress can interfere with sex drive because elevated cortisol levels can also cause irregular periods, affecting fertility. Studies have shown that distressed women have lower pregnancy rates. This may be due to stress causing lower progesterone. -
Anxiety/depression/mood disorders
Stressful events such as losing jobs and loved ones has been linked to the onset of depression. The HPA axis is your hormone response system for stress. It is made up of a part of the hypothalamus, part of the pituitary gland and the adrenal glands, and is where all the hormones involved in your stress response are released. In one study, dysfunction of the HPA axis also manifested in around 70% of patients with depression. -
Weight gain
During acute stress, your appetite is often suppressed so you can concentrate on escaping danger rather than eating your next meal. However, chronic stress promotes the intake of foods that contain a lot of calories, particularly unhealthy ones, because cortisol stimulates your appetite. This may be why chronic stress is linked to weight gain and obesity. -
Memory loss
Stress affects a part of the brain called the hippocampus, which plays a key role in processing memories. Neuroimaging studies have reported that stress-related cognitive changes are associated with atrophy of your hippocampus, which is associated with dementia and memory problems.
No one can avoid stress completely, so learning to relieve it is a key part of improving your overall health and in keeping your hormones in balance. Any activity that you find relaxing will help you combat stress. If you can get outdoors to do it, that’s even better because being in nature has added stress-relief benefits. In fact, even just the sounds of nature can make a difference. So if you’re on the treadmill, pop on a pair of headphones and work out to the sounds of nature.
Eating Protein at each meal can help to support the adrenals and balance blood sugar. Removing sugar and caffeine (or reducing) from your diet will also help, as well as other stimulants like alcohol.
Key supplements can really support a healthy diet too. Supplements to balance cortisol such as my PCH B Complex, Just Ashwagandha and Chill. Other supplements may be needed to balance Oestrogen and Thyroid production. For more information please book a 1-1 consultation here.
