Sleeplessness is a common ailment and can be detrimental to our health and overall wellbeing. This may include the inability to fall or stay asleep, waking up multiple times during the night, or waking up early in the morning. There are a variety of testing available that could assist with this assessment of this issue including neurotransmitter testing, hormonal analysis as well as determining if there is a medical cause for this complaint through bloodwork. A determination of lifestyle factors that could contribute to insomnia also would be reviewed as well as the mental health component. 

Often eating a healthy diet and exercising can lead to weight loss, but for some people, these changes may have only a minor effect on weight loss. Weight loss resistance can occur due to hormonal changes, thyroid disorders, steroidal medications for anti-inflammation, or growths on the pituitary gland. Hypothyroidism can lead to weight loss resistance because a lack of thyroid hormone leads to a slower metabolism. In women, increased estrogen may cause the body to hold onto body fat because fat contains estrogen. In men, increased estrogen can suppress testosterone, which leads to increased body fat because testosterone speeds up metabolism and fuels muscle growth. 

Steroidal medications and pituitary growths can also disrupt hormone balance and lead to weight loss resistance. Overall, balancing hormones can lead to weight loss allowing patients achieve to their weight loss goals. A review of lifestyle factors and overall health is necessary to assist with losing weight. 

Hormones are chemical messengers that carry signals from one part of the body to another, and they work to control almost all primary physiological processes in the body, such as reproduction, sexual function, digestion, metabolism, growth, and energy and heat regulation. When hormones become deficient or imbalanced, many things can occur in the body, such as mood changes, night sweats, hot flashes, low libido, infertility, reduced sexual function, hair loss, wrinkling skin, and weight gain. For more information on hormone imbalance treatments please visit Hamilton Ontario Bioidentical Hormones.