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Let’s get into the meat and potatoes of hormone deficiency. All too often, the detrimental mental, physical, and emotional impacts of hormone imbalance are misdiagnosed as the symptoms of other chronic illnesses. As a result, the patients with hormone deficiencies who can benefit most from hormone replacement therapy (HRT) do not receive the care that they need. Instead, they might cycle through any number of pharmaceutical medications or supplements intended to treat other conditions without ever addressing the underlying, root causes of their symptoms – hormone deficiency.

Medzone’s mission is to deliver the most advanced forms of HRT to the patients who need them most. So, what are the common symptoms of hormone deficiency that are so often mistaken for other conditions?

Unwanted Weight Gain and “Belly Fat”

As we age, it’s not uncommon for aging men and women to notice an increase in unwanted body fat, especially around the abdomen. This type of fat deposited around the midsection of the body –known as “visceral fat” – is a particularly dangerous form of fat that increases the risk of serious adverse health events like heart attack and stroke. It also impairs metabolism, i.e., the efficient burning of calories.

The result is a spiraling effect of poor health, wherein poor hormone balance triggers the buildup of visceral fat that further worsens the negative health effects of hormone imbalance. Without corrective measures, this heath spiral puts those who experience at great risk of chronic, age-related illness.

In men, visceral fat tends to accumulate around the belly – often resulting in what is called in popular culture a “beer belly.” In women, visceral fat tends to accumulate around the hips and upper thighs.

Nearly half of American adults now qualify as obese, with enormous negative implications for long-term health and wellness. What is driving the increase in obesity among Americans? It’s likely a combination of multiple factors, including:

• Poor diet. The typical modern American diet is loaded with processed ingredients like added synthetic sugars (often in the form of extremely harmful high fructose corn syrup), preservatives, and added chemicals in the form of herbicides and pesticides.
• Lack of physical activity. The human body requires regular, moderate-to-high-intensity exercise to function optimally. Without adequate levels of activity, metabolism slows and fat begins to accumulate, especially the dangerous type of visceral fat we discussed previously.
• Hormone imbalance. Hormones play an essential role in regulating the efficient processing of calories taken in through food and keeping metabolism high. In the modern era, multiple environmental and lifestyle factors create hormone imbalances, including toxic chemicals in the food and water such as herbicides and pesticides and uncontrolled stress.

The good news is that treatment strategies such as HGH replacement therapy — when appropriate following lab work confirming a hormonal deficiency and when coupled with appropriate lifestyle adjustments – can reverse unwanted weight gain, restore confidence, and boost energy levels in the patients who receive it.

Anxiety and Depression

In the United States in 2021, mental health disorders such as depression and anxiety are widespread. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic and the public health response that has included lockdowns and social distancing have worsened the mental health crisis among the general population:

“Prevalence of depression symptoms in the US was more than 3-fold higher during COVID-19 compared with before the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Innovative solutions are needed now more than ever. While common pharmaceutical options for treating depression and anxiety such as serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and benzodiazepine drugs such as Xanax and Ativan work for many, their chronic use also comes with a significant risk of dependency and a slew of negative side effects, potentially even including suicide ideation (suicidal thoughts).

These drugs are not for everyone. The unfortunate reality is that mental health symptoms like depression are often misdiagnosed and their root causes are ignored. Hormones play a critical role in mental health that regular care practitioners often do not have the specialized training necessary to recognize and effectively treat.

Even worse, untreated major depression can actually cause negative hormonal shifts itself, further worsening the patient’s mental health condition and creating a “spiral” effect similar to that seen with hormones and metabolic health.

Medzone’s endocrinologists are trained to recognize the signs of hormone-induced anxiety and depression and treat patients accordingly. If you’ve suffered from crippling anxiety or depression that has negatively impacted your quality of life but have found no solutions so far, don’t give up. HRT may be the answer you’ve been missing.

Sex Drive Issues

Recent reporting indicates that fertility rates and sexual performance issues like erectile dysfunction (ED) have skyrocketed while libido levels have plummeted in the West in recent years. The overall state of reproductive health in the US is grim.

While downward trends in sexual health occur due to a variety of factors, hormones play an essential role in maintaining optimal sexual function in both men and women.

Other Negative Health Consequences of Hormone Imbalances

Because hormones like HGH, testosterone, and estrogen are involved in combined hundreds of everyday functions necessary for maintaining health, their effects in the body are widespread.

Hormone imbalances, in addition to the issues we’ve discussed so far, can also trigger or worsen the following age-related conditions:

• Weakening bones/osteoporosis
• Wrinkles and sagging skin
• Sleep issues
• Impaired memory, cognitive processing, and concentration
• Chronic fatigue/low energy levels

The good news is that these issues can be resolved successfully when they occur due to a hormone imbalance. Contact the friendly Medzone staff today for a free mental health consultation to get started on your journey to wellness.