COSMOPOLITAN July 2015 167
“
body love
I’M ALWAYS TIRED
IT COULD BE... cortisol and thyroid
hormones. Low levels of these hormones
can cause significant fatigue. Problems
with your pituitary gland (a pea-sized
gland at the base of the brain) can cause
both these hormones to be low, while
the thyroid and adrenal glands can each
become underactive, most commonly
due to an immune system problem. It’s
easy to test for these issues with your
GP, and you can top up hormone levels
with tablets. Lauren Sams #“
treated with medication without any
need of an operation.
If you’re super-stressed, this could
also be to blame for your AWOL period.
And stress doesn’t just mean long hours
logged at work – stress on your body
caused by too much exercise and lack
of nutrition can lead to the loss of your
period. Is it serious? Yep. Going for a
long time without having your period
is bad for your bones and it can lead to
osteoporosis (brittle bones).I’M THIRSTY ALL
THE TIME AND MY
BLADDER’S LIKE A TAP
IT COULD BE... insulin. Low levels of
insulin generally means diabetes. Type
1 diabetes typically occurs in children
and young adults, while type 2 (which
is more common) tends to occur as we
start to get older. Maintaining a healthy
diet and doing regular exercise helps
prevent type 2 diabetes, but it does run
strongly in families. Women who’ve had
gestational diabetes during pregnancy
are at much higher risk of developing
diabetes later on in life. If you suspect
you may have diabetes, see your GP.Many hormone issues
MY SKIN’S GONE CRAY
IT COULD BE... oestrogen and
testosterone. When we gain weight,
the balance between oestrogen and
testosterone changes, with relatively
higher testosterone and lower oestrogen
levels. This can lead to increased oil
production, facial hair and even adult
acne (characterised by small red bumps,
not deep cystic pimples like teenage
acne). PCOS occurs in around 10 per
cent of young women (although some
medical studies suggest even higher
rates), where acne and hair growth are
associated with irregular or absent
periods and commonly (but not always)
weight gain. In some cases, your GP
may prescribe you the Pill to more
effectively balance your hormones, or
other medications to block the action
of the high “male” hormones.can be treated by a
GP. You don’t need
a specialist
Low levels of some
hormones causes
excessive fatigue.
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