Inflammation as a Symptom of Hormone Imbalance: The Triggers and What You Can Do

Alicia Stanton, MD, October 26, 2009

According to an article on WomentoWomen.com, physicians have developed a theory that “inflammation caused by hormonal imbalance could be a key reason why women suffer 75% of all autoimmune disease.”

Inflammation as a symptom of hormone imbalance is a relatively new concept to the Western world of medicine. The most common trigger of hormone imbalance, the over-production of insulin, is what usually causes inflammation. As mentioned in chapters one and two of Hormone Harmony, insulin plays a large part in hormonal health and is often omitted or not emphasized when discussing hormonal health. “Higher levels of insulin contribute to higher blood pressure, higher cholesterol and weight gain, especially around the abdomen, which increases inflammation.” Inflammation can be especially dangerous because the condition typically increases the risk of the other diseases caused by insulin resistance, making the likelihood of developing one of these illnesses even greater.

In Experience Life Magazine, Mark Hyman, MD writes “Eventually, we become resistant to all this excess insulin in our blood, just as we would become resistant to a drug. The body needs more and more of it to do the same job it once did with far less. So our insulin-production system spirals out of control, pumping ever more into our bodies, which become inflamed and metabolically imbalanced.”

Some symptoms of inflammation found on Cleveland Clinic’s website are:

Redness
Swollen joint that is warm to touch
Joint pain
Joint stiffness
Loss of joint function

Often, only a few of these symptoms are present. Inflammation may also be associated with general “flu-like” symptoms including:

Fever
Chills
Fatigue/loss of energy
Headaches
Loss of appetite
Muscle stiffness

There are some lifestyle and dietary changes you can make to ease the symptoms of inflammation spurred by hormone imbalance. Healthy fats, such as those from fish, olive oil and flaxseed, are necessary for the function of every cell and contribute to the reduction of inflammation. Fish oil, in supplements or in fish, is particularly beneficial as it improves insulin function, blunts inflammation, helps to control weight and may relieve menstrual pain. More helpful tips on how diet changes can assist in reducing the effects of inflammation can be found in chapter four of my book.

Tags: diet tips, Hormone Harmony, hormone inbalance, Inflammation, insulin, weight gain