The adrenal glands are located on the top of each kidney and they secrete hormones that are responsible for regulating our sex drive, blood pressure, fluid balance and stress response. When the adrenal glands become overactive or underactive,...
Low-carb diets are a popular way to lose weight, but they can cause some side effects. You might notice a change in your menstrual cycle while on a low-carb diet, but determining whether the low-carb regimen or some other factor is to blame can be...
According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), tamoxifen, an oral medication approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, has been used for more than 30 years to treat breast cancer in both women and men. This drug is known as a selective...
Cushing's disease, also known as hypercortisolism, is an endocrine or hormonal disorder that results when the body experiences excessive amounts of the stress hormone cortisol over an extended period. Cortisol is an important hormone whose primary...
Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory disease that most frequently involves the joints of the hands and feet. It originates when the membrane that lines the cavity around the joint (synovial membrane) becomes inflamed and thickened, leading to...
Polycystic ovary disease, also known as Stein-Leventhal syndrome or PCOS, occurs in 5 to 10 percent of women of childbearing age, according to the American Pregnancy Association. PCOS is the most common hormonal disorder in childbearing-aged...
Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) or Stein-Leventhal syndrome, is where numerous cysts develop in the ovaries, which results in reduced egg production to the point that ovulation does not occur (anovulation). It is a hormonal imbalance as well as...
While most women have some body hair, even on their faces, chests, abdomens and backs, the hair is usually a light “peach fuzz” variety. Excessive amounts of dark, coarse hair growing in these places can indicate a condition called...
Estrogen dominance is a condition that occurs when the body either produces too much estrogen or too little progesterone. Although it's most often reported during menopause, it's believed by many doctors and scientists, including John R. Lee,...
Elevated cortisol levels in the body--a condition called hypercortisolism or Cushing syndrome--occur when your adrenal glands within your kidneys produce too much of this hormone. High levels of cortisol most frequently occur in patients between...
Progesterone is a hormone that's found in both males and females. It plays an important role in the reproductive system. Like other hormones, progesterone levels both affect and are affected by other hormones and the organs that make and respond...
Polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS, is a condition characterized by sex hormone imbalances in women that can produce a variety of body changes and health problems. Women with this syndrome typically benefit significantly from participation in...
Vitex, also called chaste tree or chasteberry, has been used with varying amounts of success to treat several maladies associated with the menstrual cycle, such as premenstrual syndrome, infertility and absent periods. As with any herbal...
For hundreds of years, herbalists have utilized the herb pennyroyal to aid digestion, treat colic in babies and lower fevers. Usually ingested as a leaf tea, it has also been used for headache and infections, according to the Plants for a Future...
You may be tempted to cut hundreds of calories from your diet in a last-ditch effort to turn heads at your high school reunion but think twice before you proceed. Not consuming enough calories can cause health issues from the get-go and may lead...
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a genetic disorder characterized by excess androgen hormones. Michael Leventhal, MD, and Irving Stein, MD, in a series of seven women who presented with hirsuitism (excess body and facial hair), amenorrhea...
Hair loss or thinning hair in women may be a sign of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a hormonal disorder that can affect fertility. As many as five million women in the United States may be affected by the disorder, according to the National...
A menstrual cycle consists of several phases during each month. The final phase of the cycle is a menstrual period. The menstrual period, also referred to as menstruation, is the shedding of the lining in the uterus. Amenorrhea is the absence of...
The fat flush plan is a diet plan used to accelerate weight loss and balance hormone levels during three phases. This plan claims to be the only system capable of uncovering and correcting the hidden factors that sabotage weight loss. According to...
The glycemic index is a numeric value that ranks a food based on its rate of conversion to glucose in the body. The glycemic index ranges from 0 to 100 with lower numbers indicating a lower and slower rise in blood sugar. Pure glucose is the...
Hidden health problems, such as a hormonal imbalance involving testosterone, can make you feel like you're going out of your mind. You might have obvious symptoms or just feel "off." This can be particularly troubling if you're a young woman with...
Oral contraceptives, also called the Pill, are the most popular form of birth control. Oral contraceptives are a combination of synthetic estrogen and progesterone taken for 21 days of every month; the last seven days are replaced by a placebo...
Numerous factors can cause starvation. According to the World Hunger website, hunger -- which is intimately associated with starvation, or the -- is the uneasy or painful sensation caused by food cravings, and develops due the prolonged scarcity...
Many women continue to experience acne well beyond adolescence, and hormone fluctuations likely cause these breakouts. But women in their 30s who experience acne combined with facial hair growth might actually be suffering from polycystic ovary...
Your pituitary gland, a small, hormone-secreting gland located along the base of your brain, controls a number of physiological processes. The hormones secreted by the gland regulate growth and sexual maturity, blood pressure, metabolism,...
The thyroid gland, a small butterfly-shaped structure located in the neck, controls a number of metabolic functions through the release of two types of thyroid hormones, thyroxine, or T4, and triiodothyronine, known as T3. Although more T4 is...
Myths abound about diet and acne: Various internet blogs and sites report that eliminating wheat, dairy or sugar will help clear your skin. In reality, there's scant medical evidence that eliminating any one food group will help improve your...
Whether you're a competitive athlete or simply trying to stay in shape, running can be a rewarding, heart-healthy form of exercise. Although building strength and training regularly will positively impact your running pace, the amount of body...
Bulimia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by a destructive pattern of binge-eating followed by compensating with certain behaviors to obsessively control weight, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). Two types...
