Does Hot Weather Affect Your Hormones?
Flaunting your summer body or flawless skin is one thing, but hot weather CAN AFFECT your hormones … and not for the better either!
Yes, you read that right! Hormonal balance is vital for us, especially women, as our bodies undergo a roller coaster of changes throughout the day, never mind months or years. Summer heat can affect your hormonal balance, often causing:
- Mood swings
- Fatigue
- Weight gain
- Other health issues
Let’s look at how the heat affects your hormones and explore healthy ways to maintain a balance.
How Does Heat Affect Your Hormones?
Hormones are part of the endocrine system and regulate the body’s internal environment. However, they are also influenced by external factors such as the weather. Your hormones can act very differently when it is hot outside, influencing your feelings and overall health.
CORTISOL
- One of the first hormones affected by heat is cortisol, or the ‘stress hormone’. A recent study has stated that cortisol levels increase in warm weather. This is because stress levels are usually higher during the warm months, elevating cortisol.
- High cortisol levels affect other hormones like insulin, glucagon, thyroid, and reproductive hormones.
THYROID
- Thyroid hormone imbalance has been noted in hot weather, directly influencing the body’s metabolism.
VITAMIN D
- Not quite a vitamin, but vitamin D is also an actual hormone produced by the kidneys.
- Stepping out in the sun is advisable as it helps the body produce vitamin D. While considered a nutrient, vitamin D is vital for regulating your immune system, supporting mental health, and building bones. Many people get sufficient vitamin D during the hot summer compared to winter.
Hot Weather and Impact on the Menstrual Cycle
Hormonal changes are normal for a woman, but hot weather can impact her menstrual cycle.
HORMONE-VITAMIN D
Vitamin D deficiency has been found to increase the risk of having a long menstrual cycle. This may be because vitamin D deficiency has been associated with delayed ovulation.
Hot weather also increases blood flow, often causing heavy menstrual bleeding in some women. So, if you have irregular menstrual cycles, severe PMS symptoms or are concerned about fertility, discuss them with our specialists at Medi-Gyn.
Our doctors get to the root cause of your hormonal imbalance and suggest the most suitable therapies and treatments, including lifestyle changes that can help maintain hormonal balance during the heat.
How to Balance Hormones in the Heat?
We have several effective ways to balance your hormones to help you beat the heat and maintain normal hormonal balance. At Medi-Gyn, our experts understand how the heat has affected your hormone levels and create a personalised plan with an integrated approach. A few ways to balance hormones in the heat include:
- IV Therapy : This treatment involves administering minerals, vitamins, and other nutrients directly into the blood for greater absorption and support hormonal balance. Besides nutrient optimisation, IV therapy ensures hydration, supports adrenal health, reduces fatigue, and improves mood.
Visit Hortman Clinics, Dubai, to get your IV Drips.
- Bioidentical Hormone Therapy (BHRT) is a commonly used treatment that supplements a woman’s body with hormones like oestrogen, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA, and pregnenolone to reduce symptoms of hormonal imbalance, particularly with menopause. At Medi-Gyn, we use BHRT to help women with hormonal imbalances and associated symptoms.
- Staying hydrated: Excess heat can impact fluid levels in the body and, subsequently, hormones. Drinking plenty of water has a cooling effect on the body and helps balance hormonal levels.
- Practising stress management: Effective stress management helps lower stress levels and regulate cortisol in the body. This maintains hormonal balance and reduces the stress-induced effects on the body.
- Include cooling foods in your diet: Spicy foods can increase the heat in the body, as per traditional medicinal practices, often aggravating hormonal imbalance. Instead, replace these spicy foods with cooling foods like watermelon, cucumbers, etc.
- Acupuncture: An ancient traditional practice that has been shown to improve conditions like PCOS and menopause symptoms and bring about stress reduction.
Wrapping it Up!
Maintaining optimal hormonal balance during summer is essential, as the heat can wreak havoc on the body. Understanding and identifying symptoms of hormonal imbalance can help you seek medical care and incorporate strategies to maintain a healthy lifestyle to enjoy the summer without the heat impacting your hormonal balance.
Need help managing your hormones this summer? Schedule an appointment with our experts at Medi-Gyn! Call us on +971555450797 today!
For more information about Medi-Gyn treatments, email us at Info@medi-gyn.com.
