How Stress Affects Your Hormones And What You Can Do About It
We all know stress can impact our mood, sleep, and energy. But did you know it can also throw your hormones out of balance? In this week's Motivation, Harlee Palmer, PA explains how chronic stress can interfere with hormone regulation and what you can do to regain control of your health. The Stress-Hormone Connection When your body is under stress, it produces higher levels of cortisol, a hormone designed to help you respond to danger. While cortisol is helpful in short bursts (like when you’re running late or facing a deadline), prolonged stress keeps your cortisol levels elevated, which can cause: Disrupted sleep patterns Weight gain, especially around the midsection Fatigue and brain fog Mood swings and anxiety Irregular menstrual cycles or worsened menopause symptoms Stress doesn’t just affect...