Many people have heard the phrase 'hormonal imbalance'-from teenagers battling acne, to women experiencing irregular periods, to adults struggling with unexplained weight gain or mood swings.
While the term is commonly used, few truly understand what it means, what causes it, or how significantly it can affect one's overall health.
Hormonal imbalances don't only affect women during their reproductive years-they can impact anyone at any stage of life.
Dr Ezekiel Mecha, an endocrinologist and senior lecturer at the University of Nairobi, says hormones are the body's chemical messengers, and "any disruption, even slight, can throw the entire system off balance." Dr Mecha explains that the body's endocrine system, which includes glands such as the thyroid, pituitary, and adrenal glands, regulates many essential functions, including metabolism, reproduction, mood, and growth. "Hormonal imbalance can occur when glands produce too much or too little of a hormone.
