Internal inflammation due to immune dysregulation
Immune dysregulation involves a shift in the immune system's function from healthful inflammation against threats (viruses, bacteria, cancer cells) to harmful inflammation against organs and tissues within the body. This harmful internal inflammation affects genetically predisposed and overused areas of the body, contributing to the onset and severity of most chronic conditions, including cardiovascular, metabolic, autoimmune, allergic, GI, musculoskeletal, neurological, and other diseases. Unhealthy internal inflammation also worsens the severity of acute illnesses like infections. Because the dysregulated immune system is occupied causing internal inflammation, it is no longer as available to fight off threats, thus increasing susceptibility to infections and cancer.
Immune dysregulation occurs when nutrition, weight, exercise, sleep, and stress response are not optimized; genetics and environmental exposures also play a role. However, immune balance can be restored when these factors are addressed. Certain supplements and therapies can provide additional support.
Mood states related to brain chemical imbalance and neuroplasticity
While eliminating stressors isn't always possible, effectively managing the response to stress is crucial. Repetitive negative emotional responses with sadness, worrying, frustration, or rumination can lead to persistent to imbalance in neurotransmitters (brain chemicals) and rewiring of neurons in negative thought patterns (through a phenomenon called neuroplasticity), all of which promotes further default negative emotional responses. Much of the population is genetically predisposed to neurotransmitter imbalances, which makes it easier to unintentionally slip into such a negative cycle. This imbalanced state may manifest as low mood or overt depression, excessive worrying or overt anxiety, irritability, difficulty controlling negative thoughts or emotions, fatigue, low motivation, poor concentration, carb cravings, chronic pain, and difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep; physical manifestations include immune dysregulation and triggering of harmful evolutionary stress responses.
Mindfulness and specific stress management techniques throughout the day help the brain to repetitively practice focused, positive, practical responses to stress, which can rebalance neurotransmitters and rewire neuron connections in positive thought patterns. However, many individuals in an imbalanced state feel stuck and unable to easily practice these techniques due to the extent of their neurotransmitter imbalance. Specific dietary changes, exercise regimens, supplements, and possibly low-dose medications can improve neurotransmitter balance in order to facilitate the application of mindfulness and stress management techniques, which can then further rebalance neurotransmitters and rewire neurons in positive thought patterns to promote further default positive emotional responses.
Evolutionary stress responses and their manifestations
Evolutionary survival stress responses persist in the human body and are triggered when the brain perceives stressors. These responses are not helpful for most contemporary stressors; when chronic or excessive, these responses can lead to immune dysregulation and physical symptoms. Each person’s body has two major stress responses, though one may predominate based on genetics, upbringing, and personal stress coping techniques.
1) The well-known “fight or flight” response is an evolutionary reaction to acute threats, such as predators. The fight or flight sympathetic nervous system is activated to prepare the body to run; this can lead to anxiety, worrying, or exhaustion from feeling “wired” all the time. Heart rate increases and blood vessels dilate to increase circulation; this may cause palpitations and warmth or hot flashes. The calming parasympathetic nervous system is downregulated in this activated state; this may lead to dysregulated sleep, concentration, relaxation, and digestion. The adrenal glands produce stress steroids to increase blood sugar and blood pressure to support running; this may increase risk of diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, weight gain, and low bone density.
2) The “hibernation” response is an evolutionary reaction to resource scarcity, such as during winter famine. The brain’s hypothalamus and pituitary gland systematically slow down various glands in the body to conserve resources. Thyroid and adrenal glands are slowed to decrease wakefulness, metabolism, and utilization of resources to facilitate a hibernation state; this can lead to depression, low mood, fatigue, or low motivation. Hunger hormones increase and consumed calories are saved in fat tissue to build nutrition stores; this may contribute to increased appetite and weight gain. Ovarian and testicular function are slowed given lack of resources to support reproduction; this may cause missed ovulation / periods, low fertility, and diminished sex drive.
These natural but potentially harmful evolutionary stress responses can be downregulated with integrative medicine therapeutic techniques that promote stress management and restore balance to the nervous system and metabolism.
Symptoms of female hormone imbalance
Female hormones have diverse functions rooted in their original role of supporting reproduction in our primitive human ancestors.
Estrogen promotes a strong, healthy body in preparation for pregnancy. It protects against cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and weight gain. It preserves bone, hair, and skin health, maintains cognitive function, elevates serotonin levels and mood, and enhances sex drive, vaginal tissue tone, and lubrication. It also builds the uterine lining in preparation for embryo implantation.
Progesterone ensures a healthy pregnancy, nurturing a growing baby even in resource-scarce conditions. It secures the uterine lining for the implanted pregnancy, promotes caloric intake by increasing appetite, enhances caloric absorption by slowing the gut, reduces calorie burning by decreasing energy/activity, promotes caloric storage via weight gain, and increases hydration and blood volume through water retention; these are alongside several other physiologic effects to improve delivery of clean, nutrient-rich blood and oxygen to a developing baby.
However, these hormones are present and exert effects well outside of pregnancy. During the week prior to each period in a normal menstrual cycle, progesterone predominates. Given the original pregnancy-supportive functions of progesterone listed above, the premenstrual week may thus be associated with cravings, bloating, constipation, fatigue, depressed mood, low motivation, weight gain, and water retention. During this premenstrual week and also long-term with menopause, estrogen declines. Loss of estrogen-related health benefits listed above are noticeable with long-term estrogen deficiency after menopause. However, the decline in serotonin that accompanies low estrogen is noticeable both short-term during the premenstrual week and long-term with menopause, often resulting in irritability, low mood, worrying, difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep, worsened gut function, increased pain, and increased headaches. Individuals genetically predisposed to serotonin imbalance may particularly feel these effects, contributing to well-known phenomena like PMS, menopause-related mood changes, and hormonal migraines. Symptoms of hormone imbalance may also arise outside of the aforementioned times for females with irregular cycles or those using certain hormonal therapies.
Specific lifestyle changes, supplements, possibly medications or hormone therapies, and various other complementary therapeutic techniques can help to alleviate hormone-related symptoms and optimize hormone and serotonin levels.
DISCLAIMER: Public information published by Life Transformation Integrative Medicine PLLC is for educational purposes. It does not replace the recommendations of a physician or healthcare provider. Please consult your physician or healthcare provider for personalized medical care and advice.