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Hormonal tests: cortisol, prolactin and protein
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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[Cortisol and its importance for supporting the hormonal balance
Cortisol is a hormone called the stress hormone. It is produced by the adrenal glands.
To correctly determine the level of cortisol in the blood, you need to do an analysis on the level of cortisol at 08.00.
If the level of cortisol is too high, it can mean that you have stress. And stress can be from a lack of sleep, a lack of other hormones in the body, except cortisol, it can be the body's response to drugs, as well as psychotropic substances.
And, of course, it can be so-called permanent household stresses: experiences for relatives, problems with the authorities, frequent and long trips.
A high level of cortisol is from 20 mg / dl.
He can testify not only about domestic dislocation and violations of the regime of life, but also about complex diseases.
In turn, too low a level of cortisol in the body can mean a constant and unceasing stress. Too low levels of cortisol are below 9 mg / dl. From this kidney can not fully work, doctors call this state of kidney depletion or kidney failure.
To avoid such consequences, it is necessary to check the level of cortisol in the blood in time.
And by the way, if you have everything in order in the body, then the weight will keep up, there will not be any jumps.
Prolactin and its role in weight control
Prolactin is a hormone that produces a region of the brain called the pituitary gland. If you want to accurately determine the level of prolactin in the body, the analysis for this hormone should be done from 07.00 to 08.00. Then it will be exact.
What can mean increased levels of prolactin? This may be evidence of a very serious disease - a pituitary tumor. Then surgery is required.
Symptoms of such a disease may be deterioration of vision, increased production of other hormones, violation of ovulation, malfunctions in the menstrual cycle. And, of course, unjustified and incomprehensible without additional examinations weight gain. And quite significant sometimes.
Note: if you have all these manifestations, be sure to go to the endocrinologist to detect the level of prolactin.
What if more prolactin is normal?
In combination with a sharp impairment of vision, you will need to carry out magnetic resonance imaging of the brain, in particular, the pituitary gland - the place where prolactin is produced, as prescribed by the doctor.
The doctor will determine the cause and decide whether there is a need for an operation. You can, in addition to (or instead of) the operation, prescribe a course of dopamine, which counteracts too much secretion of prolactin.
When you adjust the level of this hormone in your blood, weight will improve - you do not need to apply any more titanic efforts to reduce it.
Protein, which binds some sex hormones
You must know the level of protein in the blood in order to have a good controller to bind the sex hormones. After all, this is the role of protein. He, if necessary (say, a disease), has the ability to release the right amount of sex hormones in order to adjust the hormonal balance in the body.
If the process of secretion of this protein is violated, there may be a violation in the balance of estrogen or testosterone, which leads to malfunctions in the body.
If testosterone is produced more than usual, and at the same time estradiol is produced less than normal, you may have an increased appetite. And this, of course, does not lead to losing weight at all.
In addition, with this imbalance of hormones, you accumulate more fat deposits.
If you turn in time to an endocrinologist for examination and treatment, he will help to adjust the balance of protein matter in the body, which means that your weight and health will soon return to reasonable limits.
Take care of yourself and be well.