GMB: Shirley Ballas reveals her health struggles
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Recently, the latin and ballroom champion has had multiple tests, after concerned fans spotted a lump under the dancers arm. Having had a history of cancer scares, the star immediately went and got checked out by her GP. Results from tests came as a shock to both Shirley and her doctor, who found that it was not the lump under her arm that was of concern, but her hormone levels. This has led to the star needing further examinations, this time on nearly all of her organs.
Talking on her Instagram yesterday, where she has bravely kept fans up to date on her health journey, Shirley said that she was on her way to the hospital where she is heading for the organ scan.
The star thanked fans for their warm wishes, admitting that she was feeling “emotional” as she headed to Kings College, London.
Speaking on ITV’s Good Morning Britain (GMB), she said: “It’s been the last two weeks – it has been like a whirlwind with everything else I’ve been doing.
“I was doing a Paso Doble move, put up my right arm and a couple of people got in touch and I kind of ignored and then there was about 11 people getting in touch so I thought, no I better go to the doctor.
“I had some past blood tests from a few months before and I hadn’t gone back for the results. She [the doctor] was alarmed by them, so she re-did all my bloods last week and she was alarmed by the testosterone levels, the lack of oestrogen levels, and a couple of other things that were going on.
“All in all, a little concerning. But we have to wait and see. And all because several concerned people bothered to let me know.”
Shirley is expected to receive results from the tests she is having today in a “week to 10 days” time, but promised followers an update this afternoon on how the tests went.
Trying not to speculate what the cause of her hormonal imbalance is, Shirley admitted that she does feel worried about the prospect.
In a recent interview Shirley said: “I do feel a little bit dark and lonely, and I do tend to worry.”
Blood tests from the star revealed that she had a testosterone level as high as men, and absolutely zero oestradiol. As hormones are crucial in regulating most of the major bodily processes, a hormone imbalance can lead to a wide range of problems.
Medical News Today explains that hormone imbalances can lead to problems with the following:
- Metabolism and appetite
- Heart rate
- Sleep cycles
- Reproductive cycles and sexual function
- General growth and development
- Mood and stress levels
- Body temperature.
The medical site continues to explain that everyone will experience some form of natural hormone imbalance at particular points in their lifetime, but this can be a sign that endocrine glands are not working properly.
Endocrine glands are specialised cells that produce, store, and release hormones into the blood. There are several endocrine glands located throughout the body that control different organs, including the:
- Adrenal glands
- Testis and ovaries
- Pineal gland
- Pituitary gland
- Hypothalamus gland
- Thyroid and parathyroid glands
- Pancreatic islets.
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A post shared by Shirley Ballas (@shirleyballas)
For women, hormone imbalance occurs throughout their lifetime, especially during their monthly period or when they go through menopause. For Shirley, who is high in testosterone, specific symptoms can develop. These include:
- Excess body hair, specifically facial hair
- Balding
- Acne
- Decreased breast size
- Deepening of the voice
- Increased muscle mass.
- Irregular periods
- Low libido
- Changes in mood.
The NHS explains that one possible reason for this hormone imbalance is a condition known as polycystic ovaries syndrome (PCOS) – a common condition that affects how the ovaries work.
In fact, the three main features of PCOS are:
- Irregular periods – which means your ovaries do not regularly release eggs (ovulation)
- Excess androgen – high levels of “male” hormones in your body, which may cause physical signs such as excess facial or body hair
- Polycystic ovaries – your ovaries become enlarged and contain many fluid-filled sacs (follicles) that surround the eggs (but despite the name, you do not actually have cysts if you have PCOS).
On the other hand, oestradiol is a powerful reproductive hormone, also known as oestrogen. The hormone mainly acts to mature and maintain the female reproductive system and is necessary for development.
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A post shared by Shirley Ballas (@shirleyballas)
Individuals, like Shirley who have too little oestrogen tend to experience skeletal problems like osteoporosis – however this is more common in younger girls. For older women, oestrogen levels fall naturally when they enter the menopause.
This can lead to a variety of symptoms, the main and most common being night sweats, hot flushes, vaginal dryness and mood swings. Many women take hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to try and relieve them of symptoms – with much success.
Due to the multiple hormones in the body, it is hard to recognise when you might be lacking in a specific one. Luckily, Hormone Health suggests the top 10 warning signs that you might be suffering from a hormone imbalance. These include:
- Mood swings
- Heavy or painful periods
- Low libido
- Insomnia
- Unexplained weight gain
- Skin problems
- Fertility problems
- Headaches
- Weak bones
- Vaginal dryness.
If individuals experience any of the following symptoms it is recommended that they seek medical attention or try some lifestyle changes including increasing the amount of time you exercise and following a healthy balanced diet.
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