From Newton, NC: My period stopped in 1987 when I was 38. Since them I been plagued with periodic general back pain with no apparant cause, extreme headaches which come either randomly or with seasonal changes or location changes but no pattern, complete lack of sex drive to the point of revoltion, leg pain with no apparent cause or reason.
Could these all be related to chemical imbalance?

Dr. Roby: Thank you for sharing your problem with us. Your question about chemical imbalance is a logical one, but I would suggest that it is much more probable that it is a hormone imbalance. Everyone knows about puberty and menopause. Very few of us stop to think about what happens in between those two milestones. The body doesn’t just sit there waiting for the next big jump, there are little changes going on all of the time. By the time we are in the late twenties, we begin to feel some of the changes. They are more noticeable through the thirties, and certainly by age forty, or so, we know that we are getting…older! As the sex hormones begin to diminish, lots of things begin to happen with us. Before I go on with this, I’m going to ask that you go to the website: www.drroby.com, and read these three sections, in the order given. 1) Hormone Imbalance/Allergy. 2) Food Allergy. 3) Airborne allergy. These are very closely related, and because Dr. Roby has conducted so many studies on how they work together, we know that by treating hormone imbalance and allergist at the same time, we can achieve optimum response in a much shorter time than previously thought.

Once you have finished reading these sections, you will have a better idea about what is really going on in your body, and what we can help you to do, to correct the problems, and lead a healthier, happier, more pain-free lifestyle. I know that you will find the answers to many of your questions on the website.

One of the most common symptoms we treat here at Roby Institute is fatigue.  We see individuals, young and old, male and female, who simply do not have the energy to live their lives the way they would like.  In some cases, patients have found that their entire lives are being spent sitting on the couch or laying in bed because they do not have the energy necessary to engage in even the smallest activity.

Have you ever considered that your fatigue may be a result of imbalanced hormones?  When our bodies do not have enough of a specific hormone, we compensate by producing adrenaline.  When our bodies rely too much on adrenaline – which is only intended to be used in times of emergency – we will invariably become fatigued.

Why does having too much adrenaline lead to fatigue?  Wouldn’t the opposite be true, since many people think adrenaline is an energy source in and of itself?  Simple.  Imagine being a near car-crash every 5 minutes.  Imagine begin startled again and again and again all day.  The result of those jolts are the production of adrenaline.  It’s safe to say that if experienced surges in your “emergency” hormone, you would be exhausted at day’s end.

A little adrenaline, when needed, is a wonderful thing and essential to the body’s well-being and balance.  But too much adrenaline, too often will leave you feeling worn out and exhausted.

If you think that excess adrenaline may be causing fatigue, please contact Roby Institute.  We have offices in San Antonio, Austin, and Marble Falls, Texas and are always happy to help.

The Roby Institute treats allergies of all types at our clinics in Austin, San Antonio, and Marble Falls, Texas.  Regularly, we see patients who do not realize that the symptoms from which they are suffering are actually allergic reactions.  Whether it is food, an airborne substance, or something else entirely, our bodies are constantly taking in and reacting to the materials that surround us.  If you think you may be suffering from allergies or are experiencing symptoms that have not been helped no matter what you try, please contact us to schedule an appointment.

________________________________________

Originally published Here at HowStuffworks.com:

What Causes Allergic Reactions?

Whether it’s runny, itchy or stuffed, your nose knows what’s bothering it. But do you know what’s wrong with your nasal passages? Understanding allergies isn’t difficult, but it is the first step toward building a healthy alliance with your nose, eyes, lungs, and sinuses.

In this article, we will look at some of the causes of allergies as well as some of the symptoms of allergies. We will then go into greater detail, exploring topics like why some people are more susceptible to allergies and the different types of common allergies. By the time we’re done, you’re sure to understand how allergies work!

Allergies are the result of the immune system’s mistaken response to a harmless substance. Normally, the immune system stands guard and defends your body against intruders that can be dangerous to your health, such as viruses and bacteria. When it does its job well, your immune system keeps you from getting sick every time an ill-intentioned germ finds its way into your body.

In some people, however, the immune system has difficulty distinguishing between the good guys (or, at least, the neutral guys) and the bad guys. Like a nervous rookie, it sees danger everywhere and overreacts. A hyperreactive immune system pulls out all the stops for substances that won’t do you any actual harm, such as dust, pollen, and animal dander. These innocuous substances are called allergens.

Most anti-allergy medications block the histamine from binding to its receptor and are called antihistamines. The allergic reaction can have both an early and a late phase. Typically the early phase may start within a few minutes of exposure, while the late phase may start several hours after the initial exposure. The early phase is caused by the release of those chemicals stored in the granules in the mast cells. The late phase reaction is caused by other inflammatory cells recruited into the area.

Allergic Symptoms

The body’s first line of defense against invaders includes the nose, mouth, eyes, lungs, and stomach. When the immune system reacts to an allergen, these body parts become battlegrounds.

It’s ironic that the immune system, designed to protect you from illness, produces symptoms that make you feel sick when it overreacts to mundane substances. But that’s the nature of the allergic response. The symptoms are the unfortunate result of the immune system’s overperformance. It’s a perfect example of the old saying that sometimes the cure is worse than the disease.