As I mentioned, we recently moved to Washington state. It was a quick move to find a place to live, get an office and deal with some family drama. As well, we had to maintain our Las Vegas and California offices in the meantime. For me, it has been pretty stressful. I am certainly not complaining, as many other people have way more stress than me. But we all know that moving/family/business can be darn stressful.
With that said, I want to talk about the effects of stress on your body. Stress and its impact on the body could be a 300-page blog. But for now, I am going to talk about stress and its effect on cortisol and insulin production.
Stress can be many things, mentally or physically induced.
What does stress do? Below is a list of the effects of stress on your body:
Stress will cause your adrenals to produce more cortisol. Cortisol’s job is to maintain or raise blood sugar. When cortisol increases, it will mobilize muscle tissue to convert it to sugar. The rise in blood glucose will stimulate the pancreas to release
Insulin is a fat-storing hormone. When insulin rises, your body will store the glucose as fat, predominantly in the torso or stomach. Many refer to this as belly fat or muffin top or back fat. Cortisol rising due to mental or physical stress can happen even if you have already eaten.
As mentioned above, cortisol catabolizes muscle tissue into amino acids and turns it into sugar. Well, that sugar is then stored around your abdomen/belly. This is why people will complain that their weight is the same, but their bodies look different. They will have thin legs and larger stomach. Stress can cause you to lose muscle mass and replace it with belly fat.
Stress can cause sugar and carbohydrate cravings. These cravings are almost impossible to ignore. Because of cortisol’s impact on insulin, this creates ups and downs in your blood sugar. This can cause you to avoid eating healthy foods opting for sugary carbs. Don’t feel guilty because this is a biological process. Willpower never wins when competing against biology. I won’t lie, this happened to both Dr. Rob and I during our move. We both had dessert so frequently that it became more of a habit than a treat. Even though we know the impact sugar has on the body, and all the nasty things it can do. I still wanted to eat ice cream, and I am lactose intolerant! Biology always beats your willpower. Techniques to beat biology is another episode. But there are ways to curb sugar cravings while in the midst of stress. Because sometimes, there are stressors that we have no control over.
Stress can cause or exacerbate anxiety. The rise in cortisol will reduce GABA. GABA is a hormone that makes us feel happy, relaxed and safe. Stress causes cortisol to rise and GABA to fall. The result is anxiety and overreacting to stress.
Stress will disrupt your sleep cycle. Cortisol is naturally secreted in a diurnal curve, which occurs over a 24 hour period. Our cortisol is highest in the morning, so we are bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, ready for the day. Over the day, cortisol will reduce so we can sleep at night.
Stress can cause the cortisol to rise at night causing trouble falling asleep. And the cortisol can bounce up and down all night causing trouble staying asleep. Of course, this causes you not to feel rested upon waking and fatigue during the day. You might even feel tired or sleep in the afternoon between 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm.
Stress can cause your thyroid function to drop. Your thyroid has many functions, which again is whole another topic for a future episode.
But in short, lower thyroid function can cause:
Chronic stress will eventually cause lowered immune function. Elevated levels of cortisol over time, will show a reduction in white blood cells. White blood cells are one of the main sources of immune defense for us.
Stress can cause us ladies’ menstrual cycle to become disrupted. Most have heard of missing periods due to stress. But more commonly stress can cause more frequent periods, such as two periods in a month. Stress can cause heavier periods, more cramping, more PMS.
The body is smart. But it doesn’t understand the difference between a bear chasing you or the 100 things on your plate for the day. In fact, being pursued by a bear would only last 15-30sec at the most. But chronic long-term stress, the body cannot figure out why you haven’t been eaten or got away.
During extended periods of stress, the female body decides, ‘now would not be a good time to be fertile.’ Often high levels of chronic stress will turn off ovulation. As the body knows, times of stress, war, famine, fight/flight would not be conducive to gestation. Let alone raising babies.
The world we live may not be fatally dangerous. But the constant barrage of life-stressors can have a lot of effects on our bodies. From weight gain to sleeplessness to anxiety and menstrual issues.
If you have concerns/questions, feel free to leave a message in the comment box or contact us at [email protected].
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Discover the common and unfamiliar symptoms that you might be experiencing. Get access to cases of real women with hormonal conditions.
Protecting your `heart health` is crucial, especially during `menopause`, when risks can increase. In this `women’s health` episode, Dr. Valorie Davidson and Dr. Robert Maki share essential `health tips` and insights into how `hormones` impact cardiovascular well-being. Learn about important lab tests and supplements to safeguard your heart. You’ll learn: ● Why heart disease in women is often a “silent” problem until it’s serious ● The difference between general “heart disease” and atherosclerosis ● Coronary calcium scores: what they are, what the numbers mean, and when to consider one ● Why total cholesterol alone is useless (and often scary for no reason) ● The key markers that matter more: ○ Triglycerides ○ HDL ○ Triglyceride HDL ratio (and why 1.5 is a powerful insulin-resistance clue) ○ ApoB ○ Lp(a) ○ hs-CRP (cardio CRP) ○ Blood pressure & insulin resistance ● How estrogen decline in perimenopause & menopause affects cholesterol, visceral fat, inflammation, and heart risk ● How rhythmic dosing and thoughtfully prescribed HRT can support metabolic and cardiovascular health ● Visceral fat vs “roly poly” fat: why where you store fat matters more than the scale ● Foundational supplements for heart protection (education only, not personal medical advice): ○ Omega3s (EPA/DHA) ○ Vitamin D 2 ○ CoQ10 ○ Curcumin/turmeric ○ Magnesium Red yeast rice, bergamot, berberine & more metabolic support ○ Nitric oxide support (beet root, citrulline, etc.) If you have a question, please visit our website and click Ask the Doctor a question. Join the Progress Your Hormones Community Stay Connected Instagram: @drvalorie TikTok: @drvaloried Disclaimer: All content in this blog, including text, images, audio, video, or other formats, was created for informational purposes only. This video, website, and blog aim to promote consumer/public understanding and general knowledge of various health topics. This content is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult your healthcare provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your condition before undertaking a new healthcare regimen. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you have read on this website. If your healthcare provider is not interested in discussing your health concerns regarding this topic, then it is time to find a new doctor.
Can You Do Rhythmic Dosing After a Hysterectomy? Short answer: Yes, but there are some other factors to take into consideration to make sure someone is a good candidate. In this episode, Dr. Valorie and Dr. Maki explain how rhythmic dosing works without a uterus, why it can be an excellent option after total hysterectomy (with oophorectomy) or surgical menopause, and when a simpler static approach might be better. We cover candidates, myths (like “no uterus = no progesterone”), brain and bone benefits, and how to personalize dosing for real-life outcomes—sleep, mood, cognition, libido, and long-term bone strength. What you’ll learn ● Rhythmic dosing 101 (mimicking a 26–28-day cycle) ● Hysterectomy types: uterus-only vs. total (with ovary removal) ● Why rhythmic dosing can still help—even without a period ● Customizing estrogen + progesterone to symptoms and goals ● Brain fog & sleep: why declining estradiol hits cognition ● Bone density protection in the first 5–7 years post-menopause ● Endometriosis & fibroids: nuance, not one-size-fits-all ● When rhythmic dosing may not be ideal (e.g., 60 and off HRT for many years) If you have a question, please visit our website and click Ask the Doctor a question. Join the Progress Your Hormones Community Stay Connected Instagram: @drvalorie TikTok: @drvaloried Disclaimer: All content in this blog, including text, images, audio, video, or other formats, was created for informational purposes only. This video, website, and blog aim to promote consumer/public understanding and general knowledge of various health topics. This content is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult your healthcare provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your condition before undertaking a new healthcare regimen. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you have read on this website. If your healthcare provider is not interested in discussing your health concerns regarding this topic, then it is time to find a new doctor.
Confused by your DEXA scan results? Not sure if your T-score is “normal,” “osteopenia,” or “osteoporosis”or what to actually do about it? In this episode, Dr. Valorie Davidson and Dr. Robert Maki walk through three real viewer examples to show You exactly how to interpret bone density scores in your 50s and beyond. You’ll learn: ● How to read your DEXA scan: T-score vs Z-score in plain English ● The cutoffs: ○ 0 to -0.9 → normal bone density ○ -1.0 to -2.4 → osteopenia ○ ≤ -2.5 → osteoporosis ● Why two women in their early 50s can have completely different bone density ● What a T-score of -3.7 or -3.8 really means—and whether it’s reversible ● How surgical menopause, long-term steroids, vitamin D deficiency, RA, and genetics impact bone health ● Why your 50s are really about protecting your 70s (fracture risk, independence, and longevity) ● How weight loss, GLP-1 meds, and low muscle mass affect bones ● Practical foundations to protect and improve bone density: ○ Smart movement: walking, weighted vests, strength & resistance training ○ Protein targets & why bone = “calcified protein” ○ Stress, cortisol & steroid impact on bone loss ○ Vitamin D + K2, food-based calcium & targeted bone support formulas ○ Where HRT—and rhythmic dosing—fit into a long-term bone strategy If you have a question, please visit our website and click Ask the Doctor a question. Join the Progress Your Hormones Community Stay Connected Instagram: @drvalorie TikTok: @drvaloried Disclaimer: All content in this blog, including text, images, audio, video, or other formats, was created for informational purposes only. This video, website, and blog aim to promote consumer/public understanding and general knowledge of various health topics. This content is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult your healthcare provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your condition before undertaking a new healthcare regimen. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you have read on this website. If your healthcare provider is not interested in discussing your health concerns regarding this topic, then it is time to find a new doctor.
Many women confuse cycling static HRT with rhythmic dosing, but they’re not the same thing. In this episode, Dr. Valorie Davidson and Dr. Robert Maki from Progress Your Health break down the difference between the two, why it matters for your safety, and how to do hormone therapy the right way. In this video, you’ll learn: ● What “rhythmic dosing” actually means ● Why cycling your static HRT is not rhythmic dosing ● How improper dosing can impact mood, energy, and breast tenderness ● The risks of trying to adjust hormones on your own ● Why rhythmic dosing must follow the body’s natural ovarian rhythm ● How men and women can use synchronized rhythmic dosing safely If you have a question, please visit our website and click Ask the Doctor a question. Join the Progress Your Hormones Community Stay Connected Instagram: @drvalorie TikTok: @drvaloried Disclaimer: All content in this blog, including text, images, audio, video, or other formats, was created for informational purposes only. This video, website, and blog aim to promote consumer/public understanding and general knowledge of various health topics. This content is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult your healthcare provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your condition before undertaking a new healthcare regimen. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you have read on this website. If your healthcare provider is not interested in discussing your health concerns regarding this topic, then it is time to find a new doctor.
In Part 2, we go symptom-by-symptom so you can sleep through the night again. Dr. Valorie and Dr. Maki cover night sweats, frequent urination, heart palpitations, muscle cramps, headaches, itchy skin, vivid dreams, and when to suspect sleep apnea (under-recognized in women). You’ll hear practical tactics—electrolytes, targeted magnesium types, phosphatidylserine timing, glycine, L-theanine, and smart melatonin use—plus when HRT helps and how to pair data (CGM, wearables) with your sleep plan. You’ll also discover practical, science-backed fixes like: 💧 Smart electrolyte balance & targeted magnesium types 🧠 Phosphatidylserine timing for cortisol control 😴 Glycine, L-theanine, and optimal melatonin use 💊 When HRT makes sense—and how to pair it with CGM or wearable sleep data What you’ll learn ● What nighttime urination signals (estrogen & ADH, electrolytes, cortisol) ● Palpitations in midlife: estrogen link, when to see cardiology, calming strategies ● Cramps/headaches/itchy skin—common causes & quick fixes ● How/when to test for sleep apnea at home (and why it’s missed in women) ● Fine-tuning supplements & dosing; when HRT is the lever Still not sure what’s really causing your sleepless nights? Find out if you’re in the In-Between stage of perimenopause and menopause. If you have a question, please visit our website and click Ask the Doctor a question. Join the Progress Your Hormones Community Stay Connected Instagram: @drvalorie TikTok: @drvaloried Disclaimer: All content in this blog, including text, images, audio, video, or other formats, was created for informational purposes only. This video, website, and blog aim to promote consumer/public understanding and general knowledge of various health topics. This content is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult your healthcare provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your condition before undertaking a new healthcare regimen. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you have read on this website. If your healthcare provider is not interested in discussing your health concerns regarding this topic, then it is time to find a new doctor.
Why midlife wrecks your sleep—and how to fix it naturally. In Part 1, Dr. Valorie and Dr. Maki unpack the hormone triad behind women’s insomnia: shifting estrogen/progesterone, cortisol dysregulation, and blood sugar/insulin resistance. You’ll learn the difference between trouble falling vs. staying asleep, how low progesterone affects GABA (hello 2–3 a.m. wake-ups), and the daily habits that reset your circadian rhythm. What you’ll learn ● The hormone triad driving midlife sleep loss ● “Vampire / Zombie / Ghoul” sleep patterns—what they mean ● Why blood sugar swings trigger nighttime cortisol spikes ● Morning fixes that help nights: protein breakfast, light exposure, movement, temperature ● Starter supplements & how to think about them: magnesium (glycinate, L-threonate), L-theanine, glycine, phosphatidylserine, melatonin If you have a question, please visit our website and click Ask the Doctor a question. Join the Progress Your Hormones Community Stay Connected Instagram: @drvalorie TikTok: @drvaloried Disclaimer: All content in this blog, including text, images, audio, video, or other formats, was created for informational purposes only. This video, website, and blog aim to promote consumer/public understanding and general knowledge of various health topics. This content is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult your healthcare provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your condition before undertaking a new healthcare regimen. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you have read on this website. If your healthcare provider is not interested in discussing your health concerns regarding this topic, then it is time to find a new doctor.
