A slow metabolism can affect almost every part of your life. You may be feeling physically weak, emotionally unstable, and unable to take control of your own body. All of these problems can be caused by a metabolic system that has begun to work more slowly than normal. At Innovative Medicine in Lafayette, IN, we have effective treatments for decreased metabolism. The first step in taking control is finding out whether low metabolism is the cause of your difficulties.
What Are the Symptoms of a Slow Metabolism?
Weight Gain
The most common symptom of low metabolism is weight gain. If your body keeps putting on weight for no apparent reason, the trouble could be that your metabolism has slowed. The higher your metabolism, the faster you burn calories, so weight gain makes sense if your metabolism is not what it should be.
In addition to gaining weight, you might be finding it impossible to lose weight no matter how much you restrict your calories or exercise. In fact, the calorie restriction can cause an already troublesome metabolism to behave even more erratically. Your dieting efforts may actually be working against you in losing weight. It’s frustrating to know you are making healthy choices and not getting the expected reward.
Fatigue
Another sign of a metabolism issue is when you feel tired all the time, even when you first wake up, and especially in the middle of the day. That’s because your body isn’t working fast enough to take in the calories you are eating and turn them into energy.
A lack of energy can also cause you to work out less often, which could also be contributing to any weight gain you may be experiencing. These things become a cycle that is hard to break when your metabolism will not cooperate. You may start to give up on your physical health when you feel like you can’t make progress.
Headaches
You may find yourself suffering more often from tension headaches when your metabolism is low. If you are someone who experiences migraines, those can increase as well. This is due to your body being unable to effectively take in the nutrients that your brain requires.
Depression
Depression and the often accompanying stress and anxiety can wreak havoc on your body’s systems. If you are experiencing slow metabolism, weight gain, a lack of energy, and other problems caused by an ineffective metabolic system, your depression may become worse. These are all ways that a metabolism problem compounds itself and draws your body deeper in.
Constipation
Constipation can occur when your body’s metabolism slows down because it also slows your digestive system. Lagging digestion can very quickly become constipation when your system cannot get the water and nutrients needed to effectively dispose of waste.
Thin Hair
Changes in your hair are a sign of slow metabolism as well. Your hair is a part of your body that must constantly take in nutrients to maintain vibrancy and health, and your metabolism is responsible for effectively delivering that nutrition to your hair. If your hair is unusually thin, dull, or lifeless, metabolism could be to blame.
Some people may actually experience hair loss when metabolism is low. Brittle, broken nails can occur for the same reason. These are parts of your body that need nutrients to stay strong.
Dry Skin
If your skin is dry and cracking, it may mean that the same hormones that control your metabolism are also causing problems in your skin. You may have dry, cracked, peeling skin while also experiencing increased acne.
Weak Muscles
When your metabolism is slow, fluid can easily build up around your muscles. This can cause you to feel weak. You might have trouble working out the way you once did or find yourself unable to lift objects that used to be no problem.
Feeling Cold
Normal metabolism is required for burning enough calories to adequately keep your body warm. Feeling cold all the time when others are warm is a sign that your metabolism isn’t working the way it should.
Loss of Focus
A decrease in metabolism interferes with delivering nutrients your brain needs to work properly. When your brain doesn’t have the proper fuel, you cannot think clearly. Your performance at work or school can suffer.
Being tired and unable to exercise appropriately only adds to your inability to concentrate.
Craving Sugar
When your metabolism plummets, your blood sugar levels can become inconsistent. A drop in blood sugar often results in cravings for sugar because your body is demanding something to convert into energy. Problems with blood sugar control can be dangerous.
Body Stiffness
A slow metabolism can contribute to inflammation and fluid around your joints, causing them to become stiff. You may feel aching in your wrists, knees, or fingers. This is a sign that your metabolic system isn’t working properly.
Get the Diagnosis You Need
Contact us at Innovative Medicine in Lafayette, IN today to learn more. We test your metabolism with a high-tech piece of machinery called an indirect calorimeter. You simply breathe into a tube while you relax in a chair, and the machine lets us and you know how fast your metabolism is working. If you are suffering from slow metabolism, we can offer many options for treating it.
