Dr. Viva Zima, DNP, FNP-C, is a board-certified family nurse practitioner, hormone specialist, and founder of Sage Hormone Health in Anthem, Arizona. Originally from Toronto, Canada, she moved to the Arizona sunshine and now blends science-based and holistic care with a highly personalized, direct-pay approach. As a clinician, faculty member, wife, and mother, she’s seen how often hormonal imbalances impact energy, sleep, weight, and overall wellbeing.
Her root-cause care attracts women and men who’ve felt overlooked in traditional systems. Here, Dr. Zima answers the top five questions she’s most often asked as a hormone expert.
Q. What are the symptoms of hormone imbalance?
A. You may notice the effects of hormonal shifts before you ever see a lab result. Hormones influence everything from energy and mood to sleep and weight. When levels change—during perimenopause, menopause, thyroid changes, low testosterone, or even seasons of high stress—you may experience fatigue, irritability, poor sleep, weight gain, brain fog, or changes in motivation. These are often your body’s early signals that your hormones need attention.
Q. Why am I so tired all the time?
A. You might feel tired for reasons that go beyond lifestyle. It’s always important to start with the basics: adequate calories, daily movement, hydration, and restorative sleep. If those foundations are strong but fatigue continues, hormones may be playing a role. Low thyroid function, low testosterone, cortisol imbalance, or disrupted sleep cycles can significantly drain your energy. Once the underlying hormonal pattern is corrected, energy often returns more consistently and naturally.
Q. Do hormones affect my mood?
A. You may notice shifts in your mood even when life feels “normal.” Beyond everyday stressors, foundational hormones like estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone influence the brain chemicals responsible for mood, focus, motivation, and emotional steadiness. When these hormones fluctuate, it’s common to feel irritable, anxious, low, or not quite yourself. While coping skills and behavioral health strategies can help, rebalancing your hormones often makes those tools more effective—restoring clarity, calm, and emotional resilience.
Q. Why am I gaining weight even though I’m doing everything right?
A. You may be doing all the right things and still not seeing progress. Hormones play a key role in metabolism, muscle maintenance, and how your body stores fat. Shifts in thyroid function, insulin, or cortisol can slow weight loss or even trigger weight gain despite healthy habits. Addressing hormonal imbalances—rather than simply pushing harder—often unlocks progress and makes weight loss feel possible again.
Q. How do I balance my hormones naturally?
A. You can create more hormonal balance by focusing on consistent daily habits first. Quality sleep, nutrient-dense meals, daily movement, hydration, and stress management lay the foundation for stable cortisol, insulin, and thyroid levels. Once these basics are in place, targeted hormone therapy or high-quality supplements can be more effective—helping you optimize long-term hormonal balance.
It’s always important to start with the basics: adequate calories, daily movement, hydration, and restorative sleep