20/01/2026
For years, women have been told their symptoms are just part of getting older – or the price of being busy.
In functional medicine, we look at how stress is actually affecting the body.
After 40, fluctuations in oestrogen and progesterone change how the HPA axis responds to stress. Cortisol output and clearance become less predictable, and the nervous system spends more time in a sympathetic state.
Over time, this contributes to:
– disrupted sleep–wake rhythms
– reduced metabolic flexibility
– increased insulin resistance
– impaired recovery from stress
Low energy, poor sleep, stubborn weight gain and brain fog aren’t random. They’re signals that stress physiology, hormones and lifestyle demands are no longer aligned.
Healthspan is about restoring regulation – supporting circadian rhythm, nervous system tone, blood sugar stability and recovery capacity.
Feeling “fine” isn’t the same as being well.
And you don’t have to accept it as normal.
