As a network of glands, the endocrine system is responsible for producing and maintaining hormonal requirements for different body functions. Whether it’s about giving strength to convert calories into energy for organs and cells or controlling heart beat, tissue and bone growth, the endocrine system needs to work well throughout a human life. The system is also crucial to avoid diabetes, sexual dysfunction, growth, thyroid and various other hormonal disorders.
Its feedback system is responsible to balance hormones in the bloodstream. If the body is having any sort of deficiency, the system would send signals to the respective gland(s) so that the problem can be solved immediately. Usually, hormonal imbalance occurs when the system loses its efficiency to maintain the right level of hormones, thus causing the person to suffer from different problems.
Sometimes, the hormonal level becomes higher or sometimes it gets lower. A person should diagnose the root cause of his/her problem by considering the following causes:
- Improper functioning of the endocrine feedback system
- Infection
- Disease
- Genetic disorder
- Tumor in a gland- that doesn’t spread to other body parts
- Injury to a gland
Types of Endocrine Disorders
According to numerous researches and scientific studies, there are different types of endocrine disorders that an individual might encounter. Some of them are:
Diabetes Mellitus
Commonly known as diabetes, it consists of various metabolic diseases and patients have high blood sugar levels for a long time period. Usually, the symptoms of diabetes mellitus are increased thirst, increased hunger and frequent urination. If it is not treated properly, the problem may lead to many complications.
- Risk factors: Personal gestational diabetic history, Asian American Hispanic, tobacco smoking
- Treatment: Insulin lispro, physical examination Chromium picolinate, smoking cessation
- Parent disease: Nutrition disorder
Osteoporosis
It is a progressive bone disorder that is caused by the decrease of bone density and mass. Patients have higher risk of fracture because bone density is quite low, bone micro-architecture becomes weaker and proteins are also at their lowest level. The signs/symptoms of osteoporosis include short height, kyphosis and back pain.
- Risk factors: Vitamin D deficiency, Nulliparity depression, Chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases
- Treatment: Vitamin D Teriparatide, hormone replacement therapy, sodium fluoride, Cholecalciferol
- Parent disease: Musculoskeletal disorder
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
Also referred to as hyperandrogenic anovulation/Stein-Leventhal syndrome, it is a set of symptoms caused by hormonal imbalance in females. The common signs are heavy period, no or irregular menstrual periods, acne, excess facial and body hair, trouble in getting pregnant, velvety, darker/think skin patches and pelvic pain. There are some associated problems with the syndrome that include obesity, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, mood disorders and obstructive sleep apnea.
- Risk factors: Breast cancer, uterine cancer, obesity, prediabetes, diabetes mellitus
- Treatment: surgery, urofollitropin, follicle-stimulating hormone, clomiphene, low-carbohydrate diet
- Parent disease: Female urologic disease, ovarian dysfunction, endocrine diseases, pregnancy complications
Adrenal Insufficiency
Adrenal insufficiency is an endocrine disorder that affects adrenal glands’ ability to produce sufficient steroid hormones. The disorder also involves impaired aldosterone production that is responsible for maintaining sodium content, water retention and potassium secretion.
- Treatment: Prednisone, triamcinolone, dehydroepiandrosterone, cortisone, triamcinolone
- Parent disease: Endocrine disease
Cushing’s Syndrome
Cushing’s syndrome is also called Itsenko-Cushing syndrome. It is a collection of symptoms and signs caused because of prolonged exposure to cortisol. The symptoms usually include abdominal obesity with thin legs and arms, high blood pressure, weak muscles, fragile skin with poor healing, acne, round red face and reddish stretch marks.
- Risk factors: Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1, long-term use of corticosteroid
- Treatment: Surgery, aminoglutethimide, ketoconazole, adrenalectomy, radiation therapy
- Parent disease: Adrenal gland disease
