Endocrine Diseases

An informative article on: Endocrine Diseases.

The endocrine system comprises of several small organs or glands located in different parts of the body. These glands are responsible for the secretion of hormones necessary for normal processes in the body. Because of the number of organs involved, there are also many different endocrine diseases. This article will tackle on the most common disorders of the endocrine system, their signs and symptoms, treatment, and the common effects that a person diagnosed with it experiences.

Diabetes

Diabetes is one of the most common endocrine diseases. It currently affects over 20 million Americans. Diabetes develops as a result of insufficient insulin production in the pancreas. Insulin is a hormone that takes sugar into the bloodstream so that it can be converted into energy. There are 2 types of diabetes- type 1 and 2. Type 1 is characterized by increased thirst, constant hunger, fatigue, frequent urination, and weight loss. Type 2 is shown through symptoms similar to that of type 1, plus recurrent yeast infections. Type 2 often has more obvious symptoms than type 1. The doctor may prescribe the patient with maintenance medication to help keep insulin at normal levels.

Pituitary Disorders

Pituitary disorders often involve the growth of tumors in the pituitary glands. When there are tumors, the person affected with it would experience headaches and blurred vision. As the tumor grows, it could cause an increase in hormone secretion, while in others it may reduce secretion as well. Growth hormone deficiency (GHD) is another disorder of the pituitary gland and when it happens, growth will be stunted and the development of bone mass could also be affected. People with GHD also feel weak and fatigued most of the time. Treatment includes hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and surgery to remove the tumors.

Thyroid Disorders

Common endocrine diseases in the thyroid are hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, and thyroid nodules. Hyperthyroidism or Graves’ disease is the over-secretion of thyroid hormones, resulting to infertility, vision problems, gastrointestinal problems, fatigue, and muscle weakness. Hypothyroidism or Hashimoto’s disease, on the other hand, causes constipation, fatigue, chills, and mental depression. Lastly, thyroid nodules lead to an enlarged thyroid, with 10% of these nodules becoming cancerous. Treatment includes the use of anti-thyroid drugs (for hyperthyroidism), hormone replacement (for hypothyroidism), and surgery (for thyroid nodules).

Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a condition wherein the bones become weak and more prone to breaking. This condition is common for older people. Although it is generally a bone disease, it is considered one of the endocrine diseases because hormones play a part in its development. Too little estrogen will result to weaker bones, while reduced production of testosterone can lead to bone loss. Signs and symptoms are fractures, back pains, and stooped posture. Osteoporosis treatment includes at least 1,200mg of calcium everyday, 1,000 IU of vitamin D, intake of selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERM), and hormone replacement.

Apart from the ones provided above, there are also other endocrine diseases such as hypertension or high blood pressure, Cushing’s syndrome, Aldosteronism, menopause, and polycystic ovaries. Majority of these disorders can be treated through hormone replacement, medication, surgical procedures, natural and herbal treatments, and lifestyle changes.