Endocrine diseases are common and happen even when one step in the process doesn�t work as it
should. If you have an endocrine disease or disorder, you may consult a specialist known as an
endocrinologist who will effectively diagnose and help treat your condition.
To ensure that everything runs smoothly (that is, your body functions as it should), certain processes must work properly:
The endocrine glands must release the correct amount of hormones (if they release too
much or too little, it is known as hormone imbalance). Your body also needs a strong blood supply to transport the hormones
throughout the body. There must be enough receptors (which are where the hormones attach and do
their work) at the target tissue. Those targets must be able to respond appropriately to the hormonal signal. The model
here would be like primary hypothyroidism, where the pituitary produces TSH, the TSH
is carried via the bloodstream to the thyroid, the thyroid has the appropriate receptors, but
for whatever reason it isn�t able to effectively make or secrete thyroid hormone.
Disorder of the Hypothalamus
A disease or disorder of the hypothalamus is known as a hypothalamic disease. A
physical injury to the head that impacts the hypothalamus is one of the most common causes of hypothalamic disease.
Hypothalamic diseases can include appetite and sleep disorders, but because the hypothalamus
affects so many different parts of the endocrine system, it can be hard to pinpoint whether
the root cause of the disorder is actually related to another gland.
In particular, the hypothalamus and pituitary gland are so tightly connected that it�s often
difficult for doctors to determine whether the condition is associated with the hypothalamus or
pituitary gland. These are known as hypothalamic-pituitary disorders. However, there are
hormone tests that help shed light on which part of the body is the root cause.
The hypothalamus is arguably the most essential of the endocrine system. By alerting the
pituitary gland to release certain hormones to the rest of the endocrine system, the hypothalamus
ensures that the internal processes of your body are balanced and working as they should.
Disorder of the Pituitary Glands
Pituitary tumors are the most common pituitary disorder, and many adults have them. However, they
are not, in the great majority of cases, life-threatening. But that doesn�t mean they�re harmless�
pituitary tumors can disrupt the gland�s normal ability to release hormones.
There are two types of pituitary tumors�secretory and non-secretory. Secretory tumors secrete too
much of a hormone, and non-secretory tumors don�t secrete excess hormone.
These hormonal imbalances can cause problems in many different areas of the body. If you have a
secretory tumor that is overproducing thyroid-stimulating hormone, for instance, you will experience
hyperthyroidism.
Another pituitary disorder is known as pituitary apoplexy. In some cases, pituitary function can be
suddenly disrupted (due to bleeding or trauma), creating a life-threatening shortage of vital hormones.
If you think you may have a problem with your pituitary gland, you should talk to an endocrinologist. He
or she will help diagnose and treat your hormone-related condition.
The pituitary gland is immensely important to the overall function of your endocrine system�and to
your overall health. By working with the hypothalamus, the pituitary gland ensures that all your body�s
internal processes work as they should.
Disorders of the Thyroid Glands
There are many diseases and disorders associated with the thyroid. They can develop at any age
and can result from a variety of causes�injury, disease, or dietary deficiency, for instance. But
in most cases, they can be traced to the following problems:
Too much or too little thyroid hormone (hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism, respectively). Abnormal thyroid growth Nodules or lumps within the thyroid Thyroid cancer
Below are some of the most common thyroid disorders.
Goiters: A goiter is a bulge in the neck. A toxic goiter is associated with
hyperthyroidism, and a non-toxic goiter, also known as a simple or endemic goiter, is caused by iodine deficiency. Hyperthyroidism: Hyperthyroidism is caused by too much thyroid hormone. People
with hyperthyroidism are often sensitive to heat, hyperactive, and eat excessively. Goiter
is sometimes a side effect of hyperthyroidism. This is due to an over-stimulated thyroid
and inflamed tissues, respectively. Hypothyroidism: Hypothyroidism is a common condition characterized by too little
thyroid hormone. In infants, the condition is known as cretinism. Cretinism has very
serious side effects, including abnormal bone formation and mental retardation. If you
have hypothyroidism as an adult, you may experience sensitivity to cold, little appetite,
and an overall sluggishness. Hypothyroidism often goes unnoticed, sometimes for years,
before being diagnosed. Solitary thyroid nodules: Solitary nodules, or lumps, in the thyroid are actually quite
common�in fact, it�s estimated that more than half the population will have a nodule in
their thyroid. The great majority of nodules are benign. Usually a fine needle aspiration
biopsy (FNA) will determine if the nodule is cancerous. Thyroid cancer:Thyroid cancer is fairly common, though the long-term survival rates
are excellent. Occasionally, symptoms such as hoarseness, neck pain, and enlarged lymph
nodes occur in people with thyroid cancer. Thyroid cancer can affect anyone at any age,
though women and people over thirty are most likely to develop the condition. Thyroiditis: Thyroiditis is an inflammation of the thyroid that may be associated with
abnormal thyroid function (particularly hyperthyroidism). Inflammation can cause the
thyroid�s cells to die, making the thyroid unable to produce enough hormones to maintain
the body's normal metabolism. There are five types of thyroiditis, and the treatment is
specific to each.
Disorders of the Parathyroid Glands
When the parathyroid releases too much or too little PTH, it adversely affects your body in
a variety of ways. Below are common diseases and disorders associated with the
parathyroid glands:
Hyperparathyroidism: The most common disease of parathyroid glands is
hyperparathyroidism, which is characterized by excess PTH hormone, regardless of
calcium levels. In other words, the parathyroid glands continue to make large amounts of
PTH even when the calcium level is normal, and they should not be making
the hormone at all. Hypoparathyroidism: Hypoparathyroidism is the combination of symptoms due to
inadequate parathyroid hormone production. This leads to decreased blood levels
of calcium (hypocalcemia) and increased levels of blood phosphorus
(hyperphosphatemia).This is a rare condition and most commonly occurs because of
damage or removal of parathyroid glands during parathyroid or thyroid surgery. Osteoporosis: When one of the parathyroid glands is overactive, it releases too much
PTH hormone. This causes your bones to release calcium constantly into the blood
stream. Without enough calcium in your bones, they lose their density and hardness.
Osteoporosis is characterized by this loss of calcium and bone density.
The parathyroid glands have a single responsibility�regulating calcium levels. The glands are
important members of endocrine system, but they are also integral to the proper functioning of
the nervous and muscular systems.
Disorders of the Adrenal Glands
There are multiple reasons why the adrenal glands might not work as they should. The problem
could be with the adrenal gland itself, or the root cause may be due to a defect in another gland.
Below are the most common disorders and diseases of the adrenal glands:
Addison�s disease: This rare disorder may affect anyone at any age. It develops when
the adrenal cortex fails to produce enough cortisol and aldosterone. Adrenal cancer: Adrenal cancer is an aggressive cancer, but it�s very rare. Malignant
adrenal tumors are rarely confined to the adrenal glands�they tend to spread to other
organs and cause adverse changes within the body because of the excess
hormones they produce. Cushing�s syndrome: Cushing�s syndrome is an uncommon condition that is essentially
the opposite of Addison�s disease. It is caused by overproduction of the hormone cortisol.
There are a variety of causes of this disorder�a tumor in the adrenal gland or pituitary
gland could be to blame. Congenital adrenal hyperplasia: This genetic disorder is characterized by low levels of
cortisol. It�s common for people with congenital adrenal hyperplasia to have additional
hormone problems such as low levels of aldosterone (which maintains a balance
of water and salt).
The adrenal glands have a multi-functional role in the endocrine system. The two very
different parts of these glands, the medulla and cortex, regulate and maintain many of your internal
processes�from metabolism to the fight-or-flight response.
Disorders of the Pancreas
Problems in the production or regulation of pancreatic hormones will cause complications
related to blood sugar imbalance.
Of all the diseases and disorders of the pancreas, the most well-known is diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes: If you have type 1 diabetes, then your body doesn�t produce any insulin
to handle the glucose in your body. Insulin deficiency causes a range of complications,
so people with type 1 diabetes have to take insulin to help their body use
glucose appropriately. Type 2 diabetes: Type 2 diabetes is much more prevalent than type 1. People with type 2
diabetes may be able to produce insulin, but their bodies don�t use it correctly. They
might also be unable to produce enough insulin to handle the glucose in their body.
Lifestyle choices, such as diet and exercise, play a major role in managing and preventing
type 2 diabetes.
Other common diseases and disorders associated with the pancreas are:
Hyperglycemia:This condition is caused by abnormally high blood glucose levels. It
can be caused by overproduction of the hormone glucagon. Hypoglycemia:Conversely, hypoglycemia is caused by low blood glucose levels. It
is caused by a relative overproduction of insulin.
Despite the fact that the great majority of pancreatic cells are devoted to digestive function, the
endocrine cells play a major role in your overall health. By regulating your blood sugar levels,
the pancreatic hormones are directly related to some of the most common diseases of today,
including diabetes.
Disorders of the Ovaries
Osteoporosis: Osteoporosis is commonly associated with menopause, just
like mood swings and hot flashes.
Menopause is marked by the rapid loss of estrogen. The role estrogen play in bone loss
can best be described in terms of a battle between osteoclasts (bone absorbing cells) and
osteoblasts (bone producing cells). Estrogen is on the side of the osteoblasts, but as
the estrogens diminish, the osteoblasts are discouraged from producing more bone. As such,
the osteoclasts win by absorbing more bone than is being produced by the osteoblasts.
Estrogen replacement therapy during menopause protects bone mass and helps
protect against the risk of osteoporotic fractures. Ovarian Cancer:Ovarian cancer is an extremely serious, but rare, disease. Its symptoms
usually don�t become apparent until the cancer has progressed into the later stages.
Symptoms of ovarian cancer include: persistent abdominal pain, indigestion, bloating,
abnormal uterine bleeding, and pain during sexual intercourse. These are common
problems, so in the great majority of cases, they will not indicate cancer. However, it�s
important you pay attention to your body and discuss anything out of the ordinary�no
matter how insignificant you think it may be�with your doctor. Ovarian Cysts:Ovarian cysts are fluid-filled sacs that affect women of all ages, though
mostly women of child-bearing age. Cysts are very common�and they can range in size
from a pea to a grapefruit. The majority of cysts are harmless, though larger cysts (those
larger than 5 cm in diameter) may need to be surgically removed because large cysts can
twist the ovary and disrupt its blood supply.
Cysts can form for a variety of reasons. Oftentimes, they�re simply part of normal
menstruation. You may experience no symptoms, and the cysts will go away after
a few cycles. These are known as functional cysts.
The great majority of cysts are benign. But abnormal or pathological cysts, such
as those in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), may cause painful symptoms.
Treatment for ovarian cysts depends on the size and type of cyst. If you�re
experiencing pain, talk to your doctor. He or she will determine what treatment is best for you.
Below are some common symptoms of pathological cysts:
The most telltale symptom is pain and discomfort in the abdomen, vagina,
low back, or thighs Breast tenderness Bloating Increased hair growth on your face, back, and chest Pain before or after your menstrual cycle and irregular periods Infertility Weight gain Fatigue `
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: Polycystic means �many cysts.� Interestingly, the
National Institutes of Health (NIH) criteria for diagnosing PCOS do not require
the presence of polycystic ovaries by pelvic ultrasound. The NIH criteria are based on signs
of hyperandrogenism (or elevated androgens) and oligo/amenorrhea. Other key
characteristics include infertility, irregular menstruation, acne, and increased hair growth
on the face and body.
PCOS is essentially caused by a hormone imbalance�many of the symptoms are caused
by increased production of androgens. These patients usually have high
free testosterone levels.
It�s not uncommon for those diagnosed with PCOS to be overweight, insulin resistant,
and have type 2 diabetes. Many of the symptoms of PCOS fade with weight loss.
The ovaries have an immensely important role not only in the female reproductive system but
in the endocrine system as a whole. The hormones they secrete ensure the proper development
of the female body and promote healthy fertility.
Disorders of the Testes: Hypogonadism
Hypogonadism is a testicular disorder associated with low testosterone. Having
testosterone levels that are too low causes a variety of problems, including:
There are two types of hypogonadism�primary and secondary. Primary refers to a defect
with the testicles, and secondary involves a problem in the pituitary gland that indirectly
affects testosterone production.
The condition may be caused by many things and is most commonly the result of:
Aging Defects in the pituitary and/or hypothalamus, such as pituitary tumors (which
adversely affect the pituitary�s ability to function normally) and high prolactin levels (too
much of the hormone causes a drop in testosterone levels) Medications Testes-based conditions, such as severe injury, and radiation or chemotherapy,
can all deplete testosterone levels
The testes play a vital role not only in the male reproductive system but in the endocrine system
as well. The release of the hormone testosterone is integral to the healthy development
of male physical characteristics.
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