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inner medulla. They secrete hormones that influence the body's
metabolism, blood chemicals, and body characteristics, as well as
influence the part of the nervous system that is involved in the response
and defense against stress. Adrenal glands produce hormones such as
cortisol, progesterone, steroids, and cortisone, and chemicals such as
adrenaline (epinephrine), norepinephrine, and dopamine. When the
glands produce more or less hormones than required by the body,
disease conditions may occur.
Diabetes Insipidus is caused by the inability of the kidneys to conserve
water, which leads to frequent urination and pronounced thirst.
Diabetes Insipidus is an uncommon condition that occurs when the
kidneys are unable to conserve water as they perform their function of
filtering blood. The amount of water conserved is controlled by
antidiuretic hormone, also called vasopressin. As described, this
condition has nothing in common with what is popularly known as
"diabetes".
Diabetes Mellitus is what some people call "sugar diabetes". To
understand diabetes, it is important to first understand the normal
process of food metabolism. Several things happen when food is
digested. A sugar called glucose enters the bloodstream. Glucose is a
source of fuel for the body. The pancreas makes insulin. The role of
insulin is to move glucose from the bloodstream into muscle, fat, and
liver cells, where it can be used as fuel. People with diabetes have high
blood glucose. This is because in some patients,the pancreas does not
make enough insulin; this is called Type 1 diabetes. In other, the
pancreas makes normal or even more insulin but their muscle, fat, and
liver cells do not respond to their insulin due to resistance to insulin
action, it is called Type 2 diabetes. Sometimes after having Type 2
diabetes for some years, the pancreas may gradually fail to secrete
enough insulin to meet the body's needs. Most patient's of Type 2
diabetes are obese and have other accompanying problems leading to
the recently recognized "metabolic syndrome".
Hashimoto's Thyroiditis is an autoimmune thyroid disease. In its very
early stages, it manifests itself as hyperthyroidism for a short time.
Ultimately, it leads to hypothyroidism.
Hirsutism is a condition that occurs when coarse, dark hairs grow
where women typically do not grow dark hair, such as the lip, chin,
chest, abdomen, or back. The normal amount of body hair varies
widely among women. Excessive unwanted hair growth in women is
usually from too much male hormone (androgen). A common cause is
polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Less common causes are
Cushing's disease and adrenal cortical tumors.
Hyperparathyroidism is the combination of symptoms due to
excessive parathyroid hormone production. Parathyroid Hyperplasia
involves enlargement of all four parathyroid glands, which are located in
the neck and control calcium metabolism. The condition produces high
levels of calcium in the blood (hypercalcemia). Parathyroid hyperplasia
causes about 15% of cases of hyperparathyroidism, which leads to
elevated levels of calcium in the blood (hypercalcemia). The
parathyroid glands are located at the front and base of the neck at the
four corners of the thyroid gland. The glands produce parathyroid
hormone (PTH), which regulates calcium and phosphorus balance in the
body. In primary hyperparathyroidism, increased secretion of
parathyroid hormone occurs because one or more of the glands have
become enlarged. The effects of increased calcium are seen in several
body systems including the skeletal, gastrointestinal, renal (kidney),
muscular, and central nervous system.
Hypertension means high blood pressure. The American Heart
Association states that normal blood pressure is 120 systolic and 80
diastolic in adults. High blood pressure generally means that the
Systolic blood pressure is consistently over 140 (systolic is the "top"
number of your blood pressure measurement, which represents the
pressure generated when the heart beats) and the Diastolic blood
pressure is consistently over 90 (diastolic is the "bottom" number of
your blood pressure measurement, which represents the pressure in the
vessels when the heart is at rest). Either or both of these numbers may
be too high. Pre-hypertension is when your systolic blood pressure is
between 120 and 139 or your diastolic blood pressure is between 80 and
89 on multiple readings. If you have pre-hypertension, you are likely to
develop high blood pressure at some point. Lifestyle changes and
exercise may be necessary to bring your blood pressure down to normal
range.
Hyperthyroidism is due to excess thyroid hormone concentration in the
blood. The most common cause of it is Graves' disease. Occasionally,
it is caused by a toxic adenma or toxic multinodial gotis.
Hypoglycemia occurs when your body's blood sugar, or glucose, is
abnormally low; less than 60mg % and less than 40mg % is very risky.
The term insulin shock is used to describe severe hypoglycemia that
results in unconsciousness. Hypoglycemia results when your body's
glucose is used up too rapidly, when glucose is released into the
bloodstream more slowly than is needed by your body, or when
excessive insulin is released into the bloodstream. Insulin is a hormone
that reduces blood glucose. It is produced by the pancreas in response
to increased glucose levels in the blood. Hypoglycemia is relatively
common in diabetics on medication. It occurs when too much insulin or
oral antidiabetic medication is taken, not enough food is eaten, or from a
sudden increase in the amount of exercise without an increase in food
intake.
Hypoparathyroidism is the combination of symptoms due to
inadequate parathyroid hormone production. Parathyroid Adenomas
are tumors of the parathyroid and phosphorus glands, which are located
in the neck and help regulate calcium metabolism. This tumor is the
most common cause of hyperparathyroidism, which causes elevated
levels of calcium in the blood (hypercalcemia) and urine (hypercaliuria).
Women over 60 are at high risk. Hypercalcemia can also be caused by
other conditions such as cancer, sarcoidosis, and Vitamin D intoxication
and merits diagnosis by an endocrinologist.
Impotence is an erection problem. It is the inability to get or maintain
an erection that is firm enough for a man to have intercourse. You may
be unable to get an erection at all, or you may lose the erection during
intercourse before you are ready. If the condition persists, the medical
term is erectile dysfunction. Erection problems are common in adult
men. In fact, almost all men experience occasional difficulty getting or
maintaining an erection. In many cases, it is a temporary condition that
will go away with little or no treatment. In other cases, it can be an
ongoing problem that can damage a man's self esteem and harm his
relationship with his partner, and thus requires treatment. If you have
difficulty having or keeping an erection more than 25% of the time, it is
considered a problem. In the past, erection problems were thought to
be "all in the man's mind." Men often were given unhelpful advice such
as "don't worry" or "just relax and it will take care of itself." Today,
doctors believe that when the problem is not temporary or does not go
away on its own, physical factors are often the cause. In most men,
erection difficulties do not affect their sex drive. Premature ejaculation
(when orgasm comes on too quickly) is not the same as impotence.
Together with your partner, you should seek counseling for this
problem, which is usually due to psychological factors.
Kidney Stones are solid masses that consist of a collection of tiny
crystals. There are various types of stones and there can be one or more
stones present at the same time in the kidney or in the ureter. Kidney
stones may form when your urine becomes too concentrated with
certain substances. These substances may create small crystals that
become stones. The kidney stones may not produce symptoms until
they begin to move down the ureter, causing pain. The pain is usually
severe and often starts in the flank region, then moves down to the
groin. Kidney stones are common. About 5% of women and 10% of
men will have at least one episode by age 70. A person who has had
kidney stones often gets them again in the future. The endocrine cause
of kidney stones is due to hypercalcemia caused by an excess of
parathyroid hormone.
Lipid Disorders occur when you have excess fatty substances in your
blood. These substances include cholesterol and triglycerides. Having a
lipid disorder makes you more likely to develop atherosclerosis
(hardening of the arteries) and coronary artery heart disease. Two main
types include Low-density lipoproteins (LDL) which is bad cholesterol,
and High-density lipoproteins (HDL) which is good cholesterol. In
general, you want your LDL to be LOW, and your HDL to be HIGH.
High cholesterol and other lipid disorders can be inherited (genetic) or
associated with fatty diets, diabetes, hypothyroidism, and more. Life
style factors like wrong diet, lack of exercise, and excessive
consumption of alcohol may cause or aggravate an inherited tendency
thus leading to excessive LDL or triglycerides in the blood. People who
smoke and have high cholesterol are at even greater risk for heart
disease. Lipid disorders are more common in men than women.
Menstrual Irregularities are caused by many endocrine conditions and
diseases such as polycystic ovary syndrome, hyperthyroidism,
hypothyroidism, Cushing's disease, stress, etc. These irregularities can
include delayed or absent periods and frequent or excessive (heavy)
periods.
Nodular Goiters are those containing a single or multiple nodules in the
thyroid gland. Thyroid ultrasounds and nuclear scans may help assess
their size, location, and functional character. Hyper-secretory nodules
are "hot" on the thyroid scan. "Cold" nodules on the scan can be cysts,
benign tumors, or cancers. Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) by a thyroid
specialist may help to diagnose if they contain cancer of if they are
benign. Thyroid cancer is treated by a thyroid specialist and generally
not by a general cancer specialist.
Obesity can be caused due to hormonal disorders. After menopause,
many women gain weight. At this time, hormonal changes cause fat to
be redistributed in the body and to tend to accumulate around the waist
rather than the hips and thighs. This redistribution increases health risks.
Becoming less active, which may occur gradually and unconsciously at
this age, also contributes to weight gain. Psychological factors, such as
emotional disturbances, are no longer considered an important cause of
obesity. However, stress can affect weight. When under stress, some
people eat more, and some people eat less. Excess production of
cortisol by the adrenal glands (Cushing's syndrome) causes an unusual
type of obesity in which fat accumulates only in the trunk while the
arms and legs remain thin. Polycystic ovary syndrome may be
associated with obesity. Occasionally, an increased level of insulin in the
blood causes obesity. Endocrine causes of obesity certainly require
consultation.
Primary Hypothyroidism is a condition of decreased hormone
production by the thyroid gland. The thyroid gland is an important
organ that regulates metabolism. It is located in the front of the neck
just below the voicebox (larynx). In some parts of the world, a common
cause of primary hypothyroidism is deficiency of the elemental iodine.
In the US, the most common cause is destruction of the thyroid gland
by the immune system, a condition called Hashimoto's thyroiditis.
Primary hypothyroidism may cause a variety of symptoms and affects
the whole body. Its normal rate of functioning slows, causing mental
and physical sluggishness. Symptoms may vary from mild to severe.
The most severe form is called myxedema coma and is a medical
emergency. Risk factors for hypothyroidism include age (older than age
50), female gender, obesity, thyroid surgery, and X-ray or radiation
treatments to the neck.
The Thyroid Gland is an important organ of the endocrine system,
located in the front of the neck just below the voicebox. The thyroid
secretes the hormones thyroxine (T4), triiodothyronine (T3), and
calcitonin, which control body metabolism and regulate calcium balance.
The secretion of T3 and T4 by the thyroid is controlled by an
endocrine feedback system involving the pituitary gland and the
hypothalamus (structures in the brain). Lowered levels of these thyroid
hormones result in increased levels of pituitary and hypothalamic
hormones. Thyroid disorders caused by overproduction of thyroid
hormones are called hyperthyroidism, and underproduction of these
hormones is known as hypothyroidism. Pituitary Hypothyroidism
involves decreased activity of the thyroid caused by failure of the
pituitary gland.
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