The endocrine system is a group of glands which release and produce hormones and help to control many important body functions and allow body’s ability to change calories into energy that powers cells and organs. The endocrine system influences heart to beats and bones and tissues to grow and even enable ability to make a baby. Endocrine system plays a very important role in whether or not to develop diabetes, growth disorders, thyroid disease, sexual dysfunction, and a host of other hormone-related disorders.
Glands of the Endocrine System
Gland of the endocrine system produces/releases specific hormones into the bloodstream. These hormones flow/travel through blood to other cells of body and help to control and coordinate many body processes.
Endocrine glands include:
Adrenal glands: Cortisol releases by these two gland which are on the top of the kidneys.
Hypothalamus: this is a part of the lower middle brain which tells the pituitary gland to release hormones.
Ovaries: This is female reproductive organs which produce sex hormones by releasing eggs.
Islet cells in the pancreas: These Cells helps the pancreas to control the release of the hormones insulin and glucagon.
Parathyroid: These re four tiny glands present in the neck which play a role in bone development.
Pineal gland: This is a gland which is found near the center of the brain and linked to sleep patterns.
Pituitary gland: this gland found at the base of brain and behind the sinuses. It is also called the “master gland” because it influences many other glands which involve especially the thyroid gland. If there is any problems in the pituitary gland and affect bone growth, a menstrual cycles, and the release of breast milk.
Testes: This is male reproductive glands which produce sex hormones/sperms.
Thymus: this gland is located in the upper chest which helps in developing the body’s immune system early in life.
Thyroid: this is a butterfly-shaped gland present in the front of the neck and controls the metabolism.
The slightest hiccup with the function of these glands can throw imbalance of hormones in the body and can lead to an endocrine disorder, or endocrine disease.
Endocrine disorders are typically grouped into two categories:
Endocrine disease which results when a gland produces excess or too little of an endocrine hormone is known as a hormone imbalance.
Endocrine disease due to the development of nodules or tumors in the endocrine system can affect hormone levels.
The endocrine’s system helps to control the balance of hormones in the bloodstream. If the patient has too much or too little of a various hormone by which the endocrine feedback system signals the glands to correct the problem. A hormone imbalance can occur if the feedback system has any problem/trouble keeping the right level of hormones in the bloodstream, or if the body doesn’t clear them out of the bloodstream properly.
Increased or low levels of endocrine hormone may cause due to:
A problem with the endocrine feedback system
Disease
Failure of a gland to stimulate the gland to release hormone
A genetic disorder like multiple endocrine neoplasia or congenital hypothyroidism
Infection
Injury to an endocrine gland
Tumor of an endocrine gland
Most endocrine tumors and nodules (lumps) are noncancerous. These tumors or nodules usually do not spread to any other parts of the body. However, the tumor/nodule on the gland may or may not interfere with the production of the gland’s hormone.
Types of Endocrine Disorders
Types of Endocrine Disorders
Other endocrine disorders include:
Adrenal insufficiency. The adrenal gland releases little amount of the hormone like cortisol and aldosterone. There symptoms include stomach upset, fatigue, dehydration, and skin changes. Addison’s disease is a type of adrenal insufficiency.
Cushing’s disease. Overproduction of a pituitary gland hormone can result in overactive adrenal gland. A similar condition of pituitary gland is known as Cushing’s syndrome and may occur in people, basically in the children and the person who take high doses of corticosteroid medications.
Gigantism (acromegaly) and other growth hormone problems. If the pituitary gland produces large amount of growth hormone, then it results into abnormal bone growth in children and body parts may grow abnormally fast. If the level of growth hormone is too low, then the child even can stop growing in height.
Hyperthyroidism. The thyroid gland releases large amount of the thyroid hormone which can lead to weight loss, sweating, fast heart rate, and nervousness. The most common causes of overactive thyroid is an autoimmune disorder which is also called Grave’s disease.
Hypothyroidism. In this pituitary gland does not produce enough thyroid hormone and lead to fatigue, dry skin, constipation, and depression. The underactive gland can also lead to slowed development in children and some types of hypothyroidism are present at birth of the child.
Hypopituitarism. The pituitary gland releases very less hormones. This may be caused due to a number of different diseases. In women with this type of the conditions may stop getting their periods.
Multiple endocrine neoplasia I and II. These are the rare genetic conditions which passed through families. And they can cause tumors of the parathyroid, thyroid glands, adrenal, and leading to overproduction of hormones.
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). In this there is an Overproduction of androgens which interfere with the eggs development and release from the female ovaries. PCOS is a leading cause of infertility.
Precocious puberty. In this there is Abnormal and early puberty which occurs when glands tell the body to release sex hormones too soon in life.
Common Endocrine Disorders
Type 1 Diabetes
Type 2 Diabetes.
Osteoporosis.
Thyroid Cancer.
Thyroid Cancer.
Cushing’s Syndrome.
Graves’ Disease.
Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis.
Testing for Endocrine Disorders
The symptoms of an endocrine disorder may vary widely on the specific gland.
Blood and urine tests for checking the hormone levels.
Imaging tests to locate or pinpoint a nodule or tumor.