The endocrine system consists of a collection of glands that form and release hormones that regulate many functions of the body, including the ability of the body to convert calories into energy that powers cells and organs. The endocrine system decides how your heart beats, how your tissues and bones grow, and how a female makes a baby. It plays a very important role in whether or not you develop diseases like thyroid disease, diabetes, sexual dysfunction, growth disorders, and an array of other hormone-related disorders.
Every gland of the endocrine system produces specific hormones and releases it into the bloodstream. These hormones move from the blood to other cells of the body and help regulate and coordinate many body processes.
Following are the different types of endocrine glands that regulate different body processes:
Endocrine disorders are generally categorised into two categories:
Endocrine diseases that occur when a gland produces an excess amount or deficient amount of an endocrine hormone. This condition is called hormone imbalance.
Endocrine diseases that occur due to formation of lesions in the endocrine system, which may or may not affect the level of hormones.
The feedback system of the endocrine system helps regulate the hormonal balance in the bloodstream. If your body has too little or too much of a certain hormone, the feedback system signals the appropriate gland to correct the mismatch. If this feedback system has trouble keeping appropriate hormonal levels in the bloodstream or if the body is unable to clear them out properly, a hormonal imbalance may occur.
Decreased or increased levels of endocrine hormones may occur due to:
Most endocrine nodules or tumours are benign or noncancerous. They don’t usually spread to other body parts. However, a nodule or tumour on the gland may interfere with the hormone production of the body.
Endocrine disorders are of many different types, with diabetes being the most common one.
Other endocrine disorders include:
The adrenal gland releases too little of the hormone cortisol and sometimes, aldosterone. Symptoms include fatigue, stomach upset, dehydration, and skin changes. Addison's disease is a type of adrenal insufficiency. Adrenal insufficiency can also occur due to autoimmune disease or stopping steroids, used for other conditions, suddenly.
Cushing’s disease is a type of Cushing syndrome. It refers to a condition where the pituitary gland produces an excess amount of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). The pituitary gland is a part of the endocrine system. Other types of Cushing syndrome include Cushing syndrome cause by adrenal tumour, exogenous Cushing syndrome, and ectopic Cushing syndrome.
Causes
Cushing disease occurs due to a tumour or excess growth of the pituitary gland. The pituitary gland lies just beneath the base of the brain. A form of pituitary tumour called an adenoma is the commonest cause.
In people with Cushing disease, the pituitary gland produces an excess amount of ACTH, which stimulates the release of a stress hormone called cortisol. Excess amounts of ACTH stimulates the adrenal glands to produce too much cortisol. Cortisol is produced normally during stressful situations. It has many other functions including:
Symptoms
The symptoms of Cushing disease include red, round, full face called moon face, upper body obesity with thin legs and arms, and slow growth rate in children. Some skin changes like acne or skin infections, purple stretch marks called striae, and thin skin susceptible to bruising are also seen. The muscles and bone changes seen in Cushing disease include bone pain or tenderness, backache occurring with routine activities, accumulation of fat between the shoulders, weak muscles causing exercise intolerance, and weakening of the bones leading to spine and rib fractures.
Women may experience irregular menstrual cycles and excess hair growth on the neck, face, abdomen, thighs, and chest. Men may experience erection problems and decreased libido. Other problems may include fatigue, mental changes such as anxiety, depression, and behavioural changes, headache, frequent infections, increased urination and thirst, diabetes, and high blood pressure.
Treatment involves surgery aimed at removing the pituitary tumour. The pituitary gland may start functioning slowly post-surgery and then return to normal in the long term. When recovering from surgery, the patient may require cortisol replacement treatments as the pituitary gland needs time to restart making ACTH. If the tumour is not fully removed due to surgery, radiation treatment may also be done. If the tumour fails to respond to radiation or surgery, you may require medications to stop the body from producing too much cortisol.
If the treatments listed above are not successful, removal of adrenal glands may be done so that the production of high levels of cortisol is stopped. Adrenal gland removal may cause the pituitary tumour to increase in size. This condition is called Nelson syndrome.
Acromegaly is a condition that develops when the pituitary gland releases an excess amount of growth hormone during adulthood. Due to too much growth hormone, the size of the bones increases. This leads to increased height in childhood and this condition is called gigantism. In adulthood, however, a change in height doesn’t occur. Instead, the bone size increase is confined to the bones of the feet, hands, and face.
Symptoms
Enlarged hands and feet are the commonest signs of acromegaly. For example, the person may notice he is not able to put on rings that used to previously fit and that his shoe size has progressively increased. Acromegaly may also lead to gradual changes in the shape of the face such as protruding brow bone and lower jaw, thickened lips, enlarged nose, and wider spacing between the teeth.
As acromegaly progresses slowly, early signs may not be obvious till years. The physical changes are sometimes only noticed by comparing older photos with current ones. The signs and symptoms of acromegaly usually vary from one patient to another and may include any of the following:
If you notice that you have signs and symptoms of acromegaly, you must contact your doctor for an examination. Acromegaly develops gradually, so even your close family members may not notice the slow physical changes that first occur due to this disorder. However, early diagnosis of the disease is important to start getting proper treatment and care. If not treated at the right time, acromegaly may lead to serious complications.
Hyperthyroidism: Hyperthyroidism refers to a condition where the thyroid gland produces more hormones than the body needs. This condition is also known as overactive thyroid. The main hormones that the thyroid makes include thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3).
Hyperthyroidism can involve the whole body and needs to be treated at the right time by a healthcare provider.
The symptoms of hyperthyroidism can affect the entire body. You may notice some of these symptoms or many of them at the same time. Following are some of the symptoms that point towards a diagnosis of hyperthyroidism:
Following are some conditions that may contribute towards hyperthyroidism.
Your doctor can establish a diagnosis of hyperthyroidism in several ways, such as:
Hypothyroidism refers to a condition where the body can’t release enough thyroid hormone in the bloodstream resulting in slowing down of the metabolism. The condition develops when the thyroid doesn’t produce enough thyroid hormone to meet the demands of the body. This results in a slow metabolism, causing problems in the entire body.
When the thyroid levels are too low, the condition is referred to as myxedema. It is a very serious problem and can cause symptoms like anaemia, low body temperature, heart failure, confusion, and coma. This is a life-threatening form of hypothyroidism. Generally, hypothyroidism is a very treatable condition and can be managed with regular medications and appointments with your doctor.
Hypopituitarism is the condition where one or more pituitary hormones are deficient in the body. The deficiency of these hormones can affect many body’s activities such as reproduction and general growth. The symptoms of hypopituitarism vary, depending on which hormone is missing from the body. Having hypopituitarism necessitates the intake of medications for the rest of the life. The missing hormones can be successfully replaced by medications and the symptoms can, therefore, be controlled.
Symptoms
The signs and symptoms of hypopituitarism generally develop very slowly and tend to worsen over time. Sometimes those are subtle and may be overlooked for years. However, for some people, the symptoms may develop rapidly. These symptoms vary from one patient to another, depending upon which pituitary hormone is affected and to what extent. Those people who have deficiency of more than one pituitary hormone, the symptoms of second hormone deficiency may increase or that of the first hormone deficiency may be masked.
Growth hormone deficiency may result in short stature and growth problems in children. Most adults with growth hormone deficiency are asymptomatic. However, in some adults it may cause muscle weakness, fatigue, lack of ambition, and changes in the body fat composition.
Deficiency of LH and FSH hormones can affect the reproductive system adversely. In females, the deficiency causes a decrease in oestrogen and egg production from the ovaries. In males, the deficiency reduces the testosterone and sperm production from the testicles. Both males and females may experience a lower sexual interest, fatigue, and even infertility. In adolescents and children, the only symptom seen is delayed puberty.
Females may also present with symptoms like irregular periods or absence of periods, hot flushes, loss of pubic hair, and inability to produce milk for breast-feeding. On the other hand, males may present with additional symptoms like decreased body or facial hair, erectile dysfunction, and mood changes.
This hormone regulates the functioning of the thyroid gland. Its deficiency results in low thyroid hormone levels, giving rise to symptoms like weight gain, fatigue, constipation, dry skin, and sensitivity to cold temperatures.
This hormone helps the adrenal glands to function properly and controls the reaction of the body towards stress. The symptoms of deficiency of ACTH hormone include low blood pressure which may lead to fainting, severe fatigue, prolonged and frequent infections, confusion, nausea and vomiting, and abdominal pains.
Also known as vasopressin, ADH helps the body balance its fluid levels. Deficiency of this hormone leads to a disorder known as diabetes insipidus. Its symptoms include extreme thirst, excessive urination, prolactin deficiency, and electrolyte imbalances.
These are rare, genetic conditions that are passed down through the generations. They give rise to parathyroid tumours, thyroid tumours, and adrenal tumours, leading to overproduction of these hormones.
This is a hormonal problem that occurs in women in their reproductive years. If you are suffering from PCOS, you may be experiencing irregular menstrual periods. Your body may also have too much of a hormone named androgen.
In PCOS, multiple fluid-filled sacs called cysts develop along the outer edge of the ovary. These cysts contain immature eggs called follicles that fail to release eggs regularly. The exact cause of PCOS is not known. Early diagnosis and treatment along with lifestyle modification may lower the risk of developing long-term complications like heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
Symptoms
The symptoms of PCOS usually start at the time of the first menstrual period. The symptoms may sometimes develop later after having periods for a while. The symptoms of PCOS depend on many different factors. The symptoms are usually more severe in obese females. A diagnosis of the disease may be established if you have at least two of the following symptoms:
You must see a doctor if you are worried about your abnormal menstrual periods, have signs of excess androgen, or have trouble getting pregnant.
If your primary doctor suspects you have an endocrine disorder, he may refer you to a specialist known as endocrinologist, who is specially trained in treating medical conditions of the endocrine system. The symptoms of endocrine disorders are quite different from one disease to another as they depend on the specific gland involved. However, most patients with endocrine disorders report two common symptoms - weakness and fatigue.
Urine and blood tests to determine the levels of hormones in your body helps doctors to diagnose endocrine problems. Imaging tests may also be performed to locate or pinpoint a tumour or a nodule.
The treatment of endocrine conditions can be complex, as change in the levels of one hormone can also affect other hormone levels. Your endocrinologist may order several tests to determine if your treatment plan is working as it should or if it needs any adjustments.
Getting a new diagnosis of an endocrine disorder can be stressful. But, the good news is that most of these conditions are treatable and manageable. If you are experiencing symptoms of an endocrine disorder or have risk factors for the same, you must contact an endocrinologist. If you are located in Indore, you can visit the Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, Indore and get an appointment with an endocrinologist who can guide you to the next step.
Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital's endocrinologists use advanced diagnostic techniques and treatments to treat endocrinological diseases in the best way. The best endocrinologists in Indore will discuss all the suitable treatment options with you and help you choose the one best suitable to you. For many patients, that might mean selecting minimally invasive procedures that produce excellent outcomes and rapid recovery.
Endocrinological services at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital include treatment for a wide range of endocrinological conditions like PCOS, hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, hyperparathyroidism, hypoparathyroidism, Addison’s disease, hyperaldosteronism, Cushing’s syndrome, and Acromegaly. When you come to Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, Indore you are taken care of by one of the best endocrinologists in Indore who are committed to delivering advanced treatment and care at the hospital's campus in Indore.
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