How do hormones influence your body’s functions. What are the major endocrine glands and their roles. Why are hormone imbalances significant for overall health. How can hormone levels be measured and disorders diagnosed.

Understanding the Endocrine System: Your Body’s Chemical Messenger Network

The endocrine system plays a crucial role in maintaining our body’s homeostasis and orchestrating various physiological processes. At its core, this system relies on hormones – powerful chemical messengers that travel through the bloodstream to target specific tissues and organs. These molecular envoys work tirelessly, often behind the scenes, to regulate numerous bodily functions.

What exactly are hormones?

Hormones are specialized molecules produced by endocrine glands and released into the bloodstream. Unlike the nervous system, which transmits rapid electrical signals, hormones operate on a slower timescale, exerting their effects over extended periods. This gradual approach allows for fine-tuned control of long-term processes in the body.

The far-reaching effects of hormones

The influence of hormones extends to nearly every aspect of our physiology. Some key areas impacted by hormonal activity include:

• Growth and development
• Metabolism and energy utilization
• Sexual function and reproductive processes
• Mood regulation
• Sleep-wake cycles
• Stress response
• Bone and muscle maintenance
• Fluid and electrolyte balance

This extensive reach underscores the importance of maintaining hormonal balance for overall health and well-being.

The Endocrine Glands: Hormone Production Centers

Endocrine glands are specialized clusters of cells dedicated to hormone production and secretion. While hormones can be produced by various tissues in the body, the major endocrine glands form the backbone of the hormonal system.

Major players in the endocrine orchestra

The primary endocrine glands in the human body include:

1. Pituitary gland: Often called the “master gland,” it produces hormones that regulate other endocrine glands.
2. Pineal gland: Secretes melatonin, which is involved in sleep-wake cycles.
3. Thymus: Plays a crucial role in the development of the immune system, especially in early life.
4. Thyroid gland: Produces hormones that regulate metabolism and energy production.
5. Adrenal glands: Secrete stress hormones and regulate blood pressure and electrolyte balance.
6. Pancreas: Produces insulin and glucagon to control blood sugar levels.
7. Gonads (testes in males, ovaries in females): Responsible for sex hormone production and reproductive functions.

Each of these glands has a unique role in maintaining the body’s delicate hormonal balance.

The Power of Hormones: Small Molecules, Big Impact

One of the most fascinating aspects of hormones is their potency. These chemical messengers can induce significant changes in cellular function or even affect the entire body with incredibly small quantities.

Why are hormones so powerful?

The effectiveness of hormones stems from several factors:

• Specificity: Hormones target specific receptors on cells, ensuring precise action.
• Amplification: Hormone binding can trigger cascades of intracellular reactions, multiplying their effect.
• Feedback mechanisms: The body has intricate systems to fine-tune hormone levels, maintaining tight control.
• Long-lasting effects: Some hormonal changes can alter gene expression, leading to prolonged cellular responses.

This potency means that even slight imbalances in hormone levels can have far-reaching consequences for health.

Hormonal Imbalances: When Chemical Messengers Go Awry

Given the critical role hormones play in regulating bodily functions, it’s not surprising that hormonal imbalances can lead to a wide range of health issues. Too much or too little of a particular hormone can disrupt the delicate equilibrium necessary for optimal health.

Common hormonal disorders

Some frequently encountered endocrine disorders include:

• Diabetes: Caused by insufficient insulin production or insulin resistance.
• Thyroid disorders: Conditions like hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism affect metabolism and energy levels.
• Adrenal insufficiency: Underproduction of adrenal hormones can impact stress response and electrolyte balance.
• Growth hormone deficiency: Can lead to stunted growth in children and metabolic issues in adults.
• Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS): A common endocrine disorder in women, affecting reproductive health and metabolism.

These conditions highlight the importance of maintaining hormonal balance for overall health and well-being.

Diagnosing Hormonal Imbalances: Measuring the Messengers

Identifying and quantifying hormonal imbalances is crucial for diagnosing and treating endocrine disorders. Modern medicine offers several methods to measure hormone levels accurately.

How are hormone levels measured?

Healthcare providers can assess hormone levels through various biological samples:

• Blood tests: The most common method, providing a snapshot of circulating hormone levels.
• Urine tests: Useful for measuring hormones and their metabolites over time.
• Saliva tests: Non-invasive and can be particularly helpful for measuring steroid hormones.

These tests can help diagnose hormonal imbalances and guide treatment decisions.

Beyond basic testing

In some cases, more advanced diagnostic techniques may be necessary:

• Stimulation tests: Assess the body’s response to hormone-stimulating agents.
• Suppression tests: Evaluate the body’s ability to decrease hormone production in response to specific stimuli.
• Imaging studies: Techniques like MRI or CT scans can visualize endocrine glands and detect abnormalities.

These comprehensive approaches allow for a more nuanced understanding of endocrine function and dysfunction.

Treating Hormonal Imbalances: Restoring Equilibrium

Once a hormonal imbalance has been identified, treatment options vary depending on the specific condition and its underlying causes. The goal is to restore hormonal balance and alleviate associated symptoms.

Treatment approaches for endocrine disorders

Common treatment strategies include:

• Hormone replacement therapy: Supplementing deficient hormones to restore normal levels.
• Medications: Drugs that can stimulate or suppress hormone production or alter hormone sensitivity.
• Lifestyle modifications: Changes in diet, exercise, and stress management can sometimes help regulate hormone levels.
• Surgery: In some cases, removing or repairing damaged endocrine glands may be necessary.
• Radiation therapy: Used to treat certain hormone-producing tumors.

The choice of treatment depends on the specific disorder, its severity, and individual patient factors.

The Future of Endocrinology: Emerging Trends and Research

As our understanding of the endocrine system continues to evolve, new avenues for diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of hormonal disorders are emerging. Cutting-edge research is paving the way for more personalized and effective approaches to endocrine health.

Promising areas of endocrine research

Some exciting developments in the field include:

• Bioidentical hormones: Synthesized hormones that closely mimic the body’s natural hormones.
• Gene therapy: Targeting genetic factors underlying endocrine disorders.
• Artificial intelligence: Using machine learning to improve diagnosis and treatment planning.
• Chronobiology: Exploring the relationship between circadian rhythms and hormone function.
• Endocrine disruptors: Investigating environmental factors that may interfere with hormone action.

These advancements hold the promise of more precise and effective management of endocrine disorders in the future.

Maintaining Endocrine Health: Practical Tips for Hormonal Balance

While some hormonal imbalances require medical intervention, there are steps individuals can take to support their endocrine health and potentially prevent or mitigate hormone-related issues.

Lifestyle factors that influence hormonal balance

Consider incorporating these habits to promote endocrine health:

• Balanced nutrition: Consume a diet rich in whole foods, including plenty of fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins.
• Regular exercise: Physical activity can help regulate hormone levels and improve insulin sensitivity.
• Stress management: Chronic stress can disrupt hormonal balance, so practices like meditation or yoga may be beneficial.
• Adequate sleep: Quality sleep is crucial for hormone production and regulation.
• Limit endocrine disruptors: Be mindful of exposure to environmental toxins that may interfere with hormone function.
• Regular check-ups: Schedule routine health screenings to catch potential endocrine issues early.

By adopting these healthy habits, individuals can support their endocrine system and overall well-being.

The importance of hormonal awareness

Understanding the signs and symptoms of hormonal imbalances can help individuals recognize when to seek medical attention. Some common indicators include:

• Unexplained weight changes
• Fatigue or changes in energy levels
• Mood swings or depression
• Changes in skin, hair, or nail health
• Irregular menstrual cycles in women
• Changes in libido or sexual function

Being attuned to these potential signs can lead to earlier detection and more effective management of endocrine disorders.

The endocrine system, with its intricate network of glands and hormones, plays a vital role in maintaining our health and well-being. By understanding the basics of hormone function, recognizing the signs of imbalance, and adopting healthy lifestyle habits, we can support our endocrine health and overall quality of life. As research in endocrinology continues to advance, we can look forward to even more sophisticated approaches to diagnosing, treating, and preventing hormonal disorders in the future.

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Hormones are your body’s chemical messengers. They travel in your bloodstream to tissues or organs. They work slowly, over time, and affect many different processes, including:

• Growth and development
• Metabolism – how your body gets energy from the foods you eat
• Sexual function
• Reproduction
• Mood

Endocrine glands, which are special groups of cells, make hormones. The major endocrine glands are the pituitary, pineal, thymus, thyroid, adrenal glands, and pancreas. In addition, men produce hormones in their testes and women produce them in their ovaries.

Hormones are powerful. It takes only a tiny amount to cause big changes in cells or even your whole body. That is why too much or too little of a certain hormone can be serious. Laboratory tests can measure the hormone levels in your blood, urine, or saliva. Your health care provider may perform these tests if you have symptoms of a hormone disorder. Home pregnancy tests are similar – they test for pregnancy hormones in your urine.

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Endocrine glands Information | Mount Sinai

Endocrine glands release (secrete) hormones into the bloodstream.

The endocrine glands include:

• Adrenal
• Hypothalamus
• Islets of Langerhans in the pancreas
• Ovaries
• Parathyroid
• Pineal
• Pituitary
• Testes
• Thyroid

Endocrine glands release hormones (chemical messengers) into the bloodstream to be transported to various organs and tissues throughout the body. For instance, the pancreas secretes insulin, which allows the body to regulate levels of sugar in the blood. The thyroid gets instructions from the pituitary to secrete hormones which determine the rate of metabolism in the body (the more hormone in the bloodstream, the faster the chemical activity; the less hormone, the slower the activity).

Although the thyroid gland releases the hormones which govern growth and metabolism, the brain (the pituitary and the hypothalamus) manages the release and the balance of the amount of hormones circulated.

Information

Hypersecretion is when an excess of one or more hormone is secreted from a gland. Hyposecretion is when the amount of hormones that are released is too low.

There are many types of disorders that can result when too much or too little of a hormone is released.

Disorders that may be associated with abnormal hormone product from a particular gland include:

Adrenal:

• Addison disease
• Adrenogenital syndrome or adrenocortical hyperplasia
• Cushing syndrome
• Pheochromocytoma

Pancreas:

• Diabetes mellitus
• Hypoglycemia

Parathyroid:

• Tetany (abnormal cramping of muscles)
• Renal calculi (kidney stones)
• Excessive loss of minerals from bone (osteoporosis)

Pituitary:

• Growth hormone deficiency
• Acromegaly
• Gigantism
• Diabetes insipidus
• Cushing disease

Testes and ovaries:

• Lack of sex development (unclear genitalia)

Thyroid:

• Congenital hypothyroidism
• Myxedema
• Goiter
• Thyrotoxicosis

Barrett EJ. Organization of endocrine control. In: Boron WF, Boulpaep EL, eds. Medical Physiology. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2017:chap 47.

Melmed S, Auchus RJ, Goldfine AB, et al. Principles of endocrinology. In: Melmed S, Auchus, RJ, Goldfine AB, Koenig RJ, Rosen CJ, eds. Williams Textbook of Endocrinology. 14th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 1.

Strachan MWJ, Newell-Price JDC. Endocrinology. In: Ralston SH, Penman ID, Strachan MWJ, Hobson RP, eds. Davidson’s Principles and Practice of Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2018:chap 18.

Last reviewed on: 4/24/2021

Reviewed by: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

Violation of the endocrine system – General information, Causes.

Tomsk

General information

Disorders of the endocrine system are pathological conditions that occur as a result of improper activity of the endocrine glands or endocrine glands that release the substances they produce (hormones) directly into the blood or lymph. Endocrine glands include:

• pituitary;

• thyroid and parathyroid glands;

• adrenal glands and glands with mixed function;

• gonads;

• pancreas.

The main role of endocrine glands in the body is expressed in their influence on the processes of metabolism, growth, physical and sexual development. Violation of the endocrine system leads to the emergence of various disorders of the body. At base endocrine disorders is either an excessive increase or decrease in the functions of a particular gland.

Disorders of the endocrine system

The pituitary gland is considered the center of regulation of the endocrine system, since it produces hormones that specifically stimulate the growth, differentiation and functional activity of some endocrine glands.

Violation of the complex functions of the pituitary gland leads to the development of a number of pituitary disorders: excessive function of the anterior pituitary gland causes acromegaly. Decreased function of the anterior lobe pituitary gland can cause:

Decreased function of the posterior pituitary gland provokes the development of diabetes insipidus . The patient has copious urine output and intense thirst.

An increase in the function of the thyroid gland is manifested in an increase in its volume. The following disorders occur:

With a pronounced increase in the function of the thyroid gland, protrusion of the eyeballs or bulging eyes is observed.

Decreased function of the thyroid gland is accompanied by a decrease in the thyroid gland, a slowing of the heartbeat and a sinking of the eyeballs. There is a tendency to obesity, constipation, dry skin, a decrease in general excitability, changes in the skin and subcutaneous tissue, which become edematous. This state is called myxedema.

An increase in adrenal gland function is accompanied by premature puberty (most often due to the formation of tumors). A decrease in the function of the adrenal cortex in severe cases gives a picture of Addison’s disease (bronze disease), in which characteristic dark, bronze pigmentation of the skin appears, exhaustion, blood pressure decreases, blood sugar decreases, and the body’s resistance decreases.

Enhancing the function of the medulla I of the adrenal gland causes the development of arterial hypertension in the form of seizures. An increase in the function of the gonads is rarely observed (more often due to the development of malignant tumors of these glands), mostly in childhood. The gonads reach their full development prematurely. A decrease in the function of these glands leads to eunuchoidism, increased growth with disproportionate lengthening of the lower and upper limbs, a tendency to obesity, with the distribution of fat in men according to the female type and underdevelopment of the genital organs, and the absence of a secondary hairline.

Increased pancreatic function not well understood. Individual manifestations are a persistent decrease in blood sugar, a tendency to obesity. A decrease in the function of this gland leads to an increase in blood and urine sugar, an increase in urination, and a decline in nutrition (diabetes mellitus).

Regulation of the endocrine glands

Regulation of the activity of the endocrine glands is carried out in the vegetative nerve centers of the diencephalon through the vegetative-nerve fibers and through the pituitary gland under the control of the cerebral cortex. The nervous and endocrine systems are closely related and constantly interact.

Endocrine glands have a great influence on the growth and development of the body, metabolic processes, excitability and tone of the nervous system. Features of the functioning of individual links of the endocrine system play an important role in the formation of the body in general and its constitutional features in particular.

The natural course of age-related changes in the body can be sharply disturbed under the influence of disorders of internal secretion from one or more endocrine glands.

Causes of endocrine disorders :

• Primary dysfunction of the peripheral endocrine glands. Various pathological processes can develop in the gland itself and lead to disruption of the formation and secretion of the corresponding hormones.

• Peripheral forms of endocrine disorders. Peripheral endocrine disorders may be caused by impaired binding of hormones to proteins at the stage of their transport to target cells, inactivation or destruction of the circulating hormone, impaired hormone reception and metabolism, and impaired permissive mechanisms.

An important place among the causes of damage to the peripheral endocrine glands is occupied by infections. Some of them (for example, tuberculosis, syphilis) can be localized in different glands, causing their gradual destruction, in other cases there is a certain selectivity of the lesion (for example, meningococcal sepsis is often accompanied by hemorrhage in the adrenal glands, viral parotitis often causes orchitis and testicular atrophy, and orchitis can also occur with gonorrhea).

The cause of damage to the glands and disorders of hormone formation are tumors that can develop in any gland. The nature of endocrine disorders in this case depends on the nature of the tumor. If the tumor originates from secretory cells, excessive amounts of hormones are usually produced and a picture of hyperfunction of the gland occurs.

If the tumor does not secrete hormone but only compresses and causes atrophy or destroys the gland tissue, its progressive hypofunction develops. Quite often tumors have metastatic character. In some cases tumors of the endocrine glands produce hormones that are not characteristic of this gland, ectopic foci of hormone formation in tumors of non-endocrine organs are also possible.

Disorders of the endocrine system may be due to congenital defects in the development of glands or their atrophy . The latter is caused by various reasons, namely:

• sclerotic process;

• chronic inflammation;

• age involution;

• hormonally active tumor of the paired gland;

• long-term treatment;

• exogenous hormones.

Damage and atrophy of the gland are sometimes based on autoimmune processes (in some forms of diabetes mellitus, diseases of the adrenal glands, thyroid gland).

The formation of hormones is disturbed due to hereditary defects in the enzymes necessary for their synthesis, or inactivation of the enzymes. Some forms of cortico-genital syndrome , endemic cretinism and other endocrine diseases arise in this way. It is also possible to form abnormal forms of hormones in the gland. Such hormones have inferior activity or are completely devoid of it. In some cases, the intraglandular conversion of the prohormone into a hormone is disrupted, and therefore its inactive forms are released into the blood.

Disorders in the biosynthesis of hormones can be caused by a deficiency of specific substrates that make up their composition (for example, iodine, which is necessary for the formation of thyroid hormones).

One of the causes of endocrine disorders is the depletion of hormone biosynthesis as a result of prolonged stimulation of the gland and its hyperfunction. In this way, some forms of insufficiency of beta-cells of the pancreatic islet apparatus, stimulated by prolonged hyperglycemia, occur.

Increased attention is paid to anti-receptor antibodies. It is believed that the mechanisms of production of anti-receptor antibodies may be associated with some features of the immune system itself.

Hormonal disorders

Antibodies may be caused by a viral infection; suggest that in such cases, the virus binds to a hormone receptor on the cell surface and provokes the formation of anti-receptor antibodies. One of the forms of insufficiency of hormonal effects may be associated with a violation of the permissive action of hormones.

Deficiency of cortisol , which has a powerful and versatile permissive effect on catecholamines, sharply weakens the glycogenolytic, lipolytic effects of adrenaline, the pressor effect and some other effects of catecholamines. In the absence of the necessary amounts of thyroid hormones, the action of growth hormone cannot be normally realized in the early stages of the development of the organism.

Endocrinopathy may result from a violation of hormone metabolism. A significant part of the hormones is destroyed in the liver, and when it is damaged (hepatitis, cirrhosis, etc.), signs of endocrine disorders are often observed. Excessive activity of enzymes involved in the metabolism of hormones is also possible.

At the same time, these disorders are not always based on insufficient or excessive production of the corresponding hormones, but always on the inadequacy of their peripheral effects in target cells, leading to a complex interweaving of metabolic, structural and functional disorders. The endocrinologist will help to understand the causes of the violation, as well as select the right treatment.

Endocrinology

Endocrinology

About direction

O’Medica Medical Center offers a wide range of services for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the endocrine system.
If you monitor your health, undergo regular check-ups, notice unpleasant symptoms, our qualified specialists are ready to provide you with the necessary assistance.

Disturbances in hormonal balance negatively affect the work of all systems of our body. Endocrinologists of our clinic – are not only specialists in the field of diagnosis, treatment and prevention of diseases of the hormonal system. They treat, among other things, the negative consequences of hormonal disorders and help to undergo rehabilitation after an endocrine disease.

The endocrine system is one of the most important regulatory systems of the body. Endocrine glands are involved in all metabolic processes, maintaining homeostasis. And if at least one of the endocrine glands is disrupted, multiple functional changes occur in all systems of the human body.
So – one of the most common diseases of the endocrine system – diabetes mellitus causes damage to the vessels of the heart, brain, limbs, kidneys, retina, which leads to the development of myocardial infarction, stroke, gangrene and blindness.

Endocrinology is one of the youngest and most rapidly developing branches of medicine, and the number of people who are forced to seek help from an endocrinologist has been steadily growing throughout the world in recent decades. Endocrinology deals with the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of diseases associated with disorders in the endocrine system. An endocrinologist treats not only the diseases themselves, but also their consequences, for example, corrects the hormonal balance , takes measures to restore normal metabolism, eliminates sexual dysfunction. The problems of endocrinology to some extent affect almost all areas of medicine and are closely related to cardiology, oncology, gastroenterology, nephrology, urology and gynecology.

According to doctors, every fourth person has problems with the thyroid gland. However, many of these people are not even aware of violations in the functioning of the body, since they have never turned to an endocrinologist in their lives. Such a specialist is not on the list of must-sees, so very often the onset of the development of pathology goes unnoticed, and the consequences are quite serious.

The following problems are most often addressed to an endocrinologist:

• obesity and anorexia
• imbalance of sex hormones
• thyroid disease
• hirsutism
• osteoporosis.

Contacting an endocrinologist is always necessary during pregnancy planning, as well as for patients suffering from diabetes and diabetes insipidus and its complications.

Reasons to visit an endocrinologist

Diseases of the endocrine system can manifest themselves in different ways and are not always accompanied by acute conditions. That is why it is important to know some not obvious signs of hormonal disorders in order to consult a doctor in a timely manner. These include:

• Feeling of tiredness, fatigue, lack of energy for no apparent reason, sleep disturbances nal cycle (atypical duration, profusion, painful sensations)

• Unreasonable weight fluctuations (in any direction)

• Increased heart rate

• Decreased concentration, drowsiness, depressed mood

• Digestive problems, nausea and vomiting

• Infertility

All of these symptoms are good reasons to see a doctor!

All of the above signs may well be signs of endocrine diseases, metabolic disorders due to a malfunction in the production of certain hormones. And it is also necessary to visit an endocrinologist for couples planning the birth of a child, people who are overweight or underweight, even if they do not have any signs of illness.

What areas does endocrinology deal with?

• Diabetes Mellitus

  Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs either when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or when the body cannot use the insulin it produces effectively. Doctors distinguish between type 1 and type 2 diabetes, gestational diabetes, as well as decreased glucose tolerance and impaired fasting glycemia.
  A common consequence of uncontrolled diabetes is hyperglycemia, or high levels of glucose (sugar) in the blood, which over time can cause serious damage to many body systems, especially nerves and blood vessels.

• Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome

  Obesity is overweight defined as a body mass index ≥ 30 kg/m ² . Metabolic syndrome is characterized by an enlarged waist circumference (due to excess abdominal fat), hypertension, abnormal fasting plasma glucose concentrations or abnormal insulin resistance, and dyslipidemia.
  Obesity significantly increases the risk of developing cardiovascular disease, diabetes, malignant neoplasms, gallstone disease, fatty liver, cirrhosis, osteoarthritis, reproductive disorders in men and women, and in people with a BMI ≥ 35kg/m ^{2 –} risk of premature death.

• Diseases of the thyroid gland

  The thyroid gland is an endocrine gland whose cells produce hormones (thyroxine and triiodothyronine) that control metabolism and energy, growth processes, maturation of tissues and organs. Thyroid hormones regulate the activity of the brain, nervous and cardiovascular systems, the gastrointestinal tract, affect reproductive function, the functioning of the mammary and sweat glands.
  The most common pathologies of the thyroid gland are diffuse euthyroid goiter, autoimmune thyroiditis; colloid nodular goiter; hypothyroidism; multinodular goiter; thyrotoxicosis; subacute thyroiditis.

• Neuroendocrine diseases

  Most neuroendocrine diseases are caused by damage to the hypothalamic-pituitary region located in the very center of the brain. The most common neuroendocrine diseases are pituitary adenomas. In the absence of timely treatment, these diseases lead to the development of severe complications.
  Depending on the type of pituitary adenoma, it may require surgery, radiation, and/or drug therapy. In some cases, regular follow-up by an endocrinologist may be sufficient.

• Diseases of the adrenal glands

  The adrenal glands are endocrine glands that produce hormones that affect the functioning of almost all systems and organs. They provide the body’s natural reactions to stress, stress, environmental changes, control thermoregulation, water and electrolyte balance, blood vessel tone, metabolism, and the production of collagen fibers. In addition, they are responsible for the body’s response to inflammatory processes and the intake of allergens. Malfunctions of the adrenal glands cause the development of endocrine diseases, which result in excessive production or deficiency of hormones produced by the adrenal glands. Many complaints are non-specific. This complicates the diagnosis and forces the patient to delay visiting a specialized specialist, an endocrinologist. It is important to remember that getting help in a timely manner will improve the quality of life and help prevent complications.

• Autoimmune syndromes

  Autoimmune polyglandular syndrome (APGS) is an immunoendocrine disorder characterized by primary functional insufficiency of several endocrine glands, as well as non-endocrine organ-specific diseases. Vitiligo, rash, limited movement and joint pain are common symptoms. Many AIDs are accompanied by damage to the cardiovascular system. Symptoms of individual autoimmune diseases vary and depend on the affected organ or tissue. The most common autoimmune lesions of the thyroid gland are diffuse toxic goiter (Graves’ disease) and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Type I diabetes mellitus, systemic lupus erythematosus, and multiple sclerosis also develop according to an autoimmune mechanism.
  All systemic autoimmune diseases are dangerous. If left untreated, they kill a person faster than almost any tumor. The average life expectancy is 5-7 months. If you turn to a specialist in time, intensive drug therapy saves a person’s life.

• Violations of phosphorus-calcium metabolism

  Malfunctions of the parathyroid glands lead to disorders of calcium metabolism and to such serious diseases as stomach ulcers, arrhythmias, gout, vascular calcification, urolithiasis. Timely diagnosis and properly selected therapy make the treatment prognosis favorable.

• Reproductive endocrinology

  Reproductology is a relatively young but fast growing industry. More and more couples are facing difficulties in conceiving a child and maintaining a pregnancy. At the same time, there are more opportunities, scientific developments, schemes and technologies for solving the problem of infertility (male, female and combined).

How does an appointment with an endocrinologist go?

Only an endocrinologist can identify a pathological process in the endocrine system in a timely manner and differentiate it from diseases with similar symptoms. You can go through an appointment with an endocrinologist on your own or by receiving a referral from a generalist (for example, a therapist).
As part of an appointment, an endocrinologist can use the following diagnostic methods:

• Clinical methods:

  – collection of complaints, anamnesis, examination of the body
  – palpation of the thyroid gland
  – examination and palpation of the mammary glands
  – measurement of height, weight and their assessment
  – assessment of sexual development
  – assessment of the degree of hirsutism (hairiness)
  – examination in the presence of polyneuropathy of the limbs

• Laboratory methods:

  – biochemical analysis of blood and urine
  – hormonal analysis of blood and urine
  – immunological analysis of blood
  – diagnostic tests
  – molecular genetic diagnostics O’Medica Medical Center.

• Instrumental methods:

  – Ultrasound of the parathyroid glands
  – Ultrasound of the thyroid gland
  – Computed tomography of the adrenal glands
  – MRI of the pituitary and adrenal glands
  – X-ray of the spine
  – scintigraphy of both the whole body and the parathyroid glands and the thyroid gland
  – fine needle aspiration biopsy of the thyroid gland

methods of therapy – drug, surgical or radiation treatment, but also non-drug methods, namely diet therapy and exercise, but strictly as prescribed under the supervision of the attending physician!

Our specialists:

Our specialists – endocrinologists, as well as gynecologists, urologists, oncologists and therapists will help you on the path of treatment and recovery in diseases of the endocrine system.

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We have prepared convenient comprehensive packages for you to identify the most common diseases of the endocrine system – diabetes mellitus and osteoporosis.

Preparing for an appointment with an endocrinologist

It is necessary to properly prepare for a doctor’s appointment:

• Make a list of complaints, remember or write down everything that has changed in your condition lately;
• It is recommended to wear comfortable clothing and shoes that can be easily removed. During the examination, you may need to expose your feet;
• People with diabetes need to record their blood pressure and sugar levels;
• Do not forget to bring your medical record and the results of your previous examination.

All of these simple procedures will help you make the diagnosis and prescribe the treatment most quickly and accurately.

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Individual approach

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We have assembled a team of qualified professionals who will help and support you on your path to recovery after complex specialized treatment

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It is important for us that patients felt comfortable. That is why we always monitor the atmosphere in our clinic.

Helpful Resources for Patients

We have also prepared helpful resources for you with information on how to take care of your health at different times in your life.

How to prepare for a thyroid ultrasound?

Ultrasound of the joints – what is it and when to do it?

Question to the doctor: when and why to examine the thyroid gland?

Preparing for blood tests

The information in this section should not be used for self-diagnosis or self-treatment. In case of pain or other exacerbation of the disease, only the attending physician should prescribe diagnostic tests.