December 1, 2023

Exploring the Endocrine System

What is the endocrine system, and what does it do?

What is endocrine system, and how does it affect the body?

The endocrine system is made up of several organs called glands which are located all over your body. These glands are responsible for releasing hormones which regulate different processes in your body. The endocrine system has a system of ‘checks and balances’; it continuously monitors and regulates the amount of hormones in your body to ensure optimal functioning of the body. Hormones affect and control many different aspects of bodily function including metabolism, blood sugar, blood pressure, growth and development, fertility and sexual function and many others.

Examples of endocrine glands include the following:

**Pancreas** – This organ is located in the abdomen and is both a part of the endocrine and digestive system. It functions to control blood sugar levels and produces enzymes that help with digestion.

Pituitary Gland — **Pituitary gland** – this gland is small (no larger than a pea) but packs a punch! It is located at the base of the brain and despite its small size, it is the ‘master’ gland of the endocrine system as it controls the functions of many other endocrine glands.

Thyroid Gland — **Thyroid gland** – This is a butterfly-shaped gland located at the front of your neck. The main function of this gland is to control your metabolic rate, which is how fast your body converts the food that you eat into energy, which fuels essential body functions.

Parathyroid Glands — **Parathyroid glands** – These 4 small glands are located behind the thyroid gland. The main function of the parathyroid glands is to release parathyroid hormone, which controls the levels of calcium in your blood. These glands also play a part in controlling the level of Vitamin D and phosphorus in your blood. Too high or too low parathyroid hormones result in symptoms related to abnormal blood calcium levels.

Adrenal Glands — **Adrenal glands** – This is a triangle-shaped gland on top of the kidneys. These pair of glands produce essential hormones such as cortisol, aldosterone and adrenaline, which help to regulate several different functions of the body such as metabolism, blood pressure and your body’s response to stress.

**Ovaries and Testes** – These are the glands that release sex hormones and influence sexual function.

What are the common conditions or disorders that affect the endocrine system?

When the endocrine glands produce too much or too little of a hormone, this can result in health problems which can have wide ranging symptoms due to the different functions of varied hormones.

Some of the common endocrine conditions are:

diabetes — **Diabetes Mellitus** – Diabetes occurs when the body is unable to maintain normal blood glucose (sugar) levels in the body because of insufficient insulin production from the pancreas or ineffective use of the insulin that is produced, resulting in high blood glucose levels.

Thyroid-disorders — **Thyroid disorders** – The thyroid gland can produce too little or too much thyroid hormones, called hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism respectively. The thyroid gland can also become inflamed and this is known as thyroiditis, which can also impact on the thyroid hormones produced. The thyroid gland can develop a lump or nodule(s) in the gland that can sometimes be overactive with increased thyroid hormone production or require further evaluation for thyroid cancer in approximately 5% of cases.

**Osteoporosis** – This is a condition where the bones become brittle and weak, which increases the risk of fractures. This can be a consequence of normal aging where the bones lose their density and become more fragile than when you were younger. Osteoporosis can also be the result of other health conditions which result in more rapid bone density loss, for example, endocrine disorders that affect the thyroid gland, parathyroid gland and diabetes.

Low-testosterone-(Hypogonadism) — **Low testosterone (Hypogonadism)** – Symptoms of low testosterone include erectile dysfunction, low libido (sex drive), loss of armpit and public hair, reduced muscle strength, and low mood. These symptoms and others may vary considerably, particularly by age.

Polycystic-Ovary-Syndrome-(PCOS) — **Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)** – Common symptoms of this condition include irregular menses (periods), abnormal hair growth, excess acne and weight gain. PCOS increases the risk of metabolic syndrome and diabetes and is a major cause of infertility.

Adrenal-gland-disorders — **Adrenal gland disorders** – Overproduction or underproduction of certain adrenal hormones can result in a wide range of effects such as high blood pressure that is difficult to control, low potassium levels, weight gain, high blood glucose levels, frequent headaches, palpitations or increased sweating. Nodule(s) or lump(s) can also form in the adrenal glands and require evaluation for overproduction of the different hormones.

Pituitary-tumours — **Pituitary tumours** – Abnormal growths may develop within the pituitary gland and most of these tumours are non-cancerous (benign) growths. However, they can cause the pituitary gland to make too little or too much hormones, which control other endocrine glands in the body to make too little or too much of their respective hormones. This will result in symptoms related to each of the specific hormones. Some pituitary tumours may growth large enough to cause visual problems due to the close proximity of the pituitary gland to the optic (eye) nerves.

How are endocrine disorders diagnosed?

Endocrine disorders result in a wide range of symptoms which may overlap with many other conditions. Thus, an evaluation by a doctor is needed for a detailed history and physical examination. Further investigations will also be needed and may include blood or urine tests and sometimes imaging scans (such as an ultrasound or MRI scan).

At Aspen Diabetes & Endocrine clinic, we are equipped to treat a range of endocrine disorders. For treatment of any endocrine disorder, book an appointment today to visit Aspen Diabetes and Endocrine clinic.

Exploring the Endocrine System

What is the endocrine system, and what does it do?

What is endocrine system, and how does it affect the body?

What are the common conditions or disorders that affect the endocrine system?

How are endocrine disorders diagnosed?

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