Endocrine System
Your endocrine system works with your nervous system to control important bodily functions. The endocrine systems responsibilities include regulating growth, sexual development and function, metabolism and mood. The endocrine system also helps give your body the energy it needs to function properly. Endocrine glands secrete hormones into the bloodstream. Hormones are considered chemical messengers, coordinating your body by transferring information from one set of cells to another.
Your endocrine system health can be affected by hormone imbalances resulting from impaired glands. A hormone imbalance can cause problems with bodily growth, sexual development, metabolism and other bodily functions. Endocrine system diseases or conditions include diabetes, growth disorders and osteoporosis.
Recently Answered
- Q What are the potential impacts of a testosterone deficiency?
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Dr. Jacob Teitelbaum, Integrative MedicineFor men, testosterone deficiency associated with andropause can also cause sugar craving along with other severe problems. Depression, decreased libido, decreased erectile function, high blood pressure, weight gain, diabetes or high cholesterol... Full Answer
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- Q How are testosterone levels measured?
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Dr. Michael Roizen, Internal MedicineWhile the majority of erectile-dysfunction cases are caused by vascular issues, about 20 percent are associated with low testosterone levels. As part of a checkup to determine the root of erectile difficulties, your doctor could measure your hormone... Full Answer
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- Q How does secondary hyperparathyroidism progress?
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As secondary hyperparathyroidism progresses, the parathyroid glands no longer respond normally to calcium and Vitamin D. During early secondary hyperparathyroidism, the blood calcium levels are normal or low, but the PTH level is high. As the disease... Full Answer
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- Q What causes elevated parathyroid levels?
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Joane Goodroe, NursingAnswer provided by Dr. James Normal of the Norman Parathyroid Center: "The most common cause of excess hormone production (hyperparathyroidism) is the development of a benign tumor in one of the parathyroid glands. This enlargement of one parathyroid... Full Answer
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- Q How does primary hyperparathyroidism affect life expectancy?
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Large population-based studies show that patients with primary hyperparathyroidism appear to be at risk for premature death. Most of these deaths were due to cardiovascular disease or cancer. This data included both patients with and without symptoms.... Full Answer
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- Q How does untreated primary hyperparathyroidism affect my health?
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Untreated primary hyperparathyroidism can cause a number of health problems over the long term, such as kidney stones and osteoporosis (thinning or weakening of the bones), but most often does not lead to medical emergencies. Once you have been... Full Answer
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- Q Are bioidentical hormones different from commercial ones?
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Dr. Lauren Streicher, Obstetrics & GynecologyWhat you get from the compounding pharmacy (where a compounding pharmacist custom mixes drugs to fit the unique needs of a patient) is not "more human-like" than what you get in a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved product. In fact, you are... Full Answer
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- Q What is bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT)?
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Erika Schwartz, Internal MedicineBHRT is hormone replacement therapy that specifically uses hormones molecularly identical to the hormones we humans make. A better term to describe BHRT would be human identical hormones. The hormones included in the category of BHRT include estradiol,... Full Answer
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- Q Is bioidentical hormone replacement therapy safe?
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Dr. Marina Johnson, Endocrinology, Diabetes & MetabolismMany women have the mistaken notion that bioidentical hormone replacement is totally safe and synthetic pharmaceutical hormone replacement is dangerous. Bioidentical hormones are identical in molecular structure to the hormones in a woman’s body,... Full Answer
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- Q What are hormones?
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Scientists discovered the existence of hormones in the late 1890s. A hormone, which is an organic product of living cells, regulates specific cellular activities, such as reproduction and growth. Full Answer
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