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 How does the hypothalamus affect bowel function?
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Dr. Jacob Teitelbaum, Integrative MedicineThe hypothalamus is a control center in the brain for your autonomic nervous system. In addition to regulating sweating and blood pressure, it also causes contractions in your digestive tract. This long muscular “food tube” carries... Full Answer
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- Q What body functions are regulated by the hypothalamus?
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Dr. Mehmet Oz, CardiologyThe hypothalamus is responsible for maintaining homeostasis, or functional balance that allows the body to run like a finely tuned instrument. It is the body's dispatch center that regulates hormones and neurochemicals and helps to control body... Full Answer
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- Q What is the hypothalamus?
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The hypothalamus is an area of the brain's limbic system. It handles bodily functions such as breathing, emotional responses, feelings of hunger and sexual satisfaction. The hypothalamus keeps tabs on the central nervous system and communicates... Full Answer
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- Q How does aging affect my level of human growth hormone (HGH)?
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Dr. Mehmet Oz, CardiologyAs your body ages, you start producing less human growth hormone (HGH). By the time you’ve hit middle age, you’ve lost about 85% of the HGH you produced when you were a teen and an additional 2% every year thereafter. Full Answer
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- Q What are the anti-aging benefits of human growth hormone (HGH)?
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Dr. Mehmet Oz, CardiologyHuman growth hormone (HGH), a potent compound produced in the pituitary gland known to fuel childhood growth, is now also regarded as a powerful anti-ager. HGH helps regulate how much fat your body stores and how much muscle you build, and it... Full Answer
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- Q What is hyperprolactinemia?
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Pituitary tumors are growths in the pituitary gland. When a pituitary gland does not function correctly, it is usually because of a benign, or non-cancerous, tumor of the gland. This is also called an adenoma. The pituitary gland is a pea-size gland... Full Answer
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- Q What are some myths about hormonal disorders?
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Dr. Mehmet Oz, CardiologyHere are some myths about hormonal disorders:Myth: Hormonal conditions have nothing to do with the immune system.Fact: Some hormonal disorders are actually autoimmune disorders. For example, the most common cause of hypothyroidism in the United States,... Full Answer
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- Q What triggers hormonal disorders?
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Dr. Mehmet Oz, CardiologyTo some extent, different hormonal conditions need to be treated in different ways -- since disorders like diabetes, an over- or underactive thyroid, and osteoporosis have different symptoms and consequences. On the other hand, all of these conditions... Full Answer
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- Q What are symptoms of an insulinoma?
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Symptoms include dizziness, fatigue, weakness, uncontrolled shaking, hunger, and at times psychiatric disturbances. A history of fainting related to low blood sugar and weight gain commonly affects patients. Full Answer
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- Q What is an insulinoma?
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An insulinoma is a tumor, usually benign (non-cancerous), made up of specialized beta islet cells that constantly secrete insulin, causing hypoglycemia (low blood glucose–sugar). Normally, as the glucose rises with eating, the pancreas... Full Answer
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