Pituitary Disorders

Pituitary gland disorders interfere with your bodys ability to regulate your sugar levels, control your body temperature and help you grow. Medical professionals call the pituitary gland the master endocrine gland because it produces hormones that regulate other organs and many of our body functions. While injuries can cause pituitary disorders, tumors are the more common reason for them. These tumors can cause the gland to make abnormal amounts of certain hormones such as thyroid-stimulating hormone, which regulates our heart rate. Too much of the hormone cortisol can cause Cushings syndrome, a rare disorder that can cause weight gain, fatigue and death if left untreated. Too little growth hormone can cause dwarfism and delayed sexual function. Hormone replacement therapy, surgery and radiation therapy may be used to treat some pituitary disorders.