All diseases have different roles. One disease comes at once, with all its might, throwing a daring challenge to the body: who wins?!
The other sneaks up imperceptibly and systematically torments: it “bites”, then it releases, gradually making our existence unbearable.
And the third walks with us hand in hand all our lives, influencing the character, worldview and quality of life on a par with genes and external factors.
Hiding under different masks, diseases often become elusive. It is especially difficult to recognize an endocrine disease (when the normal production of hormones is disturbed in the body).
Often, people with such disorders before getting to the “address” are examined by a variety of specialists, and, disappointed in traditional medicine, self-medicate in vain.
Such patients come to an endocrinologist already when the disease has reached its climax or has changed its face so much as a result of numerous health experiments that it is extremely difficult to diagnose and treat it.
Hormonal balance
Hormonal disorders do not always have specific symptoms. Often their manifestations are similar to a variety of ailments, and sometimes they are perceived only as cosmetic defects. Therefore, you need to know the warning signs, when they appear, you must immediately seek qualified help.
It is better to exclude a dangerous pathology in a timely manner than to pay with health for your self-confidence and negligence later.
What is the endocrine system?
In the body, there are many organs and individual cell clusters that can produce hormones and participate in the endocrine regulation of vital functions. The most important are the pituitary and hypothalamus. These glands are located in the brain and, according to their position, control all other organs of the endocrine system: the thyroid and parathyroid glands, adrenal glands, gonads and pancreas. Lesions of the hypothalamus and pituitary gland rarely present with isolated, specific symptoms. Usually, the function of the endocrine glands subject to them also suffers.
Possible signs of hormonal imbalance
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Losing weight on the background of increased appetite. Under the advertising slogan “Eat means losing weight!”, Perhaps, a person with an increased function of the thyroid gland is hiding. In addition to weight loss, an unreasonable and prolonged increase in body temperature to 37-37.5 ° C, interruptions in the work of the heart, excessive sweating, tremor (trembling) of the fingers, sudden mood swings, nervousness, and sleep are disturbed. With the progression of the disease, sexual function is impaired. Often, a constantly surprised look – bulging eyes attracts attention. When the eyes are wide open, they shine and seem to stick out: between the iris and the eyelids, a strip of white sclera remains above and below.
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Obesity can be not only a problem of malnutrition and physical inactivity. Obesity accompanies many endocrinological disorders. If adipose tissue is deposited evenly throughout the body, appetite is either not changed or somewhat reduced, dry skin, weakness, lethargy, constant drowsiness, hair loss and fragility are worried, then we can assume a decrease in thyroid function. Such people have chilliness, a decrease in body temperature and blood pressure, hoarseness of the voice, periodic constipation.
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Excessive growth of hair on the body (hypertyrchosis) often indicates a violation of the function of the sex glands. Most often, this symptom indicates excessive testosterone production in women. Hypertrichosis in this case is usually accompanied by an increase in oily skin, the appearance of acne, dandruff. There is a violation of menstrual and reproductive function.
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Crimson stretch marks on the skin (stretch marks) are a formidable sign of a disorder of the hypothalamic-pituitary system. Often the adrenal glands are involved in the process. Stretch marks appear on the skin of the abdomen, inner thighs, in the area of the mammary glands. Hypertrichosis, violation of sexual function is noted. A specific sign is a crisis increase in blood pressure to high numbers.
One of the most important symptoms is often obesity, and adipose tissue is deposited mainly in the face and neck, shoulder girdle, abdomen and back. The limbs remain thin. Reduced immunity.
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Change in appearance: an early sign of acromegaly. Facial features become rough: superciliary arches, cheekbones, lower jaw increase. The lips “grow”, the tongue becomes so large that the bite is disturbed. This condition develops in adults with excessive formation of growth hormone – somatotropin, which is produced in the hypothalamus. There is a rapid growth of the hands and feet. A person is forced to change shoes very often. Disturbed by complaints of numbness in the limbs, joint pain, hoarseness, sexual dysfunction. The skin becomes thick, oily, there is increased hair growth.
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Visual impairment can also be a consequence of the pathology of the endocrine system. Rapid and persistent visual impairment, accompanied by persistent headaches, is a reason for suspecting a pituitary tumor. In this case, a characteristic feature is the loss of temporal fields of vision, and other signs of hormonal regulation disorders mentioned above often develop.
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Skin itching should be a reason to determine the level of sugar in the blood and may be an early sign of diabetes.
In this case, itching often occurs in the perineum (which makes you turn to a gynecologist or dermatovenereologist). There is thirst, dry mouth, increased amount of urine and frequent urination. Furunculosis becomes a frequent disease, wounds and scratches heal very slowly, weakness and fatigue gradually develop. Weight can fluctuate both in the direction of obesity and in the direction of weight loss, depending on the form of the disease and the constitution of the person.
Hormonal imbalance needs treatment
Some of these symptoms can be regarded by us as banal signs of overwork, lack of vitamins, the consequences of stress at work and at home. However, an untimely visit to a doctor can greatly reduce the chances of a cure and lead to serious health problems.
Whatever the hormonal disorder, it always requires medical treatment. Without special therapy, endocrine diseases gradually progress, and, without causing much concern in the initial stages, they manifest themselves in the future with a heavy echo. You can close your eyes to sweating, weight changes, excessive hair growth for a long time, but what to do when these disorders develop into infertility or turn into severe heart failure, stroke or heart attack, an inoperable tumor?
Modern diagnostics of hormonal disorders includes a wide range of examinations. Sometimes it is enough for a doctor to look at a patient to make a diagnosis. In some cases, it is necessary to carry out a lot of laboratory and instrumental studies, including determining the level of hormones and their metabolites in the blood, functional stress tests, X-ray and ultrasound diagnostics, and computed tomography. Many of the endocrine diseases with timely treatment can be completely cured, while others require constant hormone replacement therapy, while others have indications for surgical treatment.
Take care of your health and those of your loved ones. In most cases, with early diagnosis and properly selected treatment, many endocrine diseases can be controlled or completely cured.
