Conditions affecting the Endocrine System
This page summarises basic information about some conditions
of the endocrine system. The level of detail included
on this page is appropriate for most first level (e.g.
A-Level and ITEC) courses in human biology and bodywork
therapies.
The following table lists some common endocrine conditions
in alphabetical order.
Condition |
Cause |
Effect (Symptoms) |
Addison's Syndrome |
Inadequate secretion of coricosteroid hormones by the adrenal glands, sometimes as a result of tuberculous infection. |
Symptoms can include:
Treatment: Formerly fatal, this disease is now treatable by replacement hormone therapy. |
Amenorrhoea |
Primary amenorrhoea (menstrual periods fail
to appear at puberty) may be caused by absence
of the uterus or ovaries e.g. Turner’s syndrome,
or a hormonal imbalance.
Secondary amenorrhoea (menstrual periods stop
after establishment of puberty) may be caused by
disorders of the hypothalamus, deficiency of ovarian,
pituitary, or thyroid hormones, mental disturbance,
depression, anorexia nervosa, or a major change
of surroundings or circumstances. |
The absence or stopping of the menstrual
periods.
(It is normal for the periods to be absent
before puberty, during pregnancy and milk secretion,
and after the end of the reproductive period.) |
|
Cushing's Syndrome
|
Excess amounts of cortico-steroid hormones in the body. |
Symptoms can include:
- weight gain
- reddening of the face and neck
- excess growth of body and facial hair
- raised blood pressure
- loss of mineral from the bones (osteoporosis)
- raised blood glucose levels
- sometimes also mental disturbances
|
|
Diabetes |
Inability of the body to regulate the amount of sugar in the blood so that it remains within a healthy concentration range. Too much or too little sugar in the blood can lead to adverse effects. |
'Hypo' (not enough sugar in the blood)
- sweating
- shakes
- light-headedness
- if extreme, death may result
'Hyper' (too much sugar in the blood)
- urination
- headaches
- blurred vision
- keto-acidosis
- if extreme, death may result
|
|
Menopause
|
Cessation of viable egg production in the female. |
Can involve hormonal imbalance, lack of negative feedback to the hypothalamus / activity, continued release of FSH.
Symptoms can include:
- hot flushes
- night sweats
- mood swings
- increased risk of heart attack
- osteoporosis
speeding-up
Medical Treatment: Hormone Replacement
Therapy (HRT), with associated increased risk of
breast cancer. |
|
Pre-menstrual Syndrome
|
Associated with the accumulation of salt and water in tissues.
The hormone progesterone is thought to be a causative element. A deficiency of fatty acids has also been observed. |
Can include:
- nervousness
- irritability
- emotional disturbance
- headache
- depression
Some or all of these have been said
to affect some women for up to about 10 days prior
to menstruation. |
|
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
|
A hormonal disorder characterized by incomplete development of Graafian follicles in the ovary due to inadequate secretion of luteinizing hormone.
The follicles fail to ovulate and remain as multiple
cysts distending the ovary. |
Further hormone imbalance results in obesity, hirsutism and acne and the woman is infertile due to the lack of ovulation. The treatment is administration of the appropriate hormones. |
|
See also a general introduction to the endocrine system and information about the main endocrine glands.
