What are endocrine diseases

The endocrine system plays a key role in the implementation of such an important body functions like digestion, reproduction and homeostasis (maintaining the optimal condition of the body). The main endocrine glands: the hypothalamus, pituitary, thyroid, parathyroid, adrenal, pineal, and gonads. Endocrine secretion contributes to the normal functioning of the immune and nervous systems in some situations. Endocrine glands produce key hormones that enter directly into the blood stream, and then spread throughout the body.

• Hypothalamus - the center of the endocrine and nervous systems. It regulates the pituitary gland.
• The pituitary gland controls the secretion of all other endocrine glands. The pituitary gland produces important hormones such as growth hormone, prolactin, corticotrophin, endorphins, and thyrotropin.
• Thyroid hormones The thyroid gland - is responsible for your hormones   necessary for the development of the brain and nervous system of the children.

Endocrine diseases develop due to either excessive or excessive hormone production. These diseases can lead to growth disorders, osteoporosis, diabetes, high cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood, as well as a malfunction of the thyroid gland. By diseases of the endocrine system include: Hyperthyroidism Hyperthyroidism: increased secretion of thyroid hormone , Hypercalcemia, growth hormone deficiency, Addison's disease, Cushing's syndrome and hypothyroidism (goiter) .  Triggers endocrine diseases are tumors receiving steroids or autoimmune disorders .  Symptoms of these diseases: weight change, the extinction of sexual desire, mood swings, fatigue, constant thirst or urination .  Endocrine diseases caused by the dysfunction of the endocrine glands .  In some cases, one gland produces too much hormone, while others produce insufficient hormone .  Irregular secretion of endocrine glands (hypothyroidism) can be caused by tumors, illness or injury .  Excessive activity of the gland (hyperactivity) is usually caused by tumors or autoimmune reactions glands of the body .  For the treatment of endocrine diseases (in case of lack of activity of the prostate) is used hormone replacement therapy .  When overactive glands removed abnormal tissue .

Kinds

• Hypopituitarism (pituitary hypothyroidism) - a disease of the endocrine system is sometimes due to a congenital pathology formation of the pituitary or hypothalamus. Hypopituitarism may be caused by a brain tumor or an infection of the brain and surrounding tissue.
• Hypercalcemia - it is an endocrine disorder caused by elevated levels of calcium in the blood. The level of calcium is maintained vitamin D and parathyroid hormone. Symptoms of hypercalcemia: bone pain, nausea, formation of kidney stones and hypertension. It is also possible curvature of the spine. Other symptoms include irritability Irritability - you try to control my temper , Muscle atrophy and loss of appetite.
• Acromegaly - it is an endocrine disorder caused by excessive secretion of growth hormone Growth Hormone - Medicine will grow . Acromegaly is difficult to recognize and diagnose because it runs very slowly in middle age. Its main symptoms include abnormal growth of the hands and feet. This pathology is also evident in the growth of facial features, especially in the line of the chin, nose and forehead. In patients with acromegaly enlarged liver, spleen and kidneys. Common complications of the disease: diabetes, hypertension and heart disease.
• Hashimoto's disease (chronic thyroiditis lymphomatoid) - a kind of chronic thyroiditis, caused by the reaction of the immune system on the activity of the thyroid gland. It is a hereditary disease, the symptoms of which - a slight increase in weight, resistance to cold, dry skin and hair loss. In women, chronic thyroiditis lymphomatoid manifested in abundant and irregular menstruation.
• Hypoparathyroidism - this syndrome insufficiency parathyroid glands caused by insufficient levels of calcium in the blood. The symptoms of hypoparathyroidism: tingling in the hands and muscle spasms. Usually, symptoms of the disease takes years.

What are the causes of endemic goiter and its development

Endemic goiter (endemic - the continued existence of the disease in some areas) - a disease characterized by an increase in thyroid Increase in thyroid - that underlies the disease   and various clinical manifestations. The disease affects populations of certain geographic areas with iodine deficiency in the environment.

Endemic goiter is the most common thyroid disease. This disease is prevalent in the mountain, and in the plains. In our country, endemic areas are the upper reaches of the Volga, Urals, North Caucasus, Altai, parts of the Far East and Trans-Baikal, the valleys of large Siberian rivers. These areas are characterized by lack of iodine in the biosphere. The area is considered endemic, if more than 10% of the population have symptoms of goiter. Endemic goiter is more common in women, but in areas of severe endemic as it is observed often in men.

The reason for the development of endemic goiter is iodine deficiency in biosphere. In addition to iodine deficiency, endemic goiter in the centers there are several factors contributing to the appearance and development of the crop. This intake of various strumogennyh substances (natural strumogeny - all kinds of cabbage, turnips, lettuce, corn) and iodine is not available for absorption form of hereditary disorders of iodine metabolism, leading to a relative iodine deficiency (increased excretion of iodine kidney, accelerated the decay of iodine body), bacterial and helminthic pollution areas, different physiological conditions that weaken the body (puberty, pregnancy, breast-feeding Breastfeeding - a personal choice   feeding and so forth), some chronic deficiency in the environment and food some trace elements.

Iodine is needed by the body for the synthesis of thyroid hormones Thyroid hormones: mechanism of action and physiological effects   - Thyroxine Thyroxine - the main thyroid hormone   and triiodothyronine. Standing iodine deficiency affects the function of the thyroid gland, which can increase or decrease due to various factors. It is also possible the normal function of the thyroid gland.

Signs

These characteristics are determined by the shape and size of the crop, as well as the functional state of the thyroid gland. Patients usually complain only cosmetic inconvenience. Sometimes worries also feeling the pressure to the neck, in women it is especially noticeable during menstruation and stress.

Revealed a diffuse, nodular goiter and mixed forms. When the diffuse form of iron is increased uniformly in both shares, it is flexible, good mobility when swallowing, painless at a palpation.

Nodular form is characterized by the presence of one or more nodes of different sizes. When probing defined units of varying density and mobility. Sometimes the magnitude and position of the crop such as to cause compression of adjacent organs (trachea, esophagus, blood vessels). Circulatory disorders associated with compression of blood vessels can lead to the expansion of blood vessels of the neck and the front surface of the chest that often occurs when retrosternal goiter and is accompanied by signs of compression of nearby nerves.

Functional state of the thyroid gland in most cases, euthyroid (normal function), but the continued existence of the crop may reduce the function of the thyroid gland (hypothyroidism). In areas of mild to moderate endemic goiter can be met with increased function of the thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism). In normal thyroid function often develop symptoms of "goiter" heart with blood circulation and respiration.

Endemic goiter may be complicated strumitom (goiter tissue inflammation), bleeding in the craw, craw calcification. In some cases there is degeneration of the crop into a malignant tumor.

Prevention of endemic goiter is used in endemic areas of iodized salt. To salt the food after cooking is necessary. When heated iodine disappears.

Galina Romanenko