Dr. Sheikh: Hormonal disorders are divided into five sections. If these disorders are not treated, they can lead to serious complications. Know the risk factors. The body’s systems need chemical coordination in order to function efficiently, which is the role that the endocrine system plays to regulate metabolism, growth, reproduction. And body chemistry, and imbalance in the endocrine glands can cause debilitating states, many of which are difficult to diagnose due to the exceptional nature of some symptoms and about this imbalance we met with Professor Abdel-Rahman Al-Sheikh, professor and consultant of internal medicine and endocrinology at King Abdul Aziz University and Dr. Soliman Fakih Hospital and head of the internal department of the Faculty of Medicine King Abdulaziz, to tell us more about the types of hormonal imbalances, their causes, and the available treatment methods.
Jeddah / Reem Hanbazza
Dr. Al-Sheikh says that hormonal disorders are divided into five sections, each of which has a specific definition, treatment, and special causes, and we will mention here in detail the important points that the patient should pay attention to.
The first disorder (diabetic ailments)
There are two types of diabetic ailments, the first is known as the first type of sugar and the second by the second type of sugar, and in the first type the pancreas fails to produce enough insulin, which is an important hormone for metabolism, and this failure occurs as a result of damage caused by an autoimmune process, and in the second type of diabetes, resistance usually occurs For insulin in the beginning, the pancreas produces insulin, but resistance occurs from the body and then needs increasing amounts to be effective, which makes the production of insulin more and more and the resistance of body cells increases, resulting in an increase in the levels of glucose and insulin.
Information
The pancreas is usually the size of a hand and is located behind the stomach. It is the organ responsible for producing insulin and other hormones that help the body convert food into energy.
Symptoms of hypoglycemia
Hypoglycemia causes a number of symptoms such as weakness, double vision, tremors, anxiety, convulsions and even loss of consciousness, and in children sometimes it causes sleep outside of bedtime and lethargy, as well as disturbing dreams, the child wakes up terrified, and complications of diabetes may include: Long-term heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, blindness, high blood pressure, damage to the nervous system, gangrene and amputations, dental diseases, in addition to complications of diabetes in pregnancy such as loss of the fetus or an increase in its size, and excess fluid around the fetus.
the reasons
Until now, the cause of the failure of the pancreas to produce insulin has not been identified, nor the reason for cell resistance to it. Researchers believe that the genetic and environmental factor plays an important role in diabetes, and immune factors play a large role in the first type.
When glucose cannot enter the cells, it cannot be used for energy, and the excess quantities remain in the blood, and the kidneys must get rid of them through the water in which glucose is dissolved. This causes the classic symptoms of frequent urination and thirst, hunger, fatigue that results with the two types of diabetes.
The diagnosis
Every person suffering from any of the symptoms or risk factors should regularly check their blood sugar level, and people over the age of forty-five must check their blood sugar at least every three years.
And people with type I may lose weight despite their increased appetite for food, and they may suffer from nausea and vomiting, and people with type II may notice blurred vision and slow healing of wounds. In other cases, people may not suffer from any symptoms at all because of the slow occurrence of the disease, and many diabetes do not know that they have the disease, and most of those diagnosed with type II suffer from overweight or obesity and may have high cholesterol.
protection
There is no way to prevent the first type of diabetes, but maintaining a normal weight, eating a balanced diet, and exercising regularly may prevent the occurrence of the second type of diabetes, as weight gain affects the way insulin works in the body, so excess fatty tissue can make the body Insulin resistant, while exercise helps insulin work more effectively.
Information
In a study of the Diabetes Prevention Program conducted by the National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive Diseases, and Kidney Diseases in the United States, researchers found that people diagnosed with impaired glucose tolerance, or pre-diabetes, could reduce their risk of developing type 2 diabetes by approximately 58% if they lose weight, 7% with moderate physical activity.
treatment
There is no cure for diabetes, but it can be controlled with a combination of exercise, food, weight control and medication. Although some supplements can help stabilize blood glucose levels, they should not be a substitute for diet and drug therapy, nor should they be used without consulting a doctor. Self-monitoring will help ensure that the disease is kept under control and the risk of complications in the long term.
The second disorder (adrenal gland disorder)
The adrenal glands are two triangular organs that settle over the kidneys and secrete multiple hormones that help maintain metabolism and regulate levels of sodium and potassium in the blood, which help to control water balance, blood volume and pressure in the body.
Symptoms of an imbalance of adrenal hormones
If not treated, these disorders can lead to serious complications, including blood pressure, diabetes, osteoporosis and death in some cases.
the reasons
Each adrenal gland disorder has a different reason. Addison''s disease is a deficiency of adrenal hormones, and the most common cause is an autoimmune reaction in which the immune system attacks the outer cortex of the adrenal glands that part produces the hormone cortisone, a hormone that helps regulate blood pressure and the level of glucose in the blood and is important. In the vitality and activity of the body. Other causes include tuberculosis, fungal infection, cancer, and surgical removal of the adrenal glands. As for the disease "Cushing syndrome", which is an excessive increase in the hormone "cortisol" and the most important cause is one of the adenomas, which is a benign tumor in the pituitary gland and the disease can cause the pituitary gland to secrete a lot of the hormone that stimulates the adrenal cortex. There is a "pheochromocytoma", which is a tumor in the adrenal gland that causes the glands to secrete a lot of the hormone "epinephrine" and "norepephrine", which regulate heart rate and blood pressure. The causes of the tumor are not known yet, but it is most likely occurring in middle age and 90% of "pheochromocytomas" Benign.
Kon syndrome, an increase in the hormone aldosterone, which is a hormone that regulates blood volume and sodium and potassium levels. The main cause is an adrenal tumor, but it can occur as a complication of heart failure or cirrhosis, and kidney failure.
The diagnosis
Adrenal gland disorders are diagnosed based on their symptoms, as well as on laboratory tests and sometimes imaging tests, weakness, fatigue, and unintended weight loss or gain. Other symptoms such as lack of appetite, chronic diarrhea, dark patches of skin, roundness, redness and the appearance of a bump between the shoulders are all signs of adrenal gland disorders.
protection
Avoiding oral corticosteroids whenever possible may reduce the risk of adrenal gland disorders.
treatment
Addison''s disease, which is a life-threatening disease. Medicines must be taken by the attending physician and treatment should be lifelong to support the production of the low adrenal glands, and when the patient is under mental or physical stress, increasing doses are required, and sometimes the patient needs intravenous injection. There are herbal remedies that are sometimes used and are called adaptogens, although research that clearly proves their effectiveness is not available. And the use of "cortisone" is necessary in the treatment of such cases and has no complications like the use of "cortisone" in other cases.
"Cushing syndrome" includes regular visits to the doctor to check for complications of this disorder, including diabetes, high blood pressure, and osteoporosis.
Surgery in which the pituitary gland tumors and adrenal gland tumors are removed, and after surgery the patient is subjected to radiation therapy to avoid cancerous tumors, after which the patient adheres to medication temporarily or permanently.
Pheochromocytoma is treated by surgically removing the adrenal tumor, after which the patient depends on changing his lifestyle with attention to food, sports and medicine.
Hyper "aldosteronism", that medical treatment may control the condition sometimes, but a surgical intervention can be performed to remove the tumor in addition to medication, and a low-salt diet is recommended to the patient to maintain the sodium and potassium weight in the blood.
The third disorder (thyroid disorder)
The thyroid gland that covers the windpipe produces two hormones, and they regulate the metabolism rate (all physiological processes of the body). The imbalance induces when the gland does not function properly, either by secreting too much thyroid hormones or less than enough, and more complications occur when the pituitary gland malfunctions.
Symptoms of thyroid hormone imbalance
Normally, the pituitary gland in the brain stimulates the thyroid gland to produce hormones. The increased activity of the thyroid gland is the increased production of thyroid hormone, which causes symptoms such as bulging eyes, weight loss, restlessness, a feeling of heat and increased perspiration. An underactive thyroid is a deficiency in the production of thyroid hormone, resulting in fatigue, weight gain, baldness, feelings of coldness, decreased sexual desire, depression and brittle nails. Thyroid disorders can occur at any age but are common in middle-aged women.
the reasons
Hyperthyroidism
Graves'' disease, an autoimmune disorder in which the thyroid gland, skin and eyes are attacked. It is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism and most commonly affects women between the ages of 20 and 60 and can also affect newborns. Graves ''disease causes palpitations, fatigue and sweating, and one of its complications is exophthalmos. Graves'' disease is considered life threatening if not treated.
"Goitre" or "goitre", which is a swelling of the thyroid gland that is noticeable in the neck. Its symptoms include hoarseness and difficulty swallowing, and "goitre" may be a side effect of some medications such as "lithium" and "dopamine", or as a result of a diet that is scarce with iodine.
Hypothyroidism
Autoimmune thyroiditis, which is an inflammation of the thyroid that occurs when the immune system attacks it, and this inflammation progresses slowly over several years and leads to chronic damage to the thyroid. Pituitary disorders cause about 5% of cases of hypothyroidism where the pituitary gland does not send signals to the thyroid to secrete the necessary hormones .
Other causes of thyroid disorders include congenital thyroid defects, injury to the area of the brain connected to the pituitary gland, thyroid infection, and pregnancy, and this type is usually temporary.
The diagnosis
Doctors diagnose thyroid disorders based on symptoms, medical history, and examination through various blood tests, where levels of thyroid hormones and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) are tested, and thyroid antibodies are detected, and if the doctor suspects hyperthyroidism, he may order a thyroid scan. Also, he may order a cholesterol test because of hyperthyroidism. Cause
