The field of study of endocrinology is the medical aspects of the structure and functioning of the endocrine glands (or endocrine glands), the study of biologically highly active substances produced by them – hormones and their effects on the body, as well as diseases arising from a violation of the activity of these glands or hormone production.Endocrinology is most closely connected with almost all areas of clinical medicine, because hormones control the most important processes occurring in the body: growth, maturation, reproduction, metabolism, proper functioning of organs and systems.
Modern trends in endocrinology are neuroendocrinology, which studies the relationship between nervous and endocrine regulation of the body, and gynecological endocrinology, which deals with the correction of hormonal disorders in the female body.
The endocrine system combines anatomically unrelated endocrine glands: the epiphysis, pituitary gland, parathyroid glands, thyroid gland, thymus gland, pancreas, adrenal glands, sex glands. Most diseases of the endocrine glands cause severe violations of vital functions, not excluding death, if you do not consult an endocrinologist in time.
The most urgent problems of modern endocrinology are the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of thyroid diseases (diffuse toxic goiter, thyroiditis, hypothyroidism, thyroid cysts), diabetes mellitus, diseases of the hypothalamic-pituitary system (acromegaly, gigantism, hypothalamic syndrome, diabetes insipidus, lactation problems, prolactinoma), diseases of the adrenal glands (adrenal insufficiency, adrenal tumors), disorders of the genital glands (endocrine infertility). Today, thanks to the accumulated endocrinology knowledge and practical experience, it is possible to significantly improve the quality of life of patients with endocrine pathology.
Environmental degradation, stress, unbalanced nutrition, burdened heredity often cause disorders in the work of the endocrine glands and lead to the development of endocrine diseases. Diseases of the endocrine system, as a rule, are of a long, severe nature. Therefore, it is important to prevent their occurrence in time, to identify them as early as possible or to prevent the development of their complications.
An appeal to an endocrinologist is necessary if:
For the diagnosis of endocrine pathology, a comprehensive examination is used, including the study of the patient’s anamnesis, tests for the content of various hormones, ultrasound of the glands, magnetic resonance imaging. Based on the data obtained, the issue of further conservative or surgical treatment is being resolved.
Treatment of endocrine diseases is aimed at correcting hormonal disorders, achieving stable remission of the pathological process and restoring the normal quality of life of the patient.
In the Medical Directory of Diseases on the website “Medic Journal” you will get acquainted with the characteristic features of endocrine diseases. On the website “Medic Journal” you will get all the necessary information about existing methods of prevention.
Subclinical hypothyroidism is a preclinical stage of hypofunction of the thyroid gland (thyroid gland), characterized by an increase in the level of thyrotropin at normal values of free fractions of thyroid hormones. Specific symptoms of hypothyroidism are absent or expressed minimally (anxiety, mood depression, fatigue, decreased attention and memory). Metabolic syndrome often develops. The diagnosis…
Steroid diabetes is an endocrine pathology that develops as a result of a high content of adrenal cortex hormones in the blood plasma and a violation of carbohydrate metabolism. It is manifested by symptoms of hyperglycemia: fatigue, increased thirst, frequent profuse urination, dehydration, increased appetite. Specific diagnostics is based on laboratory detection of hyperglycemia, assessment…
Euthyroid sick syndrome is a change in the level of thyroid hormones that is not associated with thyroid disease. It occurs in several variants: a decrease in T3, a decrease in T3 and T4, an increase in T3 and T4, a decrease or increase in TSH. There are no symptoms of thyroid dysfunction. To diagnose…
Schmidt syndrome is a multiple endocrinopathy with a hereditary predisposition, including primary chronic adrenal insufficiency (CAI), autoimmune thyroid disease (more often in the form of lymphocytic thyroiditis, less often – diffuse toxic goiter). The clinic consists of symptoms of hypocorticism (hyperpigmentation of the skin, signs of hypoglycemia, hypotension), hypothyroidism (swelling, lethargy, hair loss) or thyrotoxicosis…
Somogyi effect is a condition of relative hyperglycemia after hypoglycemia, provoked by the periodic administration of large doses of insulin. Fluctuations in sugar levels are manifested by a combination of symptoms of hypo- and hyperglycemia. Patients experience bouts of hunger, excessive sweating, trembling, weakness, dizziness, daytime drowsiness. Visual disturbances in the form of double vision,…
Pickwickian syndrome is an insufficiency of alveolar respiration on the background of severe obesity. It is manifested by a significant increase in body weight, shortness of breath at rest and during exercise, cyanosis of the skin and mucous membranes, edema, daytime drowsiness, fatigue, high blood pressure. Diagnostics includes general and biochemical examination of blood, coagulogram,…
Nelson syndrome is an endocrine disease that develops as a consequence of bilateral adrenalectomy or prolonged mitotan therapy. It is characterized by the formation and / or growth of pituitary adenoma, excessive production of ACTH, chronic insufficiency of the adrenal cortex (CIAC). A specific symptom is pathological pigmentation of the mucous membranes, skin. There is…
Mauriac syndrome is one of the complications of insulin–dependent diabetes mellitus that develops in children. It is manifested by a delay in physical and sexual development, obesity, osteoporosis, hepatomegaly. Diagnosis of the syndrome is based on a detailed medical history, external examination of the child, laboratory blood tests (unstable glucose levels, dyslipidemia), ultrasound and radiography…
Multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome is a group of hereditary diseases characterized by multiple tumor or hyperplastic lesions of the endocrine glands. Clinical manifestations of multiple endocrine neoplasias are caused by the type of syndrome: in MEN type 1, the parathyroid glands, adenohypophysis, pancreas are involved in the pathological process; in MEN type 2A, the thyroid…
Cushing syndrome is a pathological symptom complex that occurs due to hypercorticism, i.e. increased secretion of the hormone cortisol by the adrenal cortex or prolonged treatment with glucocorticoids. It is necessary to distinguish Cushing syndrome from Cushing disease, which is understood as secondary hypercorticism that develops with pathology of the hypothalamic-pituitary system. Diagnosis includes examination…
