Your Guide To Endocrine Disorders
The endocrine system is made of glands that produce hormones (chemical messengers), which all have different jobs in the body.
An endocrine disorder occurs when your endocrine system produces too much or too little of a hormone or when the body doesn’t respond to hormones correctly.
In the United States, about 5% of adults have an endocrine disorder. Diabetes is the most common. Endocrine disorders often have different symptoms, treatments, and long-term outlooks depending on what part of the endocrine system is affected.
There are many types of endocrine disorders, including:
- Metabolic disorders: These relate to how your body makes or responds to insulin, a hormone your pancreas makes that helps your cells use glucose for energy. Examples include type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, and gestational diabetes.
- Thyroid disorders: Thyroid hormones influence how your body uses energy, which can affect your heart rate, breathing, and digestion. Examples of thyroid disorders include hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism.
- Adrenal disorders: Your adrenal glands are on each kidney. They make stress hormones and some sex hormones. Examples of adrenal disorders include Addison’s disease and Cushing’s syndrome.
- Pituitary disorders: The pituitary gland in your brain helps control your growth and influences the activity of other glands. Examples of pituitary disorders include dwarfism and acromegaly (gigantism).
- Sex hormone disorders: The ovaries and testes are part of the endocrine system. They make hormones that help your reproductive system develop. Examples of sex hormone disorders include early puberty and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
- Parathyroid disorders: The parathyroid glands make hormones that help balance calcium and phosphorus, two key minerals in your blood. Examples of these disorders include hyperparathyroidism and hypoparathyroidism.
Because hormones tell your body how to work, a hormone imbalance can seriously affect your health. Many endocrine disorders cause fatigue and mood changes, but symptoms can vary widely based on the disorder. Some of these symptoms include:
| Endocrine disorder type | Symptoms |
|---|---|
| Metabolic disorder | Fatigue, high or low blood sugar, weight gain or loss, excessive hunger or thirst |
| Thyroid disorder | Fatigue, weight gain or loss, muscle weakness, dry skin, feeling cold, rapid or slow heart rate, mood changes, sleeping trouble, diarrhea or constipation |
| Adrenal disorder | Fatigue; mood changes; high or low blood pressure; skin health changes; menstrual period changes; stomach problems like constipation, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting |
| Pituitary disorder | Fatigue, weakness, weight changes, low blood pressure, sexual issues, rapid body growth, joint pain, increased body hair |
| Sex hormone disorder | Delayed or early puberty, slow or rapid body growth, swollen breast tissue, fertility issues |
| Parathyroid disorder | Fatigue, bone pain, kidney stones, a strong urge to pee, tingling in your arms and legs, muscle cramps, dry skin and nails, seizures, tooth problems |
Endocrine disorders occur when an endocrine gland makes too many or too few hormones. It can also happen when your body can’t respond to the hormones well enough. For example, some people with type 2 diabetes make enough insulin, but their bodies don’t use it the right way.
Tumors, autoimmune disorders, and infections can also lead to endocrine disorders.
Risk Factors
Some people have a higher risk of endocrine disorders based on factors such as:
- Family history: You may be more likely to have a condition if you have a relative with that disorder.
- Genetics: Some endocrine disorders may be inherited (passed down through families).
- Age: Different endocrine disorders are more common in older or younger people. Type 1 diabetes, for example, is more common in children and young adults, but type 2 diabetes is more common after age 45.
- Sex: Some endocrine diseases are linked to your biological sex, including sex hormone disorders, thyroid disease, and hyperparathyroidism.
- Environmental exposure to chemicals: Some experts believe repeated exposure to certain chemicals can affect your body’s hormones over time.
- Other health conditions: People with chronic health conditions like obesity or hypertension (high blood pressure) are more likely to develop certain endocrine disorders, such as thyroid disease or diabetes.
Healthcare providers diagnose each endocrine disorder differently, as different tests show signs of different disorders. In addition to your medical history and a physical exam, tests healthcare providers may use to diagnose an endocrine disorder include:
Many treatments are available for endocrine disorders. Some disorders may be cured with surgery, while others require ongoing treatment with medication or lifestyle changes. Each treatment option aims to help the body function as close to normal as possible.
Medications
Prescription medication can help many people manage their endocrine disorders. Medications differ depending on the condition.
Some examples include insulin injections and metformin, which help maintain blood sugar levels. Your healthcare provider may also recommend hormone medications, which can help increase or decrease the production of different hormones.
Surgery
A surgeon can remove glands that don’t work correctly or have tumors. Surgery is commonly used for certain endocrine disorders, such as problems with the adrenal, pituitary, parathyroid, and thyroid glands.
Lifestyle Changes
Lifestyle approaches may help improve symptoms for many endocrine disorders. These approaches include exercising regularly, eating a balanced and nutritious diet, and not smoking or drinking alcohol. That said, you may still need to take medication or undergo surgery to keep your disorder from affecting your health.
Some health conditions are more likely if you have an endocrine disorder, including:
- High blood pressure: Some endocrine disorders may trigger high blood pressure.
- Fertility problems: Some endocrine disorders can negatively affect ovulation, menstruation, and sperm quality or production. This can make pregnancy more challenging.
- Neurological conditions: The endocrine system is related to your nervous system, which controls many of your body’s daily tasks. People with endocrine disorders are more likely to have headaches, vision changes, and muscle pain or weakness.
Endocrine disorders can be dangerous or life-threatening for some people, especially if left untreated. Untreated endocrine disorders may also increase your risk of infections, poor heart health, depression, and certain cancers.
Most endocrine disorders are treatable, with many people experiencing few symptoms or complications. It’s essential to get treatment and work with a healthcare provider to help manage your disorder.
