Hormonal Imbalance Disease
The endocrine system is a network of glands in the human body that produce and release hormones that help control many essential body functions. Each gland releases specific hormones into the bloodstream. Hormonal disorders or endocrine diseases result when glands produce too much or too little of endocrine hormones, causing hormonal imbalance. In case of an excessive amount of a certain hormone in your body, the endocrine feedback system signals the brain, which in turn signals the proper gland to maintain the secretion level in check. However, failure in this process leads to hormonal disorders. Female bodies are more prone to getting hormonal imbalance diseases than a male body, which occur throughout their life during puberty, pregnancy, menstruation and menopause.
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Figure 1 the Endocrine System in Male and Female Body
Types Of Hormonal Disorders
The symptoms of hormonal imbalance in men and women vary widely and depend on the specific gland involved. Blood and urine tests can help to check the hormone levels in your body, and you can further go under an imaging process to locate a nodule or tumour.
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Figure 2 Gigantism
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Figure 3 Goitre
Among the many types of hormonal disorders, Diabetes is the most common of hormonal imbalance diseases. Some of them are discussed below-
Cushing’s Disease- If the pituitary gland starts to churn out more, the adrenal gland is affected. It leads to a similar condition called Cushing’s syndrome, which mostly affects children who intake a higher amount of corticosteroid medication.
Adrenal Insufficiency- The adrenal gland in the human body releases too little of cortisol which is another hormone, and sometimes aldosterone. The disease caused by this phenomenon is Addison’s disease.
Gigantism- The growth hormone is an essential hormone as it controls the growth rate in the human body as the name suggests. It is controlled by the pituitary gland. If the pituitary gland produces too much of it child’s bones and other body parts may grow abnormally. This can go in the other way around, hampering the growth in it is secreted too low.
Hyperthyroidism and Hypothyroidism- An overactive thyroid gland can cause hyperthyroidism, and an underactive thyroid gland leads to hypothyroidism in a child’s body. The most common cause for an overactive thyroid gland is Grave’s disease. Hypothyroidism, in some cases, is present at birth.
Hypopituitarism- If the Pituitary gland stops to function or releases too little or even no hormones, this phenomenon can occur. Under this condition, women may stop getting their menstruation.
Hormonal Imbalances In Men And Women
Puberty and ageing are some of the natural causes of male hormonal imbalance. Men can develop different hormonal imbalance diseases than women for their different endocrine organs and cycles. Major types of hormonal disorders in men include- Prostate cancer and hypogonadism. Symptoms of hormonal imbalances in men are- reduced sex drive, ED (erectile dysfunction), a decrease in sperm count, reduced body hair growth, osteoporosis.
Hormonal disorders in females include- Polycystic ovary syndrome, primary ovarian insufficiency, ovarian cancer, early menopause. Women naturally experience cycles of hormonal imbalance throughout their life, especially during puberty, menstruation, pregnancy, childbirth and menopause. Hormone disorder symptoms in a female body such as heavy or irregular periods, weak and brittle bones, vaginal dryness, constipation or diarrhoea, infertility are highly suggestive of medical attention.
Solved Examples
Mention some of the hormone disorder symptoms in male body.
Symptoms of hormonal imbalances in men are- reduced sex drive, ED (erectile dysfunction), a decrease in sperm count, reduced body hair growth, osteoporosis.
Name 2 hormonal disorders related to the Pituitary gland.
Acromegaly and gigantism are two hormonal disorders related to the Pituitary gland.
Did You Know
The term ‘hormone’ dates back several centuries, to the 1800s.
There are hormones which are not part of the endocrine system, such as the hormones secreted from the placenta of a pregnant woman, including estrogen and progesterone. Ghrelin and Gastrin, known as hunger-inducing hormones, are also not part of the endocrine system.
Diabetes is one of the most popular hormonal disorders, which happens when the pancreas stops producing insulin.
FAQs on Hormones and Hormonal Disorders
1. What is a hormonal disorder?
A hormonal disorder, also known as an endocrine disorder, occurs when an endocrine gland produces an incorrect amount of a specific hormone. This can be either too much (hypersecretion) or too little (hyposecretion). This imbalance disrupts the body's normal functions, leading to various diseases and conditions, as hormones are crucial for regulating metabolism, growth, mood, and reproduction.
2. What is the difference between normal hormone function and a hormonal imbalance?
Normal hormone function involves the endocrine system releasing precise amounts of hormones to maintain bodily balance, or homeostasis. A hormonal imbalance is a disruption of this state, where glands either overproduce or underproduce hormones. For example, a healthy pancreas produces insulin to manage blood sugar, which is normal function. In contrast, insufficient insulin production leads to diabetes, which is a hormonal imbalance.
3. How does the feedback mechanism of the endocrine system work?
The endocrine system primarily uses a negative feedback mechanism to maintain hormonal balance. When the level of a specific hormone rises in the bloodstream, it signals the gland that produces it to reduce secretion. Conversely, when the level of a hormone drops, the gland is stimulated to produce more. This self-regulating loop ensures that hormone levels remain within a narrow, optimal range, preventing disorders caused by hypersecretion or hyposecretion.
4. What are some common hormonal disorders related to the pituitary gland?
The pituitary gland regulates many other endocrine glands, and its malfunction can cause several disorders. Key examples include:
- Gigantism: Caused by the overproduction of Growth Hormone (GH) during childhood, leading to abnormal growth in height.
- Acromegaly: Results from excess GH in adulthood, causing enlargement of bones in the hands, feet, and face.
- Dwarfism: Caused by a deficiency of GH during childhood, resulting in stunted growth.
- Diabetes Insipidus: Occurs due to a deficiency of Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH), leading to excessive thirst and urination.
5. Explain the hormonal imbalances that lead to Goitre and Diabetes Mellitus.
These are two distinct hormonal disorders:
- Goitre is the enlargement of the thyroid gland, often caused by a deficiency of iodine in the diet. Without sufficient iodine, the thyroid cannot produce enough thyroxine. This leads to increased secretion of Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone (TSH) from the pituitary, which causes the thyroid gland to grow in an attempt to compensate.
- Diabetes Mellitus is a metabolic disorder caused by issues with the hormone insulin, which is produced by the pancreas. It can be due to either insufficient insulin production (Type 1) or the body's cells not responding effectively to insulin (Type 2), both resulting in high blood sugar levels.
6. What are the key symptoms of hormonal imbalance in males and females?
While some symptoms overlap, others are specific to biological sex due to different endocrine cycles and organs.
- In females, common symptoms include irregular or heavy menstrual periods, infertility, acne, excess hair growth on the face or body (hirsutism), and conditions like Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS).
- In males, symptoms can include reduced sex drive, erectile dysfunction (ED), loss of muscle mass, development of breast tissue (gynecomastia), and a decrease in body hair growth.
7. Why is the pituitary gland known as the 'master gland'?
The pituitary gland is called the 'master gland' because it produces hormones that control the functions of several other crucial endocrine glands, including the thyroid, adrenal glands, and gonads (testes and ovaries). By secreting hormones like TSH (for the thyroid) and ACTH (for the adrenal cortex), the pituitary gland acts as a central command centre, coordinating a large part of the body's entire hormonal system.
8. How do steroid and peptide hormones differ in their mechanism of action?
The primary difference lies in how they interact with target cells. Peptide hormones (like insulin) are water-soluble and cannot pass through the cell membrane. They bind to receptors on the cell surface, triggering a cascade of secondary messengers inside the cell to carry out their function. In contrast, steroid hormones (like cortisol and estrogen) are lipid-soluble and can pass directly through the cell membrane to bind with intracellular receptors, forming a hormone-receptor complex that directly influences gene expression in the nucleus.
9. What are some examples of hormones produced outside the major endocrine glands?
While most hormones originate from major endocrine glands, several other organs also produce them to regulate local functions. For example:
- The heart secretes Atrial Natriuretic Factor (ANF) to help regulate blood pressure.
- The kidneys produce erythropoietin, which stimulates the production of red blood cells.
- The gastrointestinal tract secretes hormones like gastrin, secretin, and cholecystokinin (CCK) to aid in digestion.
