Endocrine disorders are related to the endocrine system which is a collection of major glands that are responsible for the secretion of vital hormones with the help of the circulatory system, throughout the body. Major glands of the endocrine system and their associated disorders include:

Pineal gland: This gland is found in the vertebrae of your brain which is responsible for producing melatonin, a hormone which affects sleeping patterns. Endocrine disorders related to the pineal gland include deficiency of melatonin which leads to symptoms of depression, change in dietary habits, stress, peptic ulcers, unable to perform sexually. Psychotic depression happens to be the number one endocrine disorder when it comes to the pineal gland.

Pituitary gland: Pituitary glands help secrete hormones which control growth, blood pressure, the functioning of vital sex organs, your thyroid glands and most importantly your metabolism. Pituitary tumors can result in endocrine disorders like hypersecretion and hyposecretion which in simple terms means too much or too little of the hormone being secreted by the gland.

Thyroid gland: This gland mainly secrets thyroid hormones which influence your metabolism concerning your metabolic rate and protein synthesis. Endocrine disorders of the thyroid gland are more or less similar to the pituitary gland including the after-effects of hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism and thyroid nodules. A thyroid nodule is a small bump in the thyroid gland which is not necessarily cancerous. However medical attention is advised in case the lumps are noticeable and enlarged.

Adrenal gland: Adrenal glands are responsible for producing vital hormones like adrenaline, steroid hormones like aldosterone and cortisol. However, adrenal glands are also one of the easiest to get affected when it comes to endocrine disorders which include Cushing syndrome due to the overproduction of cortisol, Addison’s disease which is the result of underproduction of cortisol.

Thymus: Thymus is the primary organ of your immune system consisting of T cells which help the body and the immune system adapt to foreign invaders. Endocrine disorders of the thymus gland include SCID’s which is a type of genetic mutation that affects the normal growth of T cells, thus affecting the immune system. DiGeorge syndrome results in poor development of vital organs of the immune system, while carcinomas results in cell growth outside the gland with common symptoms that include trouble breathing along with chest pain and a persistent cough.

The endocrine system is a network of glands that produce multiple hormones that control many important body functions. These hormones also possess the ability to change the calories into energy, this energy powers the cells and organs. Apart from this, the endocrine system influences the growth of your bones and tissues, your heartbeats, and the ability to conceive. There are many various endocrine disorders that can stop the production and release of the hormones; the most common endocrine disorder in the U.S.

The disorders usually arise when one of the glands produces, either a lot or very little a certain hormone. If the hormone imbalance is mild it does not require immediate treatment; it can also go unnoticed. Hyperthyroidism is a condition where the endocrine disorder is at an adequate to cause damage; it can accommodate uncomfortable symptoms, like, anxiety, rapid heart rate, and fatigue. These symptoms can be tackled by a set of medications, thereby preventing any serious complications that can be caused by the disorder. Endocrine disorders can also cause some major and life-threatening diseases like parathyroid cancer; these conditions have stronger symptoms as well as a complex treatment process.

Let us look at the two categories of endocrine disorders:

• Medication: Medication is the primary method of treating endocrine disorders, and has the ability to treat most of the conditions. The mild conditions mentioned above can be treated with medications and do not need to go till surgery. Generally, synthetic hormones are administered in the body to make up for the deficiency of hormones created by the endocrine disorder. Chemotherapy is advised for patients that suffer from cancer of the endocrine gland.
• Surgery: Surgery is only advised by the doctor when the condition cannot be cured with medications. In some cases, the surgery is necessary and cannot be avoided; these conditions can be cancerous or non-cancerous. The tumors are the ones that require a surgery and/or a radiation therapy to treat it. The surgery can be useful to solve the problem; once it is completed and the problem is eradicated the hormone production should ideally come back to normal.

Risk factors Endocrine disorders:

There are a few risk factors that can lead to endocrine disorders, but it is not the case that all the people with these conditions will develop the disorder. The risk factors include:

• Elevated cholesterol levels
• Family history of endocrine disorders
• Inactivity
• Diabetes
• Poor diet
• Trauma
• Serious injury
• Infection

Hormones in your body control vital system signals, which is why endocrine feedback systems work to keep the hormone levels balanced. It is a network of various glands that work together to enable bodily functions like breaking down calories into energy, manage the consistency of heartbeat, bone and tissue growth and also your reproductive system.

The adrenal glands, hypothalamus, ovaries, Islet cells in the pancreas, parathyroid, pineal gland, pituitary gland, testes, thymus, and thyroid, are the main glands that get affected due to hormonal imbalances and can be caused due to the following reasons.

• Hormonal imbalance is caused due to either excessive release of certain hormones in the system or too little being released. Sometimes, development of nodules or tumors in the endocrine system can also affect the hormone levels.
• Any problem with the endocrine feedback system can cause an imbalance in the levels.
• Diseases can result in an imbalance which can lead to endocrine disorders.
• A malfunction in one gland connected to the other can cause the levels to fluctuate affecting bodily functions. A problem in the hypothalamus can affect the pituitary gland and disrupt production of hormones.
• Certain genetic disorders like congenital hypothyroidism or multiple endocrine neoplasias can cause an imbalance in the levels leading to endocrine disorders.
• Common infections can also have side effects which can cause the system to malfunction.
• An injury to any of the endocrine glands can result in complications.

Understanding the different types of disorders will help you identify the symptoms better. These are the common types of endocrine disorders.

Adrenal insufficiency: The adrenal glands are responsible for producing hormones known as cortisol and aldosterone. Deficiency in this production might lead to symptoms of dehydration, stomach problems, fatigue, visible changes in your skin. A common endocrine disorder is Addison’s disease caused due to the insufficiency of cortisol.

Hyperthyroidism: The thyroid gland is responsible for producing thyroid hormone. However, high levels of thyroid hormone can lead to unexpected weight loss, elevated heart rate, nervousness, and excessive sweating. Autoimmune disorders are a common cause of an overactive thyroid gland.

Hormonal growth problems: Excessive production of growth hormones will lead to an imbalance which can result in abnormalities in growth. The pituitary gland is responsible for the production of growth hormones which is why a perfect balance is essential for proper growth, especially in children.

Cushings syndrome: This syndrome is another endocrine disorder which is a result of an imbalance in hormonal levels. Noticeable symptoms include high blood pressure, excessive fatigue, sweating and hunger, visible changes in your skin, muscle weakness among others.

The ability of our body to function effortlessly is because of the various parts of the body that work simultaneously to execute even the smallest task. Everything from one’s appetite to the menstrual cycles is controlled by the endocrine system of the body.

What is the endocrine system?
The endocrine system consists of a series of glands that produce hormones, which, in turn, controls a majority of bodily functions. The entire endocrine system is responsible for controlling the heart beats, the growth process, and the proper functioning of this system keeps disorders like diabetes, growth disorders, sexual dysfunction, etc. at bay. The endocrine system consists of the adrenal glands, hypothalamus, parathyroid, ovaries, islet cells in the pancreas, pituitary gland, pineal gland, testes, thymus, and thyroid. The hormones secreted by these glands control different bodily functions.

Any disruption in the functioning of the endocrine glands can result in severe disorders. The common endocrine disorders are as follows-

• Cushing’s disease– This endocrine disorder is characterized by an overproduction of the pituitary gland hormone, and this causes the adrenal gland to go into overdrive. This condition might result in a sudden weight gain and can disrupt the menstrual cycle. The symptoms manifest themselves in the form of fatty deposits between the shoulders, and around the face and neck.
• Diabetes- Diabetes is one of the most common endocrine disorders and affects the body’s capacity to produce insulin. The result is the increase in the level of sugar in the blood. This is a disorder that cannot be cured completely, yet it can be controlled with the right kind of medication and proper diet.
• Adrenal insufficiency- Adrenal insufficiency is an endocrine disorder where the adrenal gland produces an excess of cortisol and even aldosterone at times. This results in certain symptoms such as fatigue, dehydration, skin changes, and stomach upset becoming more prominent. Addison’s disease is an endocrine disorder caused due to adrenal insufficiency.
• Hypothyroidism- The thyroid gland is responsible for producing hormones that regulate the metabolism process. When the functioning of the thyroid gland is interrupted, and it produces fewer thyroid hormones, it results in a condition called hypothyroidism. This endocrine disorder is characterized by sudden weight gain, fatigue, constipation, depression, and dry skin.
• Hyperthyroidism- The thyroid gland secretes hormones that are vital to the process of metabolism. When the thyroid gland secretes more thyroid hormones, it results in a condition called hyperthyroidism. This condition is characterized by sudden weight loss, sweating, faster heart rate, and anxiety.
• Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)- This endocrine disorder is triggered when excess androgens interfere with the production of eggs and their consequent release from the female ovaries. Sudden weight gain, hirsutism, acne, darkening of the skin, infertility are the symptoms of PCOS.

Endoscopy is a procedure that requires specialized instruments which help in viewing and operating the internal organs of the body. It helps the doctors and surgeons to view the internal organs of the body without making any large incisions on the body.

Endoscopy procedure is performed to indentify causes like abdominal chest pain, nausea and vomiting, heartburn, bleeding and swallowing problems. It is also used to identify problems like inflammation nd ulcers in the organs.

Performed as an outpatient procedure, upper endoscopy helps to identify and treat conditions such as upper digestive system bleeding. Upper endoscopy is better than x-rays to detect abnormal growths such as malignant or benign tumors.

Types of abnormalities that can be detected through an upper endoscopic procedure:

Following are some of the abnormalities that can be detected through an upper endoscope procedure

• Objects stuck in the esophagus, stomach or digestive tract.
• Bleeding caused due to ulcers, cancerous tumors.
• It can also help in detecting polyps, which are growths in tissues in the stomach.
• It can be used to take out tissue samples for biopsies that can be analyzed for further treatment.

Need for an Endoscopy procedure
A doctor may advise for an endoscopy procedure to initially examine an internal organ.

Since, it is a minimally invasive procedure a surgeon inserts the endoscopic apparatus through a small cut, a natural body opening such as mouth. The endoscopic apparatus has a lighted camera that allows the doctor to examine potential problems; a screen attached to it further helps the surgeons and doctors to see exactly what the endoscope is seeing.

As mentioned earlier, if the doctor finds a suspicious growth in the organ, they will remove a small sample of the abnormal growth and send it for biopsy.

The doctors will then review the symptoms and based on the physical examination, and blood samples taken prior to the endoscopy procedure, they will, with a more accurate understanding deduce the possible cause of the symptoms. Prior blood tests and other physical examinations can also help determine if the medical condition can be treated without an endoscopy or surgery.

Before the procedure, the doctor will provide complete instructions that will guide you to prepare for the same. Most of the endoscopy procedures require the patient to fast for at least 12 hours before the procedure. The laxatives and enemas given by the doctor prior to the procedure will help to clear the system.

It is important to tell the doctor about your medical history, current medications that you might taking (even though they are over-the-counter), and allergies if any that you might have. All these information will help the doctor perform a trouble-free procedure.