12.7 - Health Issues Related to the Human Endocrine System

Diabetes Mellitus

• The patient produces insufficient insulin or cannot use the insulin produced; blood glucose level becomes high.
• Symptoms: Frequent urination, constant thirst, numbness in the soles of the feet, blurred vision, fatigue and slow wound healing.
• Excessive insulin secretion causes hypoglycaemia, in which blood glucose level is too low.
• Hypoglycaemia symptoms: Fatigue, difficulty sleeping, disordered thoughts, fear, emotional instability, fainting and headache.

Diabetes Insipidus

• The posterior lobe of the pituitary gland fails to secrete antidiuretic hormone (ADH).
• The patient produces a large amount of urine and is often thirsty.
• Excessive water loss in urine causes dehydration if water intake is insufficient.

Hypothyroidism

• Caused by insufficient thyroxine secretion in adults.
• Symptoms: Extremely slow heartbeat, extreme sensitivity to cold, fatigue and easy weight gain.

Hyperthyroidism

• Caused by excessive thyroxine secretion.
• Symptoms: Excessive sweating, heat intolerance, frequent defaecation, fear, heart palpitations and weight loss.
• The thyroid gland may enlarge to two or three times its original size.

Gigantism

• Excessive growth hormone (GH) secretion during childhood causes abnormal bone elongation and extreme height.

Dwarfism

• Insufficient growth hormone (GH) secretion during growth slows bone growth.
• Organs fail to develop and body-part proportions remain like those of a child.