GENERAL/OVERVIEWS

The Endocrine System is comprised of eight major glands throughout the body. Hormones are secreted by each of these glands. Hormones flow through the bloodstream to tissues and organs carrying messages that affect certain body processes. Hormones play an important role in the following:

• Growth and Development
• Metabolism
• Sexual Function
• Reproduction
• Mood

If the body produces an abnormal amount of hormones or responds unusually to hormones, this can indicate a hormone disorder. Hormone disorders can affect the various body processes mentioned above.

SPECIFIC ENDOCRINE CONDITIONS

• Acromegaly (Medline Plus) Information about this chronic metabolic disorder characterized by the production of excessive growth hormone causing body tissues to enlarge.
• Addison’s Disease (Medline Plus) Information about this condition which is a lack of hormones caused by damage to the outer layer of the adrenal gland.
• Cushing’s Syndrome (Medline Plus) Information about this conditions which is caused by an overproduction of the hormone cortisol or taking too much cortisol or other steroid hormones
• Hirsutism (Medline Plus) Information about this condition characterized by excessive body hair growth in women caused by too much of the male hormone Androgen.
• Pituitary Tumor (Medline Plus) Information about this abnormal growht in the pituitary gland which is responsible for maintaining a balance of hormones within the body.
• Prolactinoma (Medline Plus) Information about this non-cancerous tumor in the Pituitary which produces an excess amount of the hormone prolactin.