The Endocrine System

• Our bodies have a special system called the “endocrine system”. It’s like a messenger service that uses special chemicals called hormones.
• One important gland is the Pituitary gland.
  • It has a front part that makes hormones for growth, how our body uses energy (TSH), and other things like milk production (Prolactin).
  • It also has a back part that stores hormones made by another part of the brain called the Hypothalamus. These hormones help control water in our body (ADH) and help with milk release and making the womb squeeze (Oxytocin).
• Too much Prolactin can cause problems like losing interest in fun things, milk coming out when it shouldn’t, and missing periods. Doctors can treat this with medicine.
• Too much growth hormone (GH) can make kids grow very, very big before they are adults (Gigantism) or make adults’ hands, feet, and face grow big (Acromegaly). Doctors can do tests and sometimes surgery to help.

ADH and Water Balance

• ADH helps your body hold onto water.
• If someone pees a lot and is very thirsty, especially after a brain injury, it might be a problem with ADH. This is called “Central diabetes insipidus.” Medicine can help.
• If the kidneys don’t respond to ADH, it’s called “Nephrogenic diabetes insipidus”.
• SIADH is when your body has too much ADH, making you hold too much water and making your blood too watery. Doctors treat this by limiting how much water you drink.
• Oxytocin helps in milk coming out and makes the womb squeeze (like during birth).

Thyroid Gland

• The Thyroid gland is in your neck. It makes hormones called T3 and T4 that help your body use energy.
  • T3 is more active, and T4 can turn into T3.
• The brain (Hypothalamus and Pituitary) tells the Thyroid what to do.
• If the thyroid makes too much T3 and T4, it’s called “Hyperthyroidism”.
• If it doesn’t make enough, it’s called “Hypothyroidism”.

Thyroid Problems

• Hyperthyroidism (too much thyroid hormone):
  • One type is Graves’ disease, which can make eyes bulge out and cause swelling in the legs.
  • Medicines can help, like PTU (especially for pregnant women in the first three months) or Carbimazole/Methimazole.
  • Propranolol can help with a fast heartbeat, but it’s not good for people with asthma.
• Hypothyroidism (not enough thyroid hormone):
  • Hashimoto’s disease is a common type where the body’s own defense system attacks the thyroid.
• Thyroid storm is a very serious condition where there’s a lot of thyroid hormone, causing aggressive symptoms.

Parathyroid Gland and Diabetes

• You have four Parathyroid glands behind your thyroid. They make a hormone called PTH, which helps control calcium in your body.
• Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is when your body has too much sugar in the blood because of problems with insulin.
  • People with diabetes might pee a lot, be very thirsty, and be very hungry, and they can lose weight.

Types of Diabetes and Treatment

• Type 1 Diabetes (DM1) often starts in younger people (under 30) and is often due to genes. People with DM1 need insulin shots.
• Type 2 Diabetes (DM2) is more common in older, heavier people.
• Insulin comes in different types that work for different amounts of time (short-acting, long-acting, etc.).
• For obese people with DM2, a medicine called Metformin is often used.
• Other medicines help the body release insulin or help the kidneys get rid of sugar in the urine.
• Insulinoma is a tumor that makes too much insulin, causing low blood sugar and dizziness.
• MEN is a group of problems where several glands in the body have issues.

Adrenal Gland

• The Adrenal glands sit on top of your kidneys. They have different parts that make different hormones:
  • Aldosterone helps control blood pressure and salt in your body.
  • Cortisol helps your body handle stress.
  • Androgens are hormones that are like male hormones.
• If someone has high blood pressure, dizziness, and low potassium, it could be a problem with too much Aldosterone.
• Too much Cortisol can cause a “moon face,” a hump on the back, and a big belly with thin arms and legs.
• Adrenal insufficiency is when the adrenal glands don’t make enough hormones.

Adrenal Medulla

The Adrenal medulla (another part of the adrenal gland) can cause sudden fast heartbeats, high blood pressure, and headaches. This might be a tumor called a “Pheochromocytoma”. Doctors can treat this with special medicines.