Endocrinology
Endocrinology is the branch of medicine concerned with the study, diagnosis and treatment of the endocrine glands and their products – hormones. Whether it is practised as a subspecialty or, as is more common today, as a separate branch of medicine, endocrinology is a very complex medical discipline, because it deals not with just one organ but with several. Most endocrine organs are small and are integrated into larger organs, such as the kidney, the brain and the digestive system.
The endocrine system forms a compact whole within the human body. Its most important task is to coordinate the signalling and control of the function of all the organs and of the body's activity as a whole, and so it has an integrative role. Endocrinology is a complex branch of medicine concerned with the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases and disorders of the endocrine system, which includes, among others, glands such as the pituitary, the pancreas, the thyroid and the adrenal glands.
This includes diseases such as diabetes, thyroid and gonadal problems, and various metabolic and hormonal diseases, whether isolated or multisystemic. At Faktor Zdravlje Polyclinic you can have a specialist examination by an endocrinologist.
Endocrinology examination – what is it like and what does it involve?
A specialist examination by an endocrinologist includes a careful, detailed personal and family medical history, with information about past and current diseases and conditions, as well as diseases in the family. This is followed by a physical examination covering practically all the organs and organ systems that the endocrine glands influence, including the skin, hair, eyes, heart, lungs, kidneys and gonads, among others. An integral part of the endocrinology examination is gathering information about growth and development, sleep, digestion, breathing, excretion, mood, stress, breastfeeding, mobility, pregnancies and births, the level of physical activity and much more.
The endocrine system is very complex and consists of several glands – endocrine organs in different locations in the body; the glands secrete hormones directly into the blood rather than into a specific anatomical duct. Many hormones are known, with different functions and modes of action; for example, some act alone and others in combination. One hormone often has several effects on different target organs, while a single target organ may be acted on by several hormones.
The endocrine system involves a number of feedback mechanisms, so that one hormone (such as thyroid-stimulating hormone) will often control the action or release of another, secondary hormone (such as thyroid hormone). If there is too much of the secondary hormone, it can provide negative feedback to the primary hormone, maintaining homeostasis.
To be classed as a hormone in the human body, a substance must be produced by an organ, released (in small amounts) into the blood and carried by the blood to a distant organ, where it carries out its specific function. This definition applies to most ‘classic’ hormones, but there are also paracrine mechanisms (chemical communication between cells within a tissue or organ), autocrine signals (a chemical that acts on the same cell) and intracrine signals
(a chemical that acts within the same cell).
Although every organ system secretes and responds to hormones (including the brain, lungs, heart, intestines, skin and kidneys), the clinical specialty of endocrinology focuses primarily on the endocrine organs, that is, the organs whose primary function is to secrete hormones. These organs include the pituitary, thyroid, adrenal glands, ovaries, testes and pancreas.
An endocrinologist is a doctor who specialises in treating disorders of the endocrine system, such as diabetes, hyperthyroidism and many others. The medical specialty of endocrinology involves diagnosing a wide range of symptoms and variations and the long-term treatment of disorders caused by a deficiency of one or more hormones.
The diagnosis and treatment of endocrine diseases are guided by laboratory tests to a greater extent than in some other specialties. Many diseases can be detected by excitation/stimulation or inhibition/suppression testing, that is, by medical tests that provoke or inhibit the activity of a gland or hormone.
A particularly important aspect of endocrinology is distinguishing human variation from disease. Atypical patterns of physical development and abnormal test results must be assessed to decide whether or not they indicate disease. Diagnostic imaging of the endocrine organs can reveal incidental findings, called incidentalomas, which may or may not represent disease.
Most endocrine disorders are chronic diseases that require long-term treatment and care. They include diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism and metabolic syndrome. Treating diabetes, obesity and other chronic diseases requires understanding the patient on a personal and social level, as well as at the molecular level.
The most common diseases of the endocrine system are:
Diseases and disorders of the pituitary gland
The pituitary is a pea-sized gland at the base of the brain. It produces hormones that control many of the other hormone-producing glands in the body. Common pituitary disorders include acromegaly (excess production of growth hormone) and Cushing's disease (excess production of ACTH).
Metabolic disorders
These are conditions that affect how your body converts food into energy. Common metabolic disorders include obesity, high cholesterol and gout.
Calcium and bone disorders
Endocrinologists also treat conditions that affect blood calcium levels, such as hyperparathyroidism (too much parathyroid hormone) and osteoporosis (weak bones).
Sexual and reproductive disorders
Endocrinologists can also help diagnose and treat hormonal problems that affect sexual development and function, such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and erectile dysfunction.
Diabetes mellitus
This is a chronic condition that affects how your body regulates blood sugar. There are two main types: type 1 diabetes, an autoimmune disease that occurs when the body attacks the cells that produce insulin, and type 2 diabetes, a condition in which the body either does not produce enough insulin or does not use it effectively.
Thyroid disorders
These are conditions that affect the thyroid, a butterfly-shaped gland at the front of your neck. The thyroid produces hormones that regulate your metabolism, heart function and body temperature. Common thyroid disorders include hyperthyroidism (an overactive thyroid) and hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid).
Adrenal gland disorders
The adrenal glands sit on top of your kidneys. They produce hormones that help regulate blood pressure, blood sugar and the body's response to stress. Common adrenal disorders include Cushing's syndrome (excess production of cortisol) and Addison's disease (adrenal insufficiency).
Endocrine cancers
These are cancers that develop in the endocrine glands.
Endocrinologists can help diagnose and treat these cancers. In its integrated approach, Faktor Zdravlje Polyclinic gives endocrinology a prominent and important place.
