Diseases of the Endocrine

Glands
Sophia G. Cabrera
10 - Pythagoras
The endocrine system is a
complicated system of checks and
balances. It controls the releasing of
hormones to keep the body parts
functioning smoothly. But when your
endocrine system is not functioning
properly, your health, physical
appearance, energy level, balance of
water in the body, and the ability to
bear children is affected. There are
several types of endocrine diseases
that a person may acquire.

Diseases of the Endocrine Glands 2

1. Hypothyroidism
is a condition in which the thyroid gland
cannot produce the normal amount of
thyroid hormone.
Symptoms: Fatigue, weight gain,
sluggishness, decreased memory, dry skin,
heavy period, and always feeling cold. They
could have an enlarged thyroid.
Treatment: Hormone replacement

Diseases of the Endocrine Glands 3

2. Cushing’s Syndrome
is a tumor in the pituitary gland. The tumor will
cause the adrenal glands to produce too much of
the stress-related hormone called cortisol.
Excessive amounts of cortisol in the body lead to
Cushing’s Syndrome.
Symptoms: Fatigue, weight gain, trouble
sleeping, irregular periods, extra hair
growth, and depression
Treatment: Surgery to remove the tumor

Diseases of the Endocrine 4

3. Metabolic Syndrome
is also known as insulin resistance. The patient
has elevated insulin levels and abdominal obesity.

Symptoms: High blood pressure, weight

gain: men may have gout or undergo balding,
women may have extra hair growth and
irregular
Treatment:periods.
Low-carbohydrate diet and
improved insulin action like glucophage and
glucose level

Diseases of the Endocrine Glands 5

4. Estrogen Deficiency
is a disease that occurs mostly in females due to a
drop in estrogen levels.

Symptoms: Developed fatigue around the

time of menopause
Treatment: Hormone-replacement therapy

Diseases of the Endocrine 6

5. Testosterone Deficiency
is caused by a low level of testosterone due to a
pituitary, adrenal, or ovary/testis problem.

Symptoms: Both men and women feel

fatigued and have low libido
Treatment: Testosterone replacement

Diseases of the Endocrine 7

6. Gigantism or Acromegaly
is a disease in the pituitary gland that produces
too much growth hormones. It is also a condition
that causes abnormal growth in children.
Abnormal growth is due to the overproduction of
growth hormones. The bone and body parts may
grow abnormally fast, but if the growth hormone
levels are too low, a person can stop growing.
Symptoms: Very large hands and feet, thickening
of toes and fingers, prominent jaw and forehead,
and coarse facial features, flat nose and large
head, lips, or tongue. Overproduction of sweat,
delayed puberty, weakness, and deafness.
Treatment: Removing the tumor

Diseases of the Endocrine 8

Diseases of the Endocrine Glands:
1. Hypothyroidism
2. Cushing’s Syndrome
3. Metabolic Syndrome
4. Estrogen Deficiency
5. Testosterone Deficiency
6. Gigantism or Acromegaly

Diseases of the Endocrine 9

Keeping the Endocrine
System Healthy
Our endocrine system is a very important system in our
body’s health. You learned in the previous lesson that our
endocrine glands are responsible for the secretion of
hormones. Different processes such as metabolism,
ovulation, water balance, and puberty are not possible
without it. Not taking good care of the endocrine system
results to many health problems. Below are the different
ways to keep our endocrine system healthy.

Keeping the Endocrine System 11

1. Know your family history
It is very important to trace your family medical history.
Knowledge of your family history is a powerful tool to
help you prevent from acquiring any endocrine disease
especially when you get into your twenties. Several
endocrine disorders develop at the early stages of life,
except Type 1 diabetes.

Keeping the Endocrine System 12

2. Eat a healthy diet
It is important to eat healthy and well-balanced diet every
meal. A person who does not eat healthy food can have
Type 2 diabetes, which later on can cause blindness and
kidney failure.

Keeping the Endocrine System 13

3. Minimize stress in your life
Stress in life can cause overproduction of hormones. If this
will occur, it can lead to the failure or malfunction of many
endocrine organs. It is recommended to have a daily
exercise regimen like yoga. It is recommended to have at
least 6 to 8 hours of sleep per night in order to reduce
stress and keep hormones balanced.

Keeping the Endocrine System 14

4. Stay in touch with your doctor
You should always consult your doctor or endocrinologist
if you consider yourself to be a high risk for diabetes and
other diseases.

Keeping the Endocrine System 15

Keeping the Endocrine System Healthy:
1. Know your family history
2. Eat a healthy diet
3. Minimize stress in your life
4. Stay in touch with your doctor

Keeping the Endocrine System 16

THANK YOU
SHORT QUIZ
Activity 1: Multiple Choice
Direction: Answer the following questions based on your knowledge of the
endocrine system. Choose the best answer from the options provided.
1. Is a disease that occurs mostly in females due to a drop in estrogen levels.
A. Gigantism or acromegaly
B. Estrogen deficiency
C. Cushing’s syndrome
D. Testosterone deficiency
2. How is hypothyroidism treated?
A. Surgery to remove the tumor
B. Hormone replacement
C. Low-carbohydrate diet and improved insulin action
D. Testosterone replacement
3. Is a disease in the pituitary gland that produces too much growth hormones.
A. Gigantism or acromegaly
B. Metabolic syndrome
C. Hypothyroidism
D. Estrogen Deficiency
4. What are the primary symptoms of testosterone deficiency?
A. Very large hands and feet, thickening of toes and fingers
B. Fatigue and weight gain
C. Delayed puberty and weakness
D. Fatigue and low libido
5. The tumor in the pituitary gland will cause the adrenal glands to produce too much of
the stress-related hormone called _____.
A. Cortex
B. Cortisone
C. Corticosteroid
D. Cortisol
6. What is the primary treatment for metabolic syndrome?
A. Surgery to remove the tumor
B. Hormone replacement
C. Low-carbohydrate diet and improved insulin action
D. Testosterone replacement
7. Is caused by a low level of testosterone due to a pituitary, adrenal, or ovary/testis
problem.
A. Testosterone deficiency
B. Metabolic syndrome
C. Hypothyroidism
D. Estrogen deficiency
8. What is the primary symptom of hypothyroidism?
A. Fatigue around the tie of menopause
B. Very large hands and feet, thickening of toes and fingers
C. Fatigue, weight gain, sluggishness
D. Trouble sleeping, irregular periods
9. Metabolic syndrome is also known as _____.
A. Type 2 diabetes
B. Insulin resistance
C. Hypertension
D. Dyslipidemia
10. What is the primary symptom of Cushing’s syndrome?
A. Very large hands and feet, thickening of toes and fingers
B. Trouble sleeping, irregular periods
C. Fatigue, weight gain
D. Delayed puberty, weakness
Activity 2: TRUE or FALSE
Direction: Determine whether the following statements are true or false.
Select “TRUE” if the statement is correct and “FALSE” if it is incorrect.
1. Knowledge of your family history is not important for preventing endocrine diseases.
2. Eating a healthy and balanced diet is crucial for maintaining endocrine health.
3. Stress can lead to the overproduction of hormones which may affect the endocrine
system.
4. Daily exercise, such as yoga, can help reduce stress and keep hormones balanced.
5. Inadequate sleep does not impact hormone balance or overall endocrine function.
6. It is unnecessary to consult a doctor or endocrinologist if you consider yourself at
high risk for diabetes and other diseases.
7. Several endocrine disorders develop at the early stages of life, including Type 1
diabetes.
8. Type 2 diabetes can lead to blindness and kidney failure if not managed properly.
9. Hormone replacement therapy is a recommended treatment for endocrine disorders.
THANK YOU