The main endocrine glands in the body are the thyroid, adrenal, pituitary and thymus glands as well as the pancreas, ovaries and testes. Hormones are chemical substances that elicit certain responses from particular organs. They are secreted into the blood stream by endocrine glands. For hormones to be effective, they must be present in certain amounts. Levels that are too high or too low lead to hormone imbalances.
Growth Hormone Imbalance
The pituitary gland secretes more than one type of hormone including growth hormone. This particular hormone regulates growth and development. It also controls the production of protein in the body. Too much growth hormone in adults leads to acromegaly-- a condition in which an adult develops thicker bones. In children who have not attained adulthood or whose epiphyseal plates have not fused together, too much growth hormone leads to gigantism--a condition characterized by abnormal increase in height and weight, as stated in the text "Diagnostic Imaging and Pathology of Musculoskeletal Diseases." When there is too little growth hormone in the body, the result in children is short stature or dwarfism. In adults, growth hormone deficiency leads to a decrease in muscle tissue, thin bones and increased fat.
Thyroid Hormone Imbalance
Thyroid hormones are secreted from the thyroid glands, which are located in front of the neck. They regulate the rate at which the body functions and determine how fast the heart beats or how high a person's blood pressure reaches. Over-secretion of thyroid hormone causes hyperthyroidism--a hormone imbalance that speeds up the rate at which the body functions. Symptoms of this condition include increased heart rate, increased blood pressure, anxiety, unintended weight loss and excessive sweating.
Hypothyroidism occurs when there is too little thyroid hormone in the body. Inadequate amounts of thyroid hormone results in the slowing down of processes that occur in the body. Some signs of this hormone disorder are weight gain, inability to tolerate cold temperatures, constipation and a slow pulse. Myxedema coma is a life-threatening complication of hypothyroidism in which a person breathing is slow and blood flow to the brain is reduced.
Aldosterone Imbalance
Aldosterone is a hormone that is released from the adrenal glands. These glands are located on top of the kidneys. Aldosterone regulates the amount of sodium and potassium in the body. It instructs the body to excrete less sodium and excrete more potassium as stated by the Merck Manuals. When there are high levels of aldosterone in the body, there is excessive loss of potassium and too much sodium retention. This leads to fluid accumulation in the body, high blood pressure and signs of potassium deficiency in the body such as muscle spasms and weakness.
References
- "Diagnostic Imaging and Pathology of Musculoskeletal Diseases"; Akbar Bonakdarpour, William R. Reinus and Jasvir S. Khurana; 2009.
- Merck Manuals: Introduction: Thyroid Gland Disorders
- Merck Manuals: Hyperaldosteronism
- Merck Manuals: Introduction: Pituitary Gland Disorders
