Endocrine - disease and disorders Flashcards
ADDISON’S SYNDROME
Cause: hyposecretion of adrenocortical hormones (sex, growth and salt regulation hormones).
Effects: muscular atrophy and weakness; hypotension; gastric problems like vomiting, changes in skin pigmentation, irregular menstrual cycle and dehydration.
AMENORRHOEA
Cause: Can be caused by hypersecretion of testosterone (in females), stress; radical weight loss, anaemia.
Effect: absence of menstruation.
CUSHING’S SYNDROME
Cause: hypersecretion of adrenocortical hormones (sex, growth and salt regulation hormones) i.e. the opposite of Addison’s syndrome.
Effects: muscular atrophy and weakness, hypertension, moon-shaped face, redistribution of body fat, sometimes mental illness, osteoporosis..
POLYCYSTIC OVARIAN SYNDROME
(also known as Stein-Leventhal syndrome)
Cause: not known.
Effects: irregular menstrual cycle, due to stimulation, multiple growth of follicular ovarian cysts and sometimes infertility, enlarged ovaries and often high levels of oestrogen; 50% of patients are obese and become hirsute; age range of sufferers is usually 16-30
STRESS
Stress is a threat to the body and the body responds to it like any other danger – the adrenal medulla releases adrenaline and noradrenaline to help us with the fight or flight response.
TYPE 1 DIABETES
TYPE 1
Cause: Auto-immune disease results in pancreas being unable to produce insulin
Effects: Symptoms include high blood glucose level, excessive thirst, high urine output, tiredness and weight loss.
Cannot be cured but can be controlled by regular (2-4/day) insulin injections.
TYPE 2 DIABETES
TYPE 2
Cause: The body cells do not respond properly to insulin and the pancreas may not produce enough. Linked closely to obesity.
Effects: Symptoms are as Type 1, but may not be as obvious and take longer to develop. Can be controlled by a healthy diet and physical activity. Tablets or insulin injections may also be required
