endocrine system vocabulary
Channel: ISHTA’s BIO ACADEMY
Date: 2021-05-03

What are the symptoms of endocrine disorders?
The symptoms of endocrine disorders can range from mild or even nonexistent to serious and affecting your entire body and overall feeling of well-being. Specific symptoms depend on the specific part of the endocrine system affected.

Common symptoms of diabetes
Diabetes mellitus is the most common endocrine disorder and occurs when the pancreas either does not produce sufficient insulin or the body cannot use the available insulin. Symptoms of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes include:

Excessive thirst or hunger
Fatigue
Frequent urination
Nausea and vomiting
Unexplained weight loss or gain
Vision changes
Common symptoms of acromegaly
Acromegaly is a disorder in which the pituitary gland overproduces growth hormone. This leads to symptoms of overgrowth, especially of the hands and feet. Symptoms of acromegaly include:

Abnormally large lips, nose or tongue
Abnormally large or swollen hands or feet
Altered facial bone structure
Body and joint aches
Deep voice
Fatigue and weakness
Headaches
Overgrowth of bone and cartilage and thickening of the skin
Sexual dysfunction, including decreased libido
Sleep apnea
Vision impairment
Common symptoms of Addison’s disease
Addison’s disease is characterized by decreased production of cortisol and aldosterone due to adrenal gland damage. Common symptoms of Addison’s disease include:

Depression
Diarrhea
Fatigue
Headache
Hyperpigmentation of the skin (bronze appearance)
Hypoglycemia (low blood glucose)
Loss of appetite
Low blood pressure (hypotension)
Missed menstrual periods
Nausea, with or without vomiting
Salt cravings
Unexplained weight loss
Weakness (loss of strength)
Common symptoms of Cushing’s syndrome
Cushing’s syndrome arises from excess cortisol, produced by the adrenal glands. Symptoms of Cushing’s syndrome include:

Buffalo hump (fat between the shoulder blades)
Skin discoloration such as bruising
Fatigue
Feeling very thirsty
Thinning and weakening of the bones (osteoporosis)
Frequent urination
High blood sugar (hyperglycemia)
High blood pressure (hypertension)
Irritability and mood changes
Obesity of the upper body
Rounded “moon“ face
Weakness (loss of strength)
Common symptoms of Graves’ disease
Graves’ disease is a type of hyperthyroidism resulting in excessive thyroid hormone production. Common symptoms of Graves’ disease include:

Bulging eyes (Graves’ ophthalmopathy)
Diarrhea
Difficulty sleeping
Fatigue and weakness
Goiter (enlargement of the thyroid gland)
Heat intolerance
Irregular heart rate
Irritability and mood changes
Rapid heart rate (tachycardia)
Thick or red skin on the shins
Tremors
Unexplained weight loss
Common symptoms of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis
Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, or autoimmune thyroiditis, is a condition in which the thyroid is targeted by the immune system, leading to hypothyroidism and low production of thyroid hormone. Often, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is symptomless, but symptoms can include:

Cold intolerance
Constipation
Dry hair and loss of hair
Fatigue
Goiter (enlargement of the thyroid gland)
Joint and muscle pain
Missed menstrual periods
Slowed heart rate
Weight gain
Common symptoms of hyperthyroidism
Hyperthyroidism is a condition characterized by an overactive thyroid gland. Common symptoms of hyperthyroidism include:

Diarrhea
Difficulty sleeping
Fatigue
Goiter (enlargement of the thyroid gland)
Heat intolerance
Irritability and mood changes
Rapid heart rate (tachycardia)
Tremors
Unexplained weight loss
Weakness (loss of strength)
Common symptoms of hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid is underactive and produces too little thyroid hormone. Often, hypothyroidism can be symptomless or very mild. Common symptoms of hypothyroidism include:

Cold intolerance
Constipation
Decreased sweat production
Dry hair
Fatigue
Goiter (enlargement of the thyroid gland)
Joint and muscle pain
Missed menstrual periods
Slowed heart rate
Swollen face
Unexplained weight gain