How many hormones are in the human body?
Scientists are discovering more hormones in the human body on a daily basis however, at this time the known count is more than fifty different hormones in the human body. There are the same number in both male and female. The only difference is in the amount of some hormones rather than others. In other words, both male and female have testosterone, but males usually have a larger amount and conversely males also have the estrogen hormone, but women usually have a greater supply. With over fifty different hormones it stands to reason that, one cannot speak of a hormone imbalance in general terms. There are just too many hormones that may be the culprit. One way to understand hormonal imbalance is to discuss different disease processes that are caused by a hormonal imbalance.
Where do hormones come from and what good are they?
All hormones originate from the Endocrine system. Within the Endocrine system are more glands that assist with the regulation and production of the hormones attached to it. The Endocrine system consists of the ovaries, testes, hypothalamus, thyroid, parathyroid, pituitary, adrenal and the pineal glands. Hormones do much more than assist in reproduction; they are responsible for growth, metabolism, development and even homeostasis (like our own thermostat for hot or cold.)
What happens if there is a low hormone or an increased hormone?
Because there are so many hormones and because they control of affect so many different parts of the human body an imbalance, trauma or birth defect can have a negative, sometimes lifelong effect. One thing many people can sympathize with is menopause. Menopause is definitely caused by a shift or imbalance in a female’s hormones, progesterone and estrogen. However, did you know that Hypothyroidism is also cause by a hormonal imbalance? Many disease processes can be tied directly to a problem with a hormone and those will be discussed next.
What kinds of diseases are due to a hormonal imbalance?
Hypothyroidism is a disease where the thyroid gland is not producing enough of the thyroid hormone. Symptoms include hoarseness, extreme lethargy, constipation, high cholesterol level, heavy menstrual periods, depression and brittle hair and nails. Treatment is to monitor your thyroid level regular and take a thyroid replacement. Very easy, one pill taken every morning before your feet hit the floor then wait an hour before eating or drinking anything.
Diabetes occurs when the pancreas does not secrete enough or none at all, of the hormone insulin. Insulin changes your food into fuel and along with oxygen takes that food to every cell in your body. Symptoms include sweating, increased urination, sweet smell to breath, increased thirst. Treatment is to monitor blood sugar as physician orders, changing of your diet and exercise is imperative and taking insulin subcutaneously or an oral antidiabetic agent daily or more often is necessary to keep blood sugars below 120 milligrams per deciliter.
Acromegaly is the syndrome that begins when the person is a teenager and involves too much of the growth hormone from the pituitary gland. Symptoms include teeth gapping, lower jaw is thrusting forward, forehead protrudes and hands and feet are extremely large. Treatment includes taken a synthetic form of the brain hormone somatostin analogue, which decreases the production of the growth hormone in the pituitary.
Cushing’s disease is caused by too much of the hormone cortisol. Usually it is from taking too much steroids but can also be due to a tumor of the adrenal gland. It is the adrenal gland that produces the hormone cortisol. Symptoms include acne, slow healing, weight gain especially in face so it becomes as round as a full moon (hence the term “moon face”)and in front portion of torso and over the back between shoulder blades (buffalo hump.) Treatment includes reduction of the amount of steroids being taken, or surgery if the cause is a tumor of the adrenal gland or complete removal of the adrenal gland.
Polycystic ovarian syndrome is when a woman has too much of the androgen hormones. These hormones are comprised of androstenedione, testosterone and Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate. Treatment includes management of weight, addition of antidiabetic meds if needed and sometimes oral contraceptives will assist with the regulation of these hormones.
Menopause is the normal cycle for women where their reproductive hormones, progesterone and estrogen slowly deplete and stop. Women have the choice to choose of taking estrogen replacements or to wait until the symptoms stop. Remember that once estrogen replacement is stopped, regardless of how old the woman is at the start of menopause, all the symptoms of menopause will return and the woman will still have to go through all the symptoms again. Symptoms of menopause are well known, night sweats, hot flashes, foggy memory, and irritability.
Andropause is the equivalent of menopause except it attacks men. It is caused from a depletion of the male hormone, testosterone. Symptoms include male breast enlargement, night sweats, decreased libido, weight gain, hot flashes, hair loss and depression. Treatment includes hormone replacement therapy as well, or time. Therefore, both men and women can go through reproductive hormonal imbalance and both have the options of taking replacement hormones to counter the effects of the symptoms
Graves Disease is both an autoimmune disease and a hormonal imbalance. There is no cure but the symptoms can be managed. It is caused by the thyroid gland, which is producing an excessive amount of the thyroid hormone. Symptoms include irritability, insomnia, weight loss but increased appetite, sweating, heart problems, diabetes, gastric distress and hypertension. Treatment is actually the same as it has been since the 1940’s and includes radioactive iodine, antithyroid medications or surgical removal of the thyroid gland.
Addison’s disease is the opposite of Cushing’s disease. The adrenal glands do not produce enough of the hormone cortisol. Symptoms include low blood pressure, fainting, gastric distress, depression, no appetite and low blood sugar. Treatment includes steroid therapy with hydrocortisone.
barbara bethard
barbara bethard
References:
http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/type-2/?utm_source=Homepage&utm_medium=ContentPage&utm_content=type2&utm_campaign=TDT
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