Endocrinology and diagnostics

The system of neurohumoral regulation ("nerve-fluid control") is an endocrine system familiar to everyone, which is quite complex, but very important for the normal functioning of the entire body. The study of the structure of this system, as well as the detection of dysfunctions and the development of methods of treatment of diseases is dealt with by a separate branch of medicine - endocrinology.

Unfortunately, pathologies of the endocrine system are diverse and numerous, their course can be unpredictable, and the symptoms are not always obvious. Therefore, it is important to have an idea about the methods of diagnosing endocrine diseases.

Research methods in endocrinology
Due to the specificity of the symptoms, it is impossible to independently determine the presence of one or another endocrine disease. Only a doctor can do this after a thorough examination. Therefore, at the first suspicion of pathology, it is necessary to consult an endocrinologist, who will make a diagnosis and prescribe effective therapy.

The following methods are used to detect diseases of the endocrine system:

1. an external examination during which the condition of the skin, the proportionality of the body, the size of the thyroid gland are evaluated;
2. laboratory tests, primarily a blood test for sugar and hormones;
3. ultrasound.

The endocrine system is a set of glands of internal secretion - thyroid, thymus, pancreas, parathyroid glands, pituitary gland, adrenal glands, gonads. Organs, tissues and cells included in the system produce special organic compounds - bioactive regulators or hormones. Translated from Greek, the term "hormone" means "incite", "activate", which best explains the functional meaning of these compounds.

Hormones affect all processes in the body. Entering directly into the bloodstream, they are caught by sensitive receptors. Cells receive a command, and they begin to react: for example, body temperature or blood pressure rises, the intensity of lactogenesis (milk production) increases, etc. In other words, hormones start, slow down or completely stop all physiological and mental processes. In this, each gland of the endocrine system produces several hormones, and each hormone affects different processes.

The endocrine system sometimes malfunctions and develops pathologies characterized by:

• violation of hormone production;
• decrease or increase in their number;
• production of abnormal hormones;
• formation of resistance to hormonal action; violation of the absorption process.

Any such failure can lead to serious diseases. The list of endocrine pathologies is quite wide:

• hypothyroidism is a dysfunction of the thyroid gland characterized by insufficient production of hormones;
• goiter — hyperfunction accompanied by an increase in the thyroid gland;
• diabetes mellitus is a disease that leads to a violation of metabolic processes, which develops against the background of a lack of insulin;
• thyrotoxicosis - hyperfunction of the thyroid gland;
• hypoparathyroidism – hypofunction of the parathyroid glands;
• hyperparathyroidism — excess production of parathyroid hormone;
• autoimmune thyroiditis – destructive changes in the tissues of the thyroid gland;
• gigantism — excessive production of growth hormone.

Risk factors for the development of endocrine diseases are overweight, low physical activity, improper nutrition, bad habits, and hereditary predisposition.

The most common symptoms of endocrine pathologies:

1. feeling of fatigue, muscle weakness;
2. sharp gain or loss of weight without changing the diet;
3. rapid heartbeat;
4. increased sweating;
5. drowsiness;
6. memory impairment, distracted attention;
7. constant feeling of thirst;
8. increased blood pressure;
9. accelerated urination.

Symptoms of pathologies can be mixed, diseases are often disguised as other ailments. However, modern methods of diagnosing endocrine diseases make it possible to detect abnormalities with high accuracy.