With the right hormone balance, our bodies thrive. But sometimes our endocrine system creates too much or not enough of one of several hormones.
There are many reasons why this might happen. Endocrine gland dysfunction, family history of endocrine disease, stress, autoimmune conditions, and tumors can all disrupt hormone production and regulation, Zilbermint says.
There are hundreds of conditions tied to the endocrine system. Here are some of the more common ones.
Diabetes
Diabetes occurs when your blood sugar is too high. It happens when your pancreas doesn’t make enough (or any) insulin or doesn’t respond to the effects of insulin the way it should. As a result, your body doesn’t get enough insulin, and sugar builds up in your bloodstream instead of traveling to your cells to be used for energy.
There are three common types of diabetes.
- Type 1 Diabetes If you have type 1 diabetes, your body is unable to make the insulin it needs to move glucose into your cells. This occurs because the immune system mistakenly destroys the cells in the pancreas that make insulin. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition and must be treated with insulin daily.
- Type 2 Diabetes In type 2 diabetes, your body is unable to properly use the insulin your pancreas makes. It’s the most common type of diabetes and can appear at any age. Type 2 diabetes tends to occur in people with overweight or obesity and a family history of the disease. It can sometimes be managed with medications and lifestyle changes like a healthy diet and regular exercise. Sometimes it requires treatment with insulin.
- Gestational Diabetes This type of diabetes develops only during pregnancy. It occurs when your body is unable to meet your increased demands for insulin. Gestational diabetes can often be treated with medications and lifestyle changes, but sometimes requires insulin.
Thyroid Disease
Thyroid disease is an umbrella term for medical conditions that develop when the thyroid makes too much or too few hormones.
There are two main types of thyroid disease. They are:
- Hyperthyroidism Hyperthyroidism, also called overactive thyroid, happens when the thyroid releases too much thyroid hormone, causing your metabolism to speed up. This leads to symptoms such as increased sweating, shakiness, anxiety, unexplained weight loss, rapid heart rate, diarrhea, and difficulty sleeping (insomnia). The condition can be treated with medications, and, occasionally, surgery.
- Hypothyroidism Hypothyroidism, also called underactive thyroid, occurs when the thyroid doesn’t release enough thyroid hormone. This causes your metabolism to slow down, leading to unexplained weight gain, fatigue, brain fog, depression, anxiety, muscle weakness, and cold intolerance. The condition is usually treated with medication to replace your natural thyroid hormones.
Cushing Syndrome
Cushing syndrome (hypercortisolism) occurs when the body has too much of the stress hormone cortisol. While rare, Cushing syndrome most commonly affects children, teenagers, and adults between ages 25 and 50. It can be caused by glucocorticoid medications (which are used to treat autoimmune diseases) or tumors in the endocrine glands.
Addison’s Disease
Addison’s disease, also called adrenal insufficiency, is a rare disease that happens when the adrenal glands become damaged, often due to an autoimmune disease. This damage impacts the adrenal glands’ ability to make cortisol and aldosterone, causing symptoms such as fatigue, weight loss, low blood pressure, low blood sugar, muscle and joint pain, nausea, and irritability.
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) occurs when the ovaries produce high amounts of androgens, which include male sex hormones like testosterone. This causes the female reproductive hormones to become imbalanced, leading to irregular menstrual cycles, missed periods, and even infertility. PCOS is also associated with insulin resistance (when the body doesn’t respond to insulin the way it should) and obesity.