THE 19 MOST COMMON ENDOCRINE SYSTEM DISEASES - MEDICINE - 2025

The diseases of the endocrine system are those conditions that affect the production of certain hormones in humans. Highlights diabetes, hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, Cushing's syndrome, among others.

Although it is rarely mentioned, the endocrine system is a very important part of the human body. It works closely with the nervous system, but unlike the nervous system, it does not work with nerve impulses but rather by secreting hormones, which are chemicals that regulate many functions of our body.

For the secretion of these hormones, the endocrine system uses groups of cells that fulfill this function, called glands. These glands are located in various parts of our body and each one of them plays an important regulatory role.

A total of eight glands make up the human endocrine system. There are glands that secrete hormones directly into the blood, and they are called endocrine glands, while another type of glands, exocrine glands, secrete hormones directly in a specific place, for example, the salivary glands in the mouth.

Hormones are chemical messengers that transfer information in instructions from one group of cells to others, some through the blood. However, many hormones are specifically targeted at one type of cell.

Main diseases of the endocrine system

1- Diabetes

When insulin production by the pancreas becomes poor, diabetes occurs. Insulin controls blood glucose, so it increases, resulting in excess urination, thirst, appetite, dry mouth, weight loss, difficulty healing, weakness and tiredness.

Diabetes can be type 1 when the body produces little or no insulin since childhood, and injections of it are needed.

Type 2, when it occurs already in adulthood because the pancreas no longer produces more insulin or it does not cause the regulatory effect. Obesity and sedentary lifestyle are risk factors for this disease.

2- Goiter

Source: user El Comandante CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) via Wikimedia Commons

It is produced by an increase in the size of the thyroid, and this, being located in the neck, compresses the trachea making breathing difficult.

3- Hyperthyroidism

Source: Ruce Blausen (2014). "Medical gallery of Blausen Medical 2014". WikiJournal of Medicine CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) via Wikimedia Commons

It occurs when the thyroid gland increases its hormonal production, causing symptoms such as nervousness, insomnia, weight loss, bright eyes and excessive sweating.

4- Hypothyroidism

Source: Scientific Animations CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) via Wikimedia Commons

It is the opposite of the above. The production of hormones by the thyroid is very little. Then the metabolism becomes very slow, weight is gained, hair loss occurs, fatigue and drowsiness occurs.

5- Hirsutism

Anne Jones - Bearded Lady. Source: Syracuse University Digital Library. Retrieved on June 1, 2013. Public Domain File

It is a disease mainly due to the excess production of male hormones. In women the effects are the appearance of thick hairs in areas such as chin, shoulders and chest.

6- Cushing's syndrome

This disease is caused by an excess production of the hormone cortisol. It produces obesity, high blood pressure, growth retardation in children.

7- Dwarfism

Source: Richard McCoy CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) via Wikimedia Commons

It is produced by the shortage of growth hormone, by the pituitary. As a consequence, the individual is short and rickety.

8- Gigantism

Source: Robert Wadlow. Public Domain File

When the pituitary gland produces excess growth hormone, gigantism occurs, characterized by excessive height and body sizes.

9- Osteoporosis

Source: BruceBlaus CC "Medical gallery of Blausen Medical 2014". WikiJournal of Medicine BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)

Although it is a disease of the bone system, it can be produced by the cessation of estrogen production, causing brittleness and breakage of the bones.

10- Adrenal insufficiency

Source: James Heilman, MD CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0) via Wikimedia Commons

When the adrenal glands, responsible for regulating the response to stress through the synthesis of cortisol and adrenaline, and located in the upper part of the kidneys, do not produce enough cortisol, this disease occurs, which results in low blood pressure, fatigue, heart rate and rapid breathing, excessive sweating and others.

11- Hypopituitarism

It occurs when the pituitary gland stops producing normal amounts of one or more of its hormones.

Its symptoms are very varied, among which are: abdominal pain, decreased appetite, lack of sexual interest, dizziness or fainting, excessive urination and thirst, inability to secrete milk, fatigue, weakness, headache, infertility (in the women) or cessation of menstrual periods, loss of pubic or armpit hair, loss of facial or body hair (in men), low blood pressure, low blood sugar, sensitivity to cold, short stature if onset occurs during a period slow growth, growth and sexual development (in children), vision problems and weight loss, among others.

12- Multiple endocrine neoplasia

High-power micrograph of medullary thyroid carcinoma. Source: Nephron CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) via Wikimedia Commons

If it happens that one or more glands of the endocrine system are overactive or cause a tumor, we are in the presence of a multiple endocrine neoplasia. It is hereditary and mainly involves the pancreas, parathyroid, and pituitary.

Symptoms that may occur include: abdominal pain, anxiety, black stools, a feeling of distention after meals, burning, pain or a feeling of hunger in the upper abdomen, decreased sexual interest, fatigue, headache, absence of menstruation, loss of appetite, loss of facial or body hair (in men), mental changes or confusion, muscle pain, nausea and vomiting, sensitivity to cold, involuntary weight loss, vision problems or weakness.

13- Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

It occurs when the eggs do not develop in the correct way or are not shed during ovulation. As a consequence, infertility and the development of cysts or small pockets of fluid in the ovaries occur.

Among the symptoms presented by suffering from this disease are: irregular menstrual cycle, facial hair, acne, male pattern baldness, weight gain, darkening of the skin on the neck, groin and under the breasts, and skin tags.

14- Hyperparathyroidism

Location of the thyroid and parathyroid in the neck. Source: NIH, Turning Discovery Into Health. Public Domain File

When hyperparathyroidism occurs, there is an excessive increase in the amount of calcium circulating in the blood. This can be seen in the urine, therefore it can be a cause of kidney stones and bone decalcification.

15- Hypoparathyroidism

Hypoparathyroidism is the reverse action. Calcium production falls below normal. As a consequence, phosphorus in the blood increases, causing difficulty in muscle contraction, numbness and cramps.

16- affections to the gonads

Location of the pituitary gland in the human brain. Source: User Jomegat CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) via Wikimedia Commons

When the pituitary or gonads malfunction, changes occur that affect testicular function. As a consequence, eunucoidism, absence of facial hair, high tone of voice, poor muscle development and small genitalia can occur.

In the case of women, menstrual disorders occur, or no periods.

17- Insulinoma

Histopathology of the pancreatic endocrine tumor (insulinoma). Source: user KGH CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) via Wikimedia Commons

It occurs when there is a tumor in the pancreas, which causes it to continue producing insulin even when blood sugar levels are low.

They are not carcinogenic and occur most of the time in adults. As a consequence, the person suffers from dizziness, confusion, headache, loss of consciousness, seizures, abdominal pain, hunger, disorientation, sweating, blurred vision, weight gain, tachycardia, among others.

18- Obesity

It occurs when the person ingests a greater amount of calories than they consume. This in turn is a consequence of bad eating and family habits, sedentary lifestyle and consumption of foods low in vitamins and high in sodium, fat and sugar.

It is the cause of many deaths worldwide and of various diseases such as diabetes, joint pain, heart problems, etc., so its prevention is a social priority.

19- Gynecomastia

It is the increase of the man's breasts due to an increase in the size of the mammary gland.

This is due to a hormonal imbalance produced by some type of disease (kidney, thyroid, adrenal, pituitary or lung diseases) or by the consumption of drugs such as anabolic steroids, drugs with estrogens, anti androgens or some amphetamines, or disorders of a physiological nature, such as the decrease in testosterone with aging.

Endocrine system functions

The hormones secreted by the endocrine system work slowly in the body. They affect many processes throughout the body. These processes are:

• Increase
• Metabolism (digestion, respiration, blood circulation, body temperature)
• Sexual functions
• Reproduction
• Humor

Located at the base of the brain, is the hypothalamus. This part of the brain is responsible for the functioning of the endocrine system through the pituitary gland.

The hypothalamus has neurosecretory cells, which secrete hormones that affect said gland, and this in turn generates hormones that stimulate other glands to generate other specific hormones.

Hormones have various effects on the body. Some are stimulators of tissue activity, others inhibit them; Some cause opposite effects to others; They affect parts of the same tissue of the endocrine system, they can combine to increase their effect and also depend on another hormone to cause a given effect.

It's not just the glands that secrete hormones. The hypothalamus, pineal gland, pituitary and adenohypophysis, posterior and middle pituitary, thyroid produce hormones as do some organs such as the stomach, duodenum, liver, pancreas, kidney, adrenal glands, testicles, ovarian follicles, placenta, uterus.

When the secreted hormones are too many or too few, endocrine system diseases occur. They also occur when the secreted hormones do not have the desired effect, due to multiple factors such as diseases or viruses.

The production of hormones in the body is regulated by the nervous system, through the hypothalamus and its inhibitory and releasing hormones.

These hormonal imbalances can be treated by artificially supplying hormones to the body through medical therapies.

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