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Thyroid

How Different Hormones Affect Your Body

Hormones play a variety of roles in the body, but their primary function is as chemical messengers that control bodily functions. Some hormone-producing glands are more complex than others; and while men and women share many of the same hormones, there are some that are gender-specific.

Hormone-Producing Systems

Certain glands in the body are responsible for dispatching hormones, and these message-sending glands are part of the endocrine system. Different glands dispatch different chemical messages, all of which are integral to a healthy body.

A healthy endocrine system is optimal for the body’s good health. If the endocrine system is unhealthy, it will have a negative effect on how the body develops and works. For example, faulty chemical signals sent during puberty will affect development.

Primary Glands that Produce Hormones

Pituitary

The pituitary gland creates growth hormones and controls aspects of other hormones produced by other glands. It’s a key gland in the endocrine system in its regulation of metabolism, blood pressure, milk production, and various reproductive functions.

Thymus

The thymus produces the thymosin hormone, which stimulates the development of T-cells when a person is young – before puberty. The thymus transforms white blood cells into these immune-enforcing T-cells. After puberty, the thymus basically becomes a lump of fatty tissue. However, these T-cells continue to support your body’s immune function throughout your lifetime.

Ovaries

Ovaries are gender-specific and secrete female sex hormones into a woman’s body: estrogen and progesterone. The hormones secreted by the ovaries assist in the proper development of the female body and help foster fertility.

Testes

Testes are gender-specific to men and produce the hormone testosterone. Testosterone helps foster male development in growing boys, and it contributes to healthy libido, strong muscles, and dense bones.

Hypothalamus

The hypothalamus is critical in maintaining the stability of all functions throughout the body – this stability is called homeostasis. It is the link between the endocrine system and the central nervous system. The hypothalamus is also responsible for balancing the hormones from other glands, and it regulates functions including body temperature, sleep, heart rate, blood pressure, and hunger, thirst.

Thyroid

The thyroid gland, located in the neck, is often associated with weight loss and weight gain because it determines your metabolism. The secretion of the thyroid hormone regulates a person’s metabolic rate. The thyroid gland is controlled by the pituitary gland and the hypothalamus.

Parathyroid

The parathyroid is located around the thyroid as four little rice-size glands. The primary function of the parathyroid hormone is to regulate the body’s calcium levels.

Pineal

The pineal gland secretes the hormone melatonin from its location in the center of the brain. Melatonin helps to regulate sleep patterns, maintain a person’s circadian rhythm, and regulate hormones involving reproduction.

Adrenal

The adrenal gland produces the hormones cortisol, aldosterone, and adrenaline. The adrenal gland is a set of two organs that are located above each of the kidneys. This gland is responsible for producing hormones that assist with regulating blood sugar, blood pressure, and metabolism. They also help react to stress brought on by illness, injury, or pressure via adrenaline.

Pancreas

The pancreas regulates blood sugar (glucose) and salt by releasing the hormone insulin. An imbalance of blood sugar can result in diabetes and other health issues. The pancreas is part of both the endocrine and the digestive systems, but primarily digestive. This gland is located just above the stomach in the upper left quadrant of the abdomen.

Who Can Help With My Hormonal Imbalance Issues?

It is essential that your glands perform correctly, or your health will be negatively affected. If your body is showing signs that a gland is not working properly – such as if you’ve gained weight or lost weight, or your blood pressure is too low or too high, etc. – call the Advanced Medical Clinic today at (561) 434-1935 or fill out our simple online appointment request form to discuss your concerns with our caring professionals.

Following a diagnosis, a plan will be put in place to address the symptoms you’ve been experiencing, and we can help you get on the road to recovery so you can enjoy life again. We look forward to hearing from you.

5 Tips for Living Better with Hypothyroidism

Has living with an underactive thyroid, or hypothyroidism, reduced your quality of life? If you’re in the 5% of Americans diagnosed and living with it, hypothyroidism has probably taken its toll on your activity level, sleep, and even moods, as it can be physically and emotionally draining.

Hypothyroidism is a condition caused when your thyroid doesn’t produce enough thyroid hormone. Your thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland at the base of the neck in front of your windpipe. The hormones produced by the thyroid are meaningful for regulating metabolism and other hormone interactions with the pituitary gland and hypothalamus in the brain. So when you don’t produce enough of these hormones, it throws your other physiological functions out of whack, and you may experience weight gain, hair loss and thinning, body aches, and even depression.

The most common treatment is a simple prescription for synthetic thyroid hormones, with regular monitoring by your doctor. But what else can you do to feel your best while living with an underactive thyroid?

Here are our top five tips for living well with hypothyroidism:

  1. Get educated and involved. As with all chronic illnesses, it’s up to you to know what’s going on. Your involvement in managing your condition will have a dramatic impact on your day-to-day wellness. Do your homework to learn all you need to know about your condition.
  2. Alter your diet. You can help your body function as well as possible and gain a lot of energy back by focusing on your diet. It is important to consult with your doctor regarding your specific dietary needs as an individual, especially if you have an underactive thyroid. Focus on whole foods, incorporating large quantities of vegetables that aren’t known to interfere with thyroid function; eat fresh fruits, lean protein, and healthy fats.
  3. Exercise. Some days living with hypothyroidism, just making it through the day can feel impossible. However, the less you exercise, the less energy you’ll have and the worse you’ll feel. If you exercise regularly, you’ll have more energy, feel better, and it’ll be easier to remain active. For people living with hypothyroidism, it’s actually important to avoid working out too much or too strenuously. Hitting the gym too hard can actually damage thyroid function and make symptoms worse. Instead, find a light aerobic activity you enjoy (walking, jogging, biking, dancing, tennis, golf) and aim to have three to four good sessions per week. Staying active will help with weight management, hormone balance, better sleep, and also stress relief, which is an important component of staying well with hypothyroidism.
  4. Manage stress. Life is hectic and stressful enough without having to manage a chronic condition. Unfortunately, stress makes hypothyroid symptoms worse. Make the effort to find a stress management technique that works for you, and make yourself a priority in your schedule. Many people living with hypothyroidism practice meditation, yoga, daily prayer, or journaling. Others have regular massages or acupuncture. Another way to manage stress is to seek support. Many support groups exist, both in person and online, for people living with hypothyroidism. Support groups offer opportunities to share struggles and be inspired by triumphs. It helps tremendously to talk to people who understand what you’re going through.
  5. Listen to your body. Monitor your own progress, and be your own advocate. Don’t settle for not feeling well. Take charge of your health, and if you feel something isn’t right, speak up to your doctor. If one or a few of your symptoms seem out of control, ask Dr. Gunawardene what else you can do to feel better.

Dr. Ishan Gunawardene seeks to build relationships with his patients, and stay with them every step of the way, from diagnosis to treatment and long-term disease management.

As a highly accomplished internist, Dr. Gunawardene can help guide you through your hypothyroid concerns for the best possible outcome. Call our office today at (561) 434-1935 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Gunawardene, or request an appointment online.

Walk-ins and same-day appointments are welcome! Don’t put off getting the help you need and the quality of care you deserve any longer.