Introduction
The pituitary glands are very important for the functionality of your body, as they are responsible with the production and secretions of many hormones, that are essential for a body to function, assist and perform in the protection of the overall health. A glandular disease is a physical condition in which there is a disturbance of the normal functioning. Medical professionals have recognized a large number of gland diseases, from which we can name the most common ones: goiters, thyroiditis, thyroid cancer, hyperthyroidism, and hypothyroidism. Some gland disorders are more serious than others, and therefore it is important to understand and recognize each of them.
Identification
Identifying a gland disease early can prevent complications over other functioning organs. Many gland diseases are not showing symptoms in the early stages, while others can have a disastrous impact on the functionality of other organs. There are various symptoms that can help to identify gland disorders. For example, the Addison's disease is causing anemia and prostration with brownish skin. The hyperpituitarism is an over activity of the pituitary gland, leading to the secretion in excess of growth hormone. Hyperparathyroidism is when excessive secretion of parathyroid hormone is causing abnormally high levels of calcium in the blood, while hypoparathyroidism is when an inadequate secretion of parathyroid hormone has as result abnormally low levels of calcium in the blood. When the glands are not functioning correctly, there are various symptoms that can be an alert sign. You might lose or gain weight, feel tired and weak, develop nausea, vomiting, increase or decrease your blood pressure, and much more. Some of these symptoms can make you suspect other disorders, and therefore the specialist’s opinion is important.
Treatment
There are two major situations that can influence the treatment of gland diseases. The pituitary glands can either produce insufficient hormones, or can produce them in excess. A correct treatment program has to be established by a professional doctor only, and only as result of relevant tests. The treatment of a gland disorder can include hydrocortisone, prednisone, testosterone etc, which can be administrated by mouth or as intravenous fluids. A right treatment will help the glands to produce the necessary quantity of hormones, in order not to affect the functionality of other organs. In many gland disorders the treatment has to be followed for the entire life time.
Prevention
When glands diseases are diagnosed, an immediate treatment is recommended. This is because gland diseases can affect many systems of the body, causing for example obesity, osteoporosis, or bone re-absorption. Preventing gland diseases can be possible, but not in all cases. The first thing that you can do to prevent gland diseases is to quit smoking. Smoking a lot is increasing the chances of making a gland disease. Another thing that can help is to maintain a health and balanced diet. Drinking minimum eight glasses of water per day can also help a lot to prevent gland diseases. It has been demonstrated that maintaining a good oral hygiene and visiting the dentist often are also very important in the prevention process.
