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Archive for the ‘Hormone Physician’ Category

Doctors admit link between transgender hormone therapy and cancer in leaked emails – The Telegraph

Doctors admit link between transgender hormone therapy and cancer in leaked emails  The Telegraph

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Doctors admit link between transgender hormone therapy and cancer in leaked emails - The Telegraph

Rare cases of possible Alzheimers transmission uncovered in recipients of discontinued medical treatment – CNN

Rare cases of possible Alzheimers transmission uncovered in recipients of discontinued medical treatment  CNN

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500000 women benefit from cheaper hormone replacement therapy – GOV.UK

500000 women benefit from cheaper hormone replacement therapy  GOV.UK

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500000 women benefit from cheaper hormone replacement therapy - GOV.UK

7 Best Menopause Supplements Of 2024 Forbes Health – Forbes

7 Best Menopause Supplements Of 2024 Forbes Health  Forbes

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7 Best Menopause Supplements Of 2024 Forbes Health - Forbes

Why Is My Period So Light? 9 Reasons, According To Ob-Gyns – Women’s Health

Why Is My Period So Light? 9 Reasons, According To Ob-Gyns  Women's Health

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Why Is My Period So Light? 9 Reasons, According To Ob-Gyns - Women's Health

Ask A Doctor: What Are The Most Common Migraine Triggers? – MSN

Ask A Doctor: What Are The Most Common Migraine Triggers?  MSN

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Ask A Doctor: What Are The Most Common Migraine Triggers? - MSN

Attitude, Practices, and Barriers to Menopausal Hormone Therapy Among Physicians in Saudi Arabia – Cureus

Attitude, Practices, and Barriers to Menopausal Hormone Therapy Among Physicians in Saudi Arabia  Cureus

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Attitude, Practices, and Barriers to Menopausal Hormone Therapy Among Physicians in Saudi Arabia - Cureus

Kris Tyson Showed Her Transformation One Year After Starting Hormone Replacement Therapy – Yahoo Entertainment

Kris Tyson Showed Her Transformation One Year After Starting Hormone Replacement Therapy  Yahoo Entertainment

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Kris Tyson Showed Her Transformation One Year After Starting Hormone Replacement Therapy - Yahoo Entertainment

Missouri Likely Next State To Restrict Gender-Affirming CareHere Are All The States With Similar Bans Or Restrictions – Forbes

Missouri Likely Next State To Restrict Gender-Affirming CareHere Are All The States With Similar Bans Or Restrictions  Forbes

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Missouri Likely Next State To Restrict Gender-Affirming CareHere Are All The States With Similar Bans Or Restrictions - Forbes

Texas panel advances bill that would hinder transgender kids access to puberty blockers & hormone therapies – 25 News KXXV and KRHD

Texas panel advances bill that would hinder transgender kids access to puberty blockers & hormone therapies  25 News KXXV and KRHD

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It took me 2 years to get diagnosed as menopausal because I’m in my 30s. And I’m nonbinary, so doctors were ev – Business Insider India

It took me 2 years to get diagnosed as menopausal because I'm in my 30s. And I'm nonbinary, so doctors were ev  Business Insider India

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It took me 2 years to get diagnosed as menopausal because I'm in my 30s. And I'm nonbinary, so doctors were ev - Business Insider India

What happens when you stop taking Ozempic? Doctors explain long-term effects of weight loss, diabetes drug – The Hill

What happens when you stop taking Ozempic? Doctors explain long-term effects of weight loss, diabetes drug  The Hill

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What happens when you stop taking Ozempic? Doctors explain long-term effects of weight loss, diabetes drug - The Hill

Dr. Nishath Hakim, is Among the First Doctors in America to be Named a Best Doctor by the Womens Choice Award – EIN News

Dr. Nishath Hakim, is Among the First Doctors in America to be Named a Best Doctor by the Womens Choice Award  EIN News

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VERU INC. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (form 10-Q) – Marketscreener.com

VERU INC. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (form 10-Q)  Marketscreener.com

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Hormone | Definition, Function, & Types | Britannica

Relationships between endocrine and neural regulation

Hormonal regulation is closely related to that exerted by the nervous system, and the two processes have generally been distinguished by the rate at which each causes effects, the duration of these effects, and their extent; i.e., the effects of endocrine regulation may be slow to develop but prolonged in influence and widely distributed through the body, whereas nervous regulation is typically concerned with quick responses that are of brief duration and localized in their effects. Advances in knowledge, however, have modified these distinctions.

Nerve cells are secretory, for responses to the nerve impulses that they propagate depend upon the production of chemical transmitter substances, or neurotransmitters, such as acetylcholine and norepinephrine (noradrenaline), which are liberated at nerve endings in minute amounts and have only a momentary action. It has been established, however, that certain specialized nerve cells, called neurosecretory cells, can translate neural signals into chemical stimuli by producing secretions called neurohormones. These secretions, which are often polypeptides (compounds similar to proteins but composed of fewer amino acids), pass along nerve-cell extensions, or axons, and are typically released into the bloodstream at special regions called neurohemal organs, where the axon endings are in close contact with blood capillaries. Once released in this way, neurohormones function in principle similar to hormones that are transmitted in the bloodstream and are synthesized in the endocrine glands.

The distinctions between neural and endocrine regulation, no longer as clear-cut as they once seemed to be, are further weakened by the fact that neurosecretory nerve endings are sometimes so close to their target cells that vascular transmission is not necessary. There is good evidence that hormonal regulation occurs by diffusion in plants and (although here the evidence is largely indirect) in lower animals (e.g., coelenterates), which lack a vascular system.

Hormones have a long evolutionary history, knowledge of which is important if their properties and functions are to be understood. Many important features of the vertebrate endocrine system, for example, are present in the lampreys and hagfishes, modern representatives of the primitively jawless vertebrates (Agnatha), and these features were presumably present in fossil ancestors that lived more than 500 million years ago. The evolution of the endocrine system in the more advanced vertebrates with jaws (Gnathostomata) has involved both the appearance of new hormones and the further evolution of some of those already present in agnathans; in addition, extensive specialization of target organs has occurred to permit new patterns of response.

The factors involved in the first appearance of the various hormones is largely a matter for conjecture, although hormones clearly are only one mechanism for chemical regulation, diverse forms of which are found in living things at all stages of development. Other mechanisms for chemical regulation include chemical substances (so-called organizer substances) that regulate early embryonic development and the pheromones that are released by social insects as sex attractants and regulators of the social organization. Perhaps, in some instances, chemical regulators including hormones appeared first as metabolic by-products. A few such substances are known in physiological regulation: carbon dioxide, for example, is involved in the regulation of the respiratory activity of which it is a product, in insects as well as in vertebrates. Substances such as carbon dioxide are called parahormones to distinguish them from true hormones, which are specialized secretions.

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Hormone | Definition, Function, & Types | Britannica

Hormone – Wikipedia

Biological signalling molecule

A hormone (from the Greek participle , "setting in motion") is a class of signaling molecules in multicellular organisms that are sent to distant organs by complex biological processes to regulate physiology and behavior.[1] Hormones are required for the correct development of animals, plants and fungi. Due to the broad definition of a hormone (as a signaling molecule that exerts its effects far from its site of production), numerous kinds of molecules can be classified as hormones. Among the substances that can be considered hormones, are eicosanoids (e.g. prostaglandins and thromboxanes), steroids (e.g. oestrogen and brassinosteroid), amino acid derivatives (e.g. epinephrine and auxin), protein or peptides (e.g. insulin and CLE peptides), and gases (e.g. ethylene and nitric oxide).

Hormones are used to communicate between organs and tissues. In vertebrates, hormones are responsible for regulating a variety of physiological processes and behavioral activities such as digestion, metabolism, respiration, sensory perception, sleep, excretion, lactation, stress induction, growth and development, movement, reproduction, and mood manipulation.[2][3] In plants, hormones modulate almost all aspects of development, from germination to senescence.[4]

Hormones affect distant cells by binding to specific receptor proteins in the target cell, resulting in a change in cell function. When a hormone binds to the receptor, it results in the activation of a signal transduction pathway that typically activates gene transcription, resulting in increased expression of target proteins. Hormones can also act in non-genomic pathways that synergize with genomic effects.[5] Water-soluble hormones (such as peptides and amines) generally act on the surface of target cells via second messengers. Lipid soluble hormones, (such as steroids) generally pass through the plasma membranes of target cells (both cytoplasmic and nuclear) to act within their nuclei. Brassinosteroids, a type of polyhydroxysteroids, are a sixth class of plant hormones and may be useful as an anticancer drug for endocrine-responsive tumors to cause apoptosis and limit plant growth. Despite being lipid soluble, they nevertheless attach to their receptor at the cell surface.[6]

In vertebrates, endocrine glands are specialized organs that secrete hormones into the endocrine signaling system. Hormone secretion occurs in response to specific biochemical signals and is often subject to negative feedback regulation. For instance, high blood sugar (serum glucose concentration) promotes insulin synthesis. Insulin then acts to reduce glucose levels and maintain homeostasis, leading to reduced insulin levels. Upon secretion, water-soluble hormones are readily transported through the circulatory system. Lipid-soluble hormones must bond to carrier plasma glycoproteins (e.g., thyroxine-binding globulin (TBG)) to form ligand-protein complexes. Some hormones, such as insulin and growth hormones, can be released into the bloodstream already fully active. Other hormones, called prohormones, must be activated in certain cells through a series of steps that are usually tightly controlled.[7] The endocrine system secretes hormones directly into the bloodstream, typically via fenestrated capillaries, whereas the exocrine system secretes its hormones indirectly using ducts. Hormones with paracrine function diffuse through the interstitial spaces to nearby target tissue.

Plants lack specialized organs for the secretion of hormones, although there is spatial distribution of hormone production. For example, the hormone auxin is produced mainly at the tips of young leaves and in the shoot apical meristem. The lack of specialised glands means that the main site of hormone production can change throughout the life of a plant, and the site of production is dependent on the plant's age and environment.[8]

Hormonal signaling involves the following steps:[9]

Hormone producing cells are found in the endocrine glands, such as the thyroid gland, ovaries, and testes.[10] Exocytosis and other methods of membrane transport are used to secrete hormones when the endocrine glands are signaled. The hierarchical model is an oversimplification of the hormonal signaling process. Cellular recipients of a particular hormonal signal may be one of several cell types that reside within a number of different tissues, as is the case for insulin, which triggers a diverse range of systemic physiological effects. Different tissue types may also respond differently to the same hormonal signal.[citation needed]

Arnold Adolph Berthold was a German physiologist and zoologist, who, in 1849, had a question about the function of the testes. He noticed in castrated roosters that they did not have the same sexual behaviors as roosters with their testes intact. He decided to run an experiment on male roosters to examine this phenomenon. He kept a group of roosters with their testes intact, and saw that they had normal sized wattles and combs (secondary sexual organs), a normal crow, and normal sexual and aggressive behaviors. He also had a group with their testes surgically removed, and noticed that their secondary sexual organs were decreased in size, had a weak crow, did not have sexual attraction towards females, and were not aggressive. He realized that this organ was essential for these behaviors, but he did not know how. To test this further, he removed one testis and placed it in the abdominal cavity. The roosters acted and had normal physical anatomy. He was able to see that location of the testes does not matter. He then wanted to see if it was a genetic factor that was involved in the testes that provided these functions. He transplanted a testis from another rooster to a rooster with one testis removed, and saw that they had normal behavior and physical anatomy as well. Berthold determined that the location or genetic factors of the testes do not matter in relation to sexual organs and behaviors, but that some chemical in the testes being secreted is causing this phenomenon. It was later identified that this factor was the hormone testosterone.[11][12]

Although known primarily for his work on the Theory of Evolution, Charles Darwin was also keenly interested in plants. Through the 1870s, he and his son Francis studied the movement of plants towards light. They were able to show that light is perceived at the tip of a young stem (the coleoptile), whereas the bending occurs lower down the stem. They proposed that a 'transmissible substance' communicated the direction of light from the tip down to the stem. The idea of a 'transmissible substance' was initially dismissed by other plant biologists, but their work later led to the discovery of the first plant hormone.[13] In the 1920s Dutch scientist Frits Warmolt Went and Russian scientist Nikolai Cholodny (working independently of each other) conclusively showed that asymmetric accumulation of a growth hormone was responsible for this bending. In 1933 this hormone was finally isolated by Kgl, Haagen-Smit and Erxleben and given the name 'auxin'.[13][14][15]

British physician George Oliver` and physiologist Edward Albert Schfer, professor at University College London, collaborated on the physiological effects of adrenal extracts. They first published their findings in two reports in 1894, a full publication followed in 1895.[16][17] Though frequently falsely attributed to secretin, found in 1902 by Bayliss and Starling, Oliver and Schfer's adrenal extract containing adrenaline, the substance causing the physiological changes, was the first hormone to be discovered. The term hormone would later be coined by Starling.[18]

William Bayliss and Ernest Starling, a physiologist and biologist, respectively, wanted to see if the nervous system had an impact on the digestive system. They knew that the pancreas was involved in the secretion of digestive fluids after the passage of food from the stomach to the intestines, which they believed to be due to the nervous system. They cut the nerves to the pancreas in an animal model and discovered that it was not nerve impulses that controlled secretion from the pancreas. It was determined that a factor secreted from the intestines into the bloodstream was stimulating the pancreas to secrete digestive fluids. This was named secretin: a hormone.

Hormonal effects are dependent on where they are released, as they can be released in different manners.[19] Not all hormones are released from a cell and into the blood until it binds to a receptor on a target. The major types of hormone signaling are:

As hormones are defined functionally, not structurally, they may have diverse chemical structures. Hormones occur in multicellular organisms (plants, animals, fungi, brown algae, and red algae). These compounds occur also in unicellular organisms, and may act as signaling molecules however there is no agreement that these molecules can be called hormones.[20][21]

Compared with vertebrates, insects and crustaceans possess a number of structurally unusual hormones such as the juvenile hormone, a sesquiterpenoid.[23]

Examples include abscisic acid, auxin, cytokinin, ethylene, and gibberellin.[24]

Most hormones initiate a cellular response by initially binding to either cell membrane associated or intracellular receptors. A cell may have several different receptor types that recognize the same hormone but activate different signal transduction pathways, or a cell may have several different receptors that recognize different hormones and activate the same biochemical pathway.[25]

Receptors for most peptide as well as many eicosanoid hormones are embedded in the plasma membrane at the surface of the cell and the majority of these receptors belong to the G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) class of seven alpha helix transmembrane proteins. The interaction of hormone and receptor typically triggers a cascade of secondary effects within the cytoplasm of the cell, described as signal transduction, often involving phosphorylation or dephosphorylation of various other cytoplasmic proteins, changes in ion channel permeability, or increased concentrations of intracellular molecules that may act as secondary messengers (e.g., cyclic AMP). Some protein hormones also interact with intracellular receptors located in the cytoplasm or nucleus by an intracrine mechanism.[26][27]

For steroid or thyroid hormones, their receptors are located inside the cell within the cytoplasm of the target cell. These receptors belong to the nuclear receptor family of ligand-activated transcription factors. To bind their receptors, these hormones must first cross the cell membrane. They can do so because they are lipid-soluble. The combined hormone-receptor complex then moves across the nuclear membrane into the nucleus of the cell, where it binds to specific DNA sequences, regulating the expression of certain genes, and thereby increasing the levels of the proteins encoded by these genes.[28] However, it has been shown that not all steroid receptors are located inside the cell. Some are associated with the plasma membrane.[29]

Hormones have the following effects on the body:[30]

A hormone may also regulate the production and release of other hormones. Hormone signals control the internal environment of the body through homeostasis.

The rate of hormone biosynthesis and secretion is often regulated by a homeostatic negative feedback control mechanism. Such a mechanism depends on factors that influence the metabolism and excretion of hormones. Thus, higher hormone concentration alone cannot trigger the negative feedback mechanism. Negative feedback must be triggered by overproduction of an "effect" of the hormone.[31][32]

Hormone secretion can be stimulated and inhibited by:

One special group of hormones is the tropic hormones that stimulate the hormone production of other endocrine glands. For example, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) causes growth and increased activity of another endocrine gland, the thyroid, which increases output of thyroid hormones.[33]

To release active hormones quickly into the circulation, hormone biosynthetic cells may produce and store biologically inactive hormones in the form of pre- or prohormones. These can then be quickly converted into their active hormone form in response to a particular stimulus.[33]

Eicosanoids are considered to act as local hormones. They are considered to be "local" because they possess specific effects on target cells close to their site of formation. They also have a rapid degradation cycle, making sure they do not reach distant sites within the body.[34]

Hormones are also regulated by receptor agonists. Hormones are ligands, which are any kinds of molecules that produce a signal by binding to a receptor site on a protein. Hormone effects can be inhibited, thus regulated, by competing ligands that bind to the same target receptor as the hormone in question. When a competing ligand is bound to the receptor site, the hormone is unable to bind to that site and is unable to elicit a response from the target cell. These competing ligands are called antagonists of the hormone.[35]

Many hormones and their structural and functional analogs are used as medication. The most commonly prescribed hormones are estrogens and progestogens (as methods of hormonal contraception and as HRT),[36] thyroxine (as levothyroxine, for hypothyroidism) and steroids (for autoimmune diseases and several respiratory disorders). Insulin is used by many diabetics. Local preparations for use in otolaryngology often contain pharmacologic equivalents of adrenaline, while steroid and vitamin D creams are used extensively in dermatological practice.[citation needed]

A "pharmacologic dose" or "supraphysiological dose" of a hormone is a medical usage referring to an amount of a hormone far greater than naturally occurs in a healthy body. The effects of pharmacologic doses of hormones may be different from responses to naturally occurring amounts and may be therapeutically useful, though not without potentially adverse side effects. An example is the ability of pharmacologic doses of glucocorticoids to suppress inflammation.

At the neurological level, behavior can be inferred based on hormone concentration, which in turn are influenced by hormone-release patterns; the numbers and locations of hormone receptors; and the efficiency of hormone receptors for those involved in gene transcription. Hormone concentration does not incite behavior, as that would undermine other external stimuli; however, it influences the system by increasing the probability of a certain event to occur.[37]

Not only can hormones influence behavior, but also behavior and the environment can influence hormone concentration.[38] Thus, a feedback loop is formed, meaning behavior can affect hormone concentration, which in turn can affect behavior, which in turn can affect hormone concentration, and so on.[39] For example, hormone-behavior feedback loops are essential in providing constancy to episodic hormone secretion, as the behaviors affected by episodically secreted hormones directly prevent the continuous release of said hormones.[40]

Three broad stages of reasoning may be used to determine if a specific hormone-behavior interaction is present within a system:[citation needed]

There are various clear distinctions between hormones and neurotransmitters:[41][42][35]

Neurohormones are a type of hormone that share a commonality with neurotransmitters.[45] They are produced by endocrine cells that receive input from neurons, or neuroendocrine cells.[45] Both classic hormones and neurohormones are secreted by endocrine tissue; however, neurohormones are the result of a combination between endocrine reflexes and neural reflexes, creating a neuroendocrine pathway.[35] While endocrine pathways produce chemical signals in the form of hormones, the neuroendocrine pathway involves the electrical signals of neurons.[35] In this pathway, the result of the electrical signal produced by a neuron is the release of a chemical, which is the neurohormone.[35] Finally, like a classic hormone, the neurohormone is released into the bloodstream to reach its target.[35]

Hormone transport and the involvement of binding proteins is an essential aspect when considering the function of hormones.[citation needed]

The formation of a complex with a binding protein has several benefits: the effective half-life of the bound hormone is increased, and a reservoir of bound hormones is created, which evens the variations in concentration of unbound hormones (bound hormones will replace the unbound hormones when these are eliminated).[46] An example of the usage of hormone-binding proteins is in the thyroxine-binding protein which carries up to 80% of all thyroxine in the body, a crucial element in regulating the metabolic rate.[47]

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Hormone - Wikipedia

Hormones: What They Are, Function & Types – Cleveland Clinic

What are hormones?

Hormones are chemicals that coordinate different functions in your body by carrying messages through your blood to your organs, skin, muscles and other tissues. These signals tell your body what to do and when to do it. Hormones are essential for life and your health.

Scientists have identified over 50 hormones in the human body so far.

Hormones and most of the tissues (mainly glands) that create and release them make up your endocrine system. Hormones control many different bodily processes, including:

With hormones, a little bit goes a long way. Because of this, minor changes in levels can cause significant changes to your body and lead to certain conditions that require medical treatment.

Hormones are chemical messengers that affect and manage hundreds of bodily processes. Often, a bodily process involves a chain reaction of several different hormones.

A hormone will only act on a part of your body if it fits if the cells in the target tissue have receptors that receive the message of the hormone. Think of a hormone as a key and the cells of its target tissue, such as an organ or fat tissue, as specially shaped locks. If the hormone fits the lock (receptor) on the cell wall, then itll work; the hormone will deliver a message that causes the target site to take a specific action.

Your body uses hormones for two types of communication. The first type is communication between two endocrine glands: One gland releases a hormone, which stimulates another gland to change the levels of hormones that its releasing. An example of this is the communication between your pituitary gland and thyroid. Your pituitary gland releases thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), which triggers your thyroid gland to release its hormones, which then affect various aspects of your body.

The second type of communication is between an endocrine gland and a target organ. An example of this is when your pancreas releases insulin, which then acts on your muscles and liver to help process glucose.

Specialized glands that make up your endocrine system make and release most of the hormones in your body. A gland is an organ that makes one or more substances, such as hormones, digestive juices, sweat or tears. Endocrine glands release hormones directly into your bloodstream.

Your endocrine system consists of the following glands:

But not all organs and tissues that release hormones or hormone-like substances are considered part of the endocrine system. Other body tissues that release hormones include:

Your hypothalamus is a small region of your brain that connects to your pituitary gland through the pituitary stalk. It releases several hormones that control your pituitary gland.

Your hypothalamus makes the following hormones:

Your pituitary gland is a pea-sized gland at the base of your brain, behind the bridge of your nose and directly below your hypothalamus. It consists of two lobes: the posterior lobe and the anterior lobe. Your pituitary gland releases several hormones many of which control the functions of other endocrine glands.

The anterior pituitary makes and releases the following six hormones:

The posterior pituitary releases the following hormones:

Your pineal gland is a tiny gland in your brain thats located beneath the back part of the corpus callosum (nerve fibers that connect the two parts of your brain). It releases the hormone melatonin, which helps control your sleep-wake cycle.

Your thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland located at the front of your neck under your skin. Your thyroids main job is to control the speed of your metabolism (metabolic rate), which is the process of how your body transforms the food you consume into energy.

Your thyroid releases the following hormones:

Thyroxine and triiodothyronine are often collectively called thyroid hormone.

Most people have four pea-sized parathyroid glands located behind their thyroid gland (the butterfly-shaped gland in your neck). Sometimes, your parathyroid glands are located along your esophagus or in your chest. These are known as ectopic (in an abnormal place) parathyroid glands.

The main job of your parathyroid glands is to release parathyroid hormone (PTH), which is responsible for the calcium balance in your blood and bone health.

Your adrenal glands, also known as suprarenal glands, are small, triangle-shaped glands that are located on top of each of your two kidneys.

Your adrenal glands make the following hormones:

Your pancreas is an organ in the back of your abdomen (belly). Its part of your digestive system and endocrine system.

The islet cells (endocrine cells) in your pancreas make the following hormones:

People assigned female at birth (AFAB) have two ovaries each located on both sides of their uterus below the opening of the fallopian tubes. In addition to containing the egg cells necessary for reproduction, the ovaries produce the following hormones:

People assigned male at birth (AMAB) have two testes that hang in a pouch outside of their body below their penis. The testes are part of the male reproductive system and produce sperm and the hormone testosterone.

Adipose tissue is commonly known as body fat. Its located all over your body, including under your skin, around internal organs, between muscles, in bone marrow and breast tissue.

Adipose tissue makes and releases the following hormones:

Your kidneys are two bean-shaped organs that filter your blood. Theyre part of your urinary system, but they also produce hormones, including:

Your liver is an essential organ and gland, performing hundreds of functions necessary to sustain life. Its considered part of your digestive system, but also produces hormones, including:

Your gut (gastrointestinal tract) is the long, connected tube that starts at your mouth and ends at your anus. Its responsible for digestion. Scientists are currently studying the hormones that your gut makes and their effects. These hormones include:

The placenta is a temporary organ that develops in your uterus during pregnancy. It provides oxygen and nutrients to the developing fetus. The placenta produces the hormones estrogen and progesterone to maintain the pregnancy.

Dozens of medical conditions are caused by hormone issues. For most hormones, having too much or too little of them causes symptoms and issues with your health. These imbalances often require treatment. Some of the most common hormone-related conditions include:

Each hormone-related condition can have several different possible causes. In general, the main conditions or situations that cause hormone imbalances include:

Primary healthcare providers can diagnose and help you manage many hormone conditions. However, you may benefit from seeing an endocrinologist.

An endocrinologist is a healthcare provider who specializes in endocrinology, a field of medicine that studies conditions related to your hormones. An endocrinologist can diagnose endocrine (hormone) conditions, develop treatment and management plans for them and prescribe medication.

A note from Cleveland Clinic

Hormones are an important and essential part of human existence. While your body normally carefully balances its hormones, having too little or too much of a certain hormone can lead to health problems. If youre experiencing any concerning symptoms, its important to talk to your healthcare provider. They can order tests to see if you have a hormone imbalance or if something else is causing your symptoms.

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Hormones: What They Are, Function & Types - Cleveland Clinic

Hormones and the Endocrine System | Johns Hopkins Medicine

Where the hormone is produced

Hormone(s) secreted

Hormone function

Adrenal glands

Aldosterone

Regulates salt,water balance, and blood pressure

Adrenal glands

Corticosteroid

Controls key functions in the body; acts as an anti-inflammatory; maintains blood sugar levels, blood pressure, and muscle strength; regulates salt and water balance

Pituitary gland

Antidiuretic hormone (vasopressin)

Affects water retention in kidneys; controls blood pressure

Pituitary gland

Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)

Controls production of sex hormones (estrogen in women and testosterone in men) and the production of eggs in women and sperm in men.

Pituitary gland

Growth hormone (GH)

Affects growth and development; stimulates protein production; affects fat distribution

Pituitary gland

Luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)

Controlsproduction of sex hormones (estrogen in women and testosterone in men) and the production of eggs in women and sperm in men

Pituitary gland

Oxytocin

Stimulates contraction of uterus and milk ducts in the breast

Pituitary gland

Prolactin

Initiates and maintains milk production in breasts; impacts sex hormone levels

Pituitary gland

Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)

Stimulates the production and secretion of thyroid hormones

Kidneys

Renin and angiotensin

Controls blood pressure, both directly and also by regulating aldosterone production from the adrenal glands

Kidneys

Erythropoietin

Affects red blood cell (RBC) production

Pancreas

Glucagon

Raises blood sugar levels

Pancreas

Insulin

Lowers blood sugar levels; stimulates metabolism of glucose, protein, and fat

Ovaries

Estrogen

Affects development of female sexual characteristics and reproductive development, important for functioning of uterus and breasts; also protects bone health

Ovaries

Progesterone

Stimulates the lining of the uterus for fertilization; prepares the breasts for milk production

Parathyroid glands

Parathyroid hormone (PTH)

Most important regulator of blood calcium levels

Thyroid gland

Thyroid hormone

Controls metabolism; also affects growth, maturation, nervous system activity, and metabolism

Adrenal glands

Epinephrine

Increases heart rate, oxygen intake, and blood flow

Adrenal glands

Norepinephrine

Maintainsblood pressure

Testes (testicles)

Testosterone

Develop and maintain male sexual characteristics and maturation

Pineal gland

Melatonin

Releases melatonin during night hours to help with sleep

Hypothalamus

Growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH)

Regulates growth hormone release in the pituitary gland

Hypothalamus

Thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH)

Regulates thyroid stimulating hormone release in the pituitary gland

Hypothalamus

Gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH)

Regulates LH/FSH production in the pituitary gland

Hypothalamus

Corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH)

Regulates adrenocorticotropin release in the pituitary gland

Thymus

Humoral factors

Helps develop the lymphoid system

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Hormones and the Endocrine System | Johns Hopkins Medicine

What are Hormones? Types, Functions and Hormonal Diseases – BYJUS

Hormones Definition

Hormones are chemicals synthesized and produced by the specialized glands to control and regulate the activity of certain cells and organs. These specialized glands are known as endocrine glands.

Table of Contents

What are Hormones?

As stated above, hormones are chemicals that essentially function as messengers of the body. These chemicals are secreted by special glands known as the endocrine glands. These endocrine glands are distributed throughout the body. These messengers control many physiological functions as well as psychological health. They are also quite important in maintaining homeostasis in the body.

Explore more: Endocrine Glands And Hormones

The effects of hormones depend on how they are released. Hence, signalling effects can be classified into the following:

Types of Hormones

To regulate various functions, different types of hormones are produced in the body. They are classified as follows:

Peptide hormones are composed of amino acids and are soluble in water. Peptide hormones are unable to pass through the cell membrane as it contains a phospholipid bilayer that stops any fat-insoluble molecules from diffusing into the cell. Insulin is an important peptide hormone produced by the pancreas.

Unlike peptide hormones, steroid hormones are fat-soluble and are able to pass through a cell membrane. Sex hormones such as testosterone, estrogen and progesterone are examples of steroid hormones.

Also Read:Placebo Effect

Endocrine Glands and the Hormones Secreted

As stated before, hormones are released by the endocrine glands. These are different from other glands of the human body as they are ductless.

All these glands work together to produce and manage the hormones of the body.

Also Read:Sex Hormones

List of Important Hormones

Also Read: Animal Hormones

Functions of Hormones

Following are some important functions of hormones:

Also Read: Plant Growth Regulators

Hormonal Diseases

Several hormonal diseases occur when there is a malfunctioning of the endocrine glands. Common hormonal issues are associated with hypothalamus, adrenal and pituitary glands. An increase or decrease in the secretion of these hormones can severely affect growth, metabolism and development.

Diseases such as hyperthyroidism, osteoporosis, and diabetes are caused due to hormonal imbalance. The factors responsible for hormonal diseases can be genetic, environmental, or related to diet.

Also Read:Mechanism of Hormone Action

Why are Hormones called Chemical Messengers?

The prominent role ofhormonesis that of a messenger. Hypothalamus is a part of forebrain where a numerous amount of neurosecretory cells are present. These neurosecretory cells are specialized in the secretion of a hormone called neurohormones. They stimulate the anterior lobe of the pituitary to produce various other hormones.

Sometimes, hormones act more than a regulator than a messenger. The changes in the level of hormone production lead to certain changes in the body. Thus, hormone as a regulator maintains the homeostasis of the body. Once the hormones meet their target, their production needs to be controlled and this is attained by a mechanism called feedback control mechanism. The feedback mechanism could either be positive or negative.

Feedback Mechanism Thyroid

Thethyroid glandproduces a hormone called thyroxine, and its secretion is controlled by the Thyrotropin Releasing Hormone (TRH) from the hypothalamus and the Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) from the anterior pituitary.

When the level of thyroxine in the blood reduces, the hypothalamus stimulates the thyroxine secretion by stimulating TSH secretion. This represents a positive feedback mechanism.

If the hypothalamus continues to stimulate thyroxine production, it could result in a high level of thyroxine in the blood. This sends negative feedback to the hypothalamus to reduce or stop the TRH and TSH secretion which regulates the thyroxine level in the body. This is a negative feedback mechanism.

Hormones are meant for their target tissues for specific functions. As soon as they meet their target, they are removed. This is mainly done by the liver, kidney and other organs.

Also Read:Feedback Mechanism of Hormones

Learn more in detail about what are hormones, different types of hormones, their functions and other related topics at BYJUS Biology.

Hormones are the chemicals that are responsible for controlling and regulating the activities of certain cells and organs. These hormones are secreted by ductless glands known as endocrine glands.

Hormones are classified into two types, namely: Peptide hormones and steroid hormones.

Hormones are made of either proteins or steroids.

The hormone released by the adrenal glands is called Epinephrine. It is also called adrenaline.

The hormone produced by the pineal gland is Melatonin. It regulates the bodys sleep cycle.

The thyroid gland is responsible for producing thyroxine, triiodothyronine, and calcitonin.

In males, testosterone is produced by the testes while ovaries produce the same hormone in females.

Progesterone is produced by the ovaries.

The hormone responsible for gigantism is growth hormones, which are released by the pituitary gland.

Acromegaly is the result of excess production of the growth hormone by the pituitary gland, commonly as a result of a benign tumour.

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What are Hormones? Types, Functions and Hormonal Diseases - BYJUS

Patient Engagement | Endocrine Society

Your Health and Hormones Close

We are here to help you understand how hormones work and use that knowledge to manage your health.

We empower high-quality, equitable healthcare for people with hormone health conditions, including diabetes and obesity, infertility, thyroid conditions, osteoporosis, and hormone-related cancers. Together, we promote an environment that helps people of all backgrounds and ethnicities access the medical care they need.

Through our multi-lingual educational materials, and EndoCares program, the Endocrine Society provides opportunities for you to connect with endocrinologists across the globe. For more than two decades, our 18,000 members have leveraged their medical and scientific expertise to provide trusted information to the public.

Endocrinology is the study of medicine that relates to the endocrine system, which is the system that controls hormones. Hormones regulate:

Hormones are produced by glands and sent into the bloodstream to the various tissues in the body. They send signals to those tissues to tell them what they are supposed to do. When the glands do not produce the right amount of hormones, diseases develop that can affect many aspects of life.

Endocrinologists are specially trained physicians, who treat those that suffer from hormonal imbalances. They have thoroughly studied hormonal conditions and know the best treatments and therapies. options. Most general practitioners have the skills necessary to diagnose and treat basic hormonal conditions, but sometimes the help of a specialist is needed.

The Patient Engagement Committee is comprised of Endocrine Society members, clinicians, researchers, educators, with expertise in endocrinology's major therapeutic areas. The committees role is to identify the educational needs of endocrine science for patients and the public, oversee the impact and outcomes of our program, and provide translational knowledge on specific hormone-related conditions.

Are you an Endocrine Society member interested in creating or reviewing content? Let us know you are interested, by filling out the volunteer form here.

DISCLAIMER:WE DO NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE -The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images and other material contained on this website are for informational and educational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

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Patient Engagement | Endocrine Society

Uterine Fibroids | ACOG

Anemia: Abnormally low levels of red blood cells in the bloodstream. Most cases are caused by iron deficiency (lack of iron).

Cervix: The lower, narrow end of the uterus at the top of the vagina.

Cesarean Birth: Birth of a fetus from the uterus through an incision made in the womans abdomen.

Computed Tomography (CT): A type of X-ray that shows internal organs and structures in cross section.

Estrogen: A female hormone produced in the ovaries.

Fetus: The stage of human development beyond 8 completed weeks after fertilization.

Fallopian Tubes: Tubes through which an egg travels from the ovary to the uterus.

Gonadotropin-releasing Hormone (GnRH): A hormone made in the brain that tells the pituitary gland when to produce follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone.

Hysterectomy: Surgery to remove the uterus.

Hysterosalpingography: A special X-ray procedure in which a small amount of fluid is placed in the uterus and fallopian tubes to find abnormal changes or see if the tubes are blocked.

Hysteroscopy: A procedure in which a lighted telescope is inserted into the uterus through the cervix to view the inside of the uterus or perform surgery.

Intrauterine Device (IUD): A small device that is inserted and left inside the uterus to prevent pregnancy.

Laparoscopy: A surgical procedure in which a thin, lighted telescope called a laparoscope is inserted through a small incision (cut) in the abdomen. The laparoscope is used to view the pelvic organs. Other instruments can be used with it to perform surgery.

Laparotomy: A surgical procedure in which an incision is made in the abdomen.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): A test to view internal organs and structures by using a strong magnetic field and sound waves.

Menopause: The time when a woman's menstrual periods stop permanently. Menopause is confirmed after 1 year of no periods.

Menstruation: The monthly shedding of blood and tissue from the uterus that happens when a woman is not pregnant.

Osteoporosis: A condition of thin bones that could allow them to break more easily.

Pelvic Exam: A physical examination of a womans pelvic organs.

Progesterone: A female hormone that is made in the ovaries and prepares the lining of the uterus for pregnancy.

Progestin: A synthetic form of progesterone that is similar to the hormone made naturally by the body.

Resectoscope: A slender telescope with an electrical wire loop or roller-ball tip used to remove or destroy tissue.

Sonohysterography: A procedure in which sterile fluid is injected into the uterus through the cervix while ultrasound images are taken of the inside of the uterus.

Tranexamic Acid: A drug to treat or prevent heavy bleeding.

Ultrasound Exam: A test in which sound waves are used to examine inner parts of the body. During pregnancy, ultrasound can be used to check the fetus.

Uterus: A muscular organ in the female pelvis. During pregnancy, this organ holds and nourishes the fetus. Also called the womb.

Uterine Artery Embolization: A procedure to block the blood vessels to the uterus. This procedure is used to stop bleeding after delivery. It is also used to stop other causes of bleeding from the uterus.

Vagina: A tube-like structure surrounded by muscles. The vagina leads from the uterus to the outside of the body.

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New Illinois Laws in 2023 That Focus on the Health, Wellness of State Residents – NBC Chicago

New Illinois Laws in 2023 That Focus on the Health, Wellness of State Residents  NBC Chicago

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New Illinois Laws in 2023 That Focus on the Health, Wellness of State Residents - NBC Chicago

Topiramate Weight Loss Reviews: Top 4 Over The Counter Alternative To Topamax For Weight Loss – Outlook India

Topiramate Weight Loss Reviews: Top 4 Over The Counter Alternative To Topamax For Weight Loss  Outlook India

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Topiramate Weight Loss Reviews: Top 4 Over The Counter Alternative To Topamax For Weight Loss - Outlook India

Breast cancer: What you need to know – Sanford Health News

Around 264,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer every year. Its one of the most common types of cancer in American women.

Heres what you need to know to protect your breast health.

Your body is growing new cells all the time. Usually, these cells die off when you dont need them any longer. Cancer is a group of abnormal cells that mutate and grow out of control when your body doesnt need them. They usually form a lump or mass.

Breast cancer describes any cancer that begins in the breast. It can affect both women and men, although it is rare in men. Out of every 100 breast cancers diagnosed, there is around one case found in a man.

The breast is made of lobules (milk glands), ducts, fat, tissue, lymph nodes and blood vessels. Cancer can start anywhere in the cells of the breast but is most likely to start in the lobules and ducts.

Experts dont know exactly what causes breast cancer, but they have identified some risk factors that make you more likely to get it.

Some risk factors are things you cant change, including:

Breast cancer usually isnt painful. If youre experiencing breast pain or discomfort, its more likely your menstrual cycle is the cause.

If your breast pain is severe or lasts longer than a few weeks, see your health care provider. Breast pain is rarely the main symptom of breast cancer, but it could still happen. Your provider will help you identify the cause of your breast pain and how to treat it.

In early stages, breast cancer can be too small to cause symptoms. This is what makes breast cancer screenings so important. Catching breast cancer early means its more treatable and less likely to have spread to other parts of the body.

As breast cancer grows, it can cause changes in your breasts such as:

If you notice any changes in your breasts, see your health care provider right away.

Find a Sanford Health provider.

There are steps you can take to help prevent breast cancer:

Having children also helps reduce your risk of getting breast cancer, especially if you have children before the age of 30.

The best way to protect your breast health is through regular screenings. Sanford Health recommends getting a mammogram every year starting at age 40. These screenings are important for catching breast cancer early when its most treatable.

Depending on your risk factors, you may need to get screened earlier than age 40. Talk to your doctor to learn when you should start screenings based on your personal risk.

Medical review by Michael Bouton, MD, a breast surgeon at the Sanford Medical Center in Fargo, North Dakota; Andrea Kaster, MD, a family medicine physician in the Edith Sanford Breast Center Fargo in Fargo, North Dakota; and Christina Tello-Skjerseth, MD, a radiologist at the Sanford Clinic in Bismarck, North Dakota.

Posted In Cancer, Cancer Screenings, Women's

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Breast cancer: What you need to know - Sanford Health News

Medical guidelines that embrace the humility of uncertainty could help doctors choose treatments with more research evidence behind them -…

Clinical guidelines greatly influence how doctors care for their patients. By providing recommendations on how to diagnose and treat particular situations, guidelines can help standardize the care patients receive. For instance, when a patient is suffering from an infection, a physician can consult the relevant guidelines to confirm that antibiotics are the appropriate treatment. Regulators, insurance payers and lawyers can also use guidelines to manage a doctors performance, or as evidence in malpractice cases. Often, guidelines compel doctors to provide care in specific ways.

We are physicians who share a common frustration with guidelines based on weak or no evidence. We wanted to create a new approach to medical guidelines built around the humility of uncertainty, in which care recommendations are only made when data is available to support the care. In the absence of such data, guidelines could instead present the pros and cons of various care options.

We got together an international team of physicians and pharmacists to create a guideline on creating guidelines. We call this new type of guideline a WikiGuideline, not affiliated with Wikipedia but similarly opening collaboration to all people. The idea was to enable any qualified practitioner to have a voice in guideline construction, rather than limiting authorship to academics who are politically active in specialty societies in wealthy countries.

The clinical guidelines movement first began to gain steam in the 1960s. Guideline committees, usually composed of subspecialty experts from academic medical centers, would base care criteria on randomized clinical trials, considered the gold standard of empirical evidence.

Unfortunately, many committees have since started providing answers to clinical questions even without data from high-quality clinical trials. Instead, they have based recommendations primarily on anecdotal experiences or low-quality data.

Medical guidelines made with insufficient data can lead to patient harm.

For example, guidelines once instructed doctors to prescribe hormone replacement therapy to all post-menopausal women to prevent breast cancer. However, a subsequent large randomized controlled trial showed that giving hormone replacement therapy actually increased the risk of breast cancer. While guidelines have since been updated to narrow down who would benefit from hormone replacement therapy, prior practices have likely resulted in breast cancer for many patients.

Other poorly made guidelines have also seen similar results.

A guideline that instructed doctors to use higher doses of an antibiotic called vancomycin for bacterial infections was later shown to not be more effective and also increase the risk of kidney failure. Likewise, a guideline that promoted aggressive, rapid administration of antibiotics to patients who may have pneumonia was found to not improve outcomes and cause side effects for patients who did not actually end up diagnosed with pneumonia.

Another guideline promoted the use of medications called beta blockers for certain types of surgeries before researchers learned that they increased the risk of heart attacks during and after the procedures. Similarly, a guideline promoting the use of intensive insulin therapy in the ICU was later shown to cause blood sugar levels to drop to dangerously low levels.

To create a new form of medical guideline that takes the strength of available evidence for a particular practice into account, we gathered 60 other physicians and pharmacists from eight countries on Twitter to draft the first WikiGuideline. Bone infections were voted as the conditions most in need of new guidelines.

We all voted on seven questions about bone infection diagnosis and management to include in the guideline, then broke into teams to generate answers. Each volunteer searched the medical literature and drafted answers to a clinical question based on the data. These answers were repeatedly revised in open dialogue with the group.

These efforts ultimately generated a document with more than 500 references and provided clarity to how providers currently manage bone infections. Of the seven questions we posed, only two had sufficient high-quality data to make a clear recommendation on how providers should treat bone infection. The remaining five questions were answered with reviews that provided pros and cons of various care options.

The recommendations WikiGuidelines arrived at differ from current bone infection guidelines by professional group for medical specialists. For example, WikiGuidelines makes a clear recommendation to use oral antibiotics for bone infections based on numerous randomized controlled trials. Current standard guidelines, however, recommend giving intravenous antibiotics, despite the evidence that giving treatment orally is not only just as effective as giving it intravenously, but is also safer and results in fewer side effects.

Providers benefit from careful review of a clinical case. When there isnt enough data to make a clear recommendation, laying out what data is available can help inform their clinical judgment.

We believe that more inclusive guideline committees that open participation to qualified practitioners instead of just those within specialty societies could help make for better medical guidelines. The WikiGuidelines Group now has over 110 members from over 14 countries, many of which are lower- and lower-middle-income countries. We are currently working on a guideline for managing heart valve infections.

It is our hope that future guidelines can avoid the errors of the past by incorporating the humility of uncertainty into the process, acknowledging when the evidence is unclear and only issuing clear recommendations when high quality data can support them.

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Medical guidelines that embrace the humility of uncertainty could help doctors choose treatments with more research evidence behind them -...

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