Pituitary disorders can drastically alter hormone levels in your body, causing unpleasant side effects and serious complications. At Brighton Beach Medical Group in Brighton Beach, Brooklyn, our endocrinologist detects, diagnoses, and treats pituitary disorders to restore your quality of life. If you have symptoms of hormone imbalance or you feel as if something’s not quite right, schedule an evaluation by calling the New York City office today.
Your pituitary gland is situated at the base of your brain and is about the size of a pea. It’s sometimes called the master gland because it helps produce hormones that control many of the body’s functions. Examples of hormones the pituitary gland is responsible for include:
If your pituitary gland isn’t working as it should, hormone imbalances can cause unpleasant side effects and serious medical complications.
If you have a pituitary disorder like a pituitary tumor, you might experience one or more of the following health conditions and their symptoms:
Acromegaly is a condition associated with excessive growth hormone caused by pituitary tumors. Gigantism and enlarged feet, hands, and face can occur.
Cushing’s disease results from excess production of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). It’s associated with depression, weight gain, muscle weakness, depression, easy bruising, and impotence.
Diabetes insipidus can result from too little antidiuretic hormone (ADH), causing excessive thirst, electrolyte imbalances, and overproduction of diluted urine.
Growth hormone insufficiency causes short stature and growth problems in children, muscle weakness, fatigue, and changes in body fat composition.
If you have TSH deficiency, low thyroid levels can cause fatigue, weight gain, dry skin, constipation, and heat and cold sensitivity.
With ACTH deficiency you might experience fatigue, nausea, vomiting, low blood pressure, and confusion.
LH or FSH deficiency in women can cause hot flashes, lack of milk production for breastfeeding, and irregular periods. Men might experience erectile dysfunction, mood changes, or decreases in body hair.
If you’re a woman with prolactin deficiency, you might not produce enough milk for sufficient breastfeeding.
Dr. Shapiro reviews your medical history and symptoms and orders lab, imaging, vision, insulin, glucose tolerance, or other tests to diagnose your condition. Treating pituitary disorders is based on the type of complication you have and can include:
Don’t let a pituitary disorder negatively affect your life or lead to serious complications. Schedule an appointment with our endocrinologist at Brighton Beach Medical Group today.
