Why Patients Seek Help From An Endocrinologist In Conroe TX

By Francis Riggs


Endocrinologists are physicians with a specialty in diagnosing and treating diseases associated with glands that produce hormones. Patients who have hormonal imbalances will often see this medical professional after referral from a general practitioner. Many people who see an endocrinologist in Conroe TX suffer from diabetes or thyroid disorders.

Individuals who wish to practice in this field may have to complete up to ten years of training. After earning a bachelor's degree from an accredited university, graduates must study for four years in medical school. The residency period for medical school graduates lasts between three and four years. An endocrinologist must be licensed by the state where he or she wants to practice.

Human hormones regulate many difference physiological processes. These naturally occurring substances provide the body with the energy it needs to complete these processes by helping individuals respond the right way to the environment. Metabolism, reproduction, food absorption, and development are some of the processes hormones regulate.

The endocrine system consists of many glands located in various parts of the body. The hypothalamus, ovaries, thyroid, thymus, adrenals, testes, and pituitary are some of those glands. The glands in this system introduce hormones directly into the blood stream for delivery to target organs elsewhere in the body. The exocrine system is different because it feeds hormones directly to an organ through a duct.

An endocrinologist receives the necessary training to diagnose hormone imbalances. When treating patients, their goal is to restore the proper balance. Depending on the disease, some of the ways they accomplish this is by blocking hormone production, prescribing hormone replacement therapy, or suggesting dietary changes.

Diabetes patients will see this type of specialist to help them achieve the proper blood sugar levels in the body. This disease develops when the pancreas fails to secrete adequate insulin to process dietary sugar. Blood sugar levels are higher than normal, which damages other organs. Endocrinologists will advise patients to cut back on sugar in the diet and may prescribe insulin or other medications that can lower sugar levels in the circulation system.

Patients who either have too much or lack enough thyroid hormone will see this specialist for help. A lack of sufficient thyroid hormone often causes constipation, achy joints and muscles, depression, fluid retention, and fatigue. Women with this condition often bleed excessively during their menstrual cycle. An endocrinologist can correct this disorder by prescribing a synthetic hormone to bring levels back to normal.

A patient with too much thyroid hormone will suffer with symptoms that include an abnormal intolerance to heat, tremors, increased sweating, and weight loss. They may feel anxious or nervous and have an unusually fast heart rate. For this condition, endocrinologists will prescribe antithyroid medicine, which acts on the thyroid to prohibit the production of hormones. Patients receiving this therapy will experience relief from symptoms, sometimes in as little as seven days.

Endocrinologists can treat older female patients for menopause symptoms. They may also work closely with a gynecologist to help treat infertility in young men or women. Most people who have hormone imbalances require treatment forever. This makes it crucial for patients to find medical professionals they feel comfortable seeing and develop good relationships with the ones they choose.




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