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Las Americas Medical Centers counts with endocrinologists that are specially trained to diagnose the diseases that affects endocrine glands. Specialists in treating conditions that are often complex and includes several systems and structures inside the human body. Your main doctor will refer you to an endocrinologist if you present him/her a problem of the endocrine system.
The endocrine system is a complex glandular system. The glands are the organs that produces hormones, which are the substances that helps control the activities in the body. The hormones controls the reproduction, metabolism (food digestion and elimination), growth and development. Hormones also control how you react to the environment that surrounds you and helps provide the right amount of energy and nutrition your body needs to function. The endocrine glands include the thyroid, the parathyroid, pancreas, ovaries, testicles, the adrenals, pituitary and hpothalamus.
The endocrinologists of Las Americas Medical Centers have been trained to diagnose and treat the hormonal problems, through restoration of normal hormonal balance in your body. Among them:
- Diabetes
- Thyroid diseases
- Metabolism
- Hormonal imbalances
- Menopause
- Osteoporosis
- Hypertension
- Cholesterol disorders (Lipids)
- Infertility
Endocrine diseases and conditions can be divided into several branches. Some endocrinologists focus in more than two specialties, such as diabetes, pediatric, thyroid, reproductive and menstrual diseases. Others work in all the branches of endocrinology; the principal branches of endocrinology are described below.
Diabetes
Patients with diabetes have too much sugar in their blood. Recent studies have discovered that control blood sugar levels helps preventing serious problems produced by diabetes. These includes eyes, kidneys, and nerves problems, which can lead to blindness, dialisys or amputation. The endocrinologists treat diabetes with diet and medicaments, including insulin. In Las Americas Medical Centers we work closely with patients to control blood sugar levels and monitor them to prevent health problems.
Patients with thyroid problems often have problems related with their level of energy. They also might have problems with muscular strength, emotions, weight control, and the ability to tolerate heat or cold. Our clinics treat patients who have an excess or deficiency of thyroid hormone, helping them achieve a hormonal balance by replacing the hormone.
The Bones
Osteoporosis is a bone disease that generally is diagnosed and treated by endocrinologists. Osteoporosis is a disease that weakens human skeleton. Certain hormones acts to protect bone tissue. When hormonal levels decreases, the bones may loose calcium and weakens. Menopause in women, loss of testicular function in men, and age may put people in risk of fracturing their bones.
Reproduction and Fertility
The endocrinologist, along with gynecologists diagnose and treat hormonal imbalance that causes infertility, and also evaluates and treat patients with reproductive problems. They work with patients that needs hormone replacement. The problems they treat includes menopausal symptoms, irregular menstruation, endometirosis, polycystic ovary syndrome and impotence.
Obesity and overweight
The overweight or obesity, are often due to metabolic or hormonal problems. Thyroid diseases, suprarenals, ovaries and pituitary gland may cause obesity.
Pituitary gland
Pituitary gland is called master gland because it controls all other glands. The pituitary fabricates several important hormones. The excess or deficiency of pituitary hormones may produce infertility, menstrual conditions, growth problems (acromegalia or low height) and an excessive production of cortisol (Cushing Syndrome). These conditions are controlled with medicaments and if the patient needs surgery, you will be referred to this specialist.
Hypertension
Is high blood pressure and is one of the risk factors of heart diseases. Almost a 10% of people have hypertension due to an excess of aldosterone, a hormone that is produced by adrenal glands. Almost half of these cases are caused by tumors that can be removed through surgery.
Lipid disorders
Patients with lipid disorders have difficulty maintaining normal levels of body fat. One of the most common lipid disorders is hyperlipidemia - high levels of total cholesterol, lipoprotein cholesterol of low density (known as "bad" cholesterol) and triglycerides in the blood. High levels of these fats are linked to heart diseases and blood vessels (coronary heart disease), strokes and other circulation disease. Hypertension is common in people with lipid disorders and, together, these factors put patients in greater risks of suffering coronary heart diseases. It is extremely important to detect the factors that might be associated with lipid disorders, such as hypothyroidism (low thyroid hormone production), drug use (such as steroids), and metabolic or genetic diseases. Lipid disorders may be found in several diseases that needs to be treated in a special manner, including metabolic syndrome, polycystic ovary syndrome. Special diets, excercise and medication might be prescribed to manage hyperlipidemia and other lipid disorders. |
