01/20/2025
1. Diabetes Mellitus (DM)
Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus: Usually found in children or adolescents, pancreatic beta cells are attacked by the immune system, resulting in insufficient insulin production.
Symptoms: thirst, frequent urination, weight loss, fatigue, blurred vision, slow wound healing, excessive urination at night, extreme hunger.
Type 2 diabetes: Usually seen in adults, it is associated with obesity, sedentary lifestyle, and genetics. Insulin resistance is the main cause.
Symptoms: similar to type 1 diabetes, but progresses slowly and symptoms may not be apparent in the early stages.
Gestational diabetes mellitus: a hyperglycaemic state that occurs during pregnancy and usually returns to normal after delivery, but increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus.
2. Thyroid disorders
Hyperthyroidism:
Symptoms: weight loss, rapid heartbeat (tachycardia), anxiety, insomnia, increased appetite, excessive sweating, menstrual irregularities, protruding eyes (Graves' disease), hoarseness.
Common causes: Graves' disease (autoimmune disease), thyroid adenoma, etc.
Hypothyroidism:
Symptoms: weight gain, fatigue, depression, dry skin, cold intolerance, constipation, muscle weakness, memory loss, menstrual irregularities.
Common causes: Hashimoto's thyroiditis (autoimmune disease), iodine deficiency.
Thyroid Nodules or Tumours
Symptoms: No obvious symptoms, may have throat discomfort or difficulty breathing.
Thyroiditis: e.g. subacute thyroiditis, often accompanied by neck pain and enlarged thyroid gland.
3. Adrenal disorders
Cushing's Syndrome:
Symptoms: weight gain, especially in the face and abdomen (‘moon face’ and ‘buffalo back’), purple streaks, fragile skin, easy bruising, hyperglycaemia, osteoporosis, high blood pressure, emotional instability, sleep disorders.
Common causes: long-term use of corticosteroids or adrenal tumours.
Addison's Disease:
Symptoms: weight loss, fatigue, low blood sugar, low blood pressure, muscle weakness, nausea, vomiting, darkening of the skin (especially in the skin folds).
Common causes: adrenocortical insufficiency, commonly associated with autoimmune diseases.
Adrenal tumour: may lead to hormone overproduction and symptoms such as high blood pressure, obesity and increased body hair.
4. Polycystic O***y Syndrome (PCOS)
Symptoms: Irregular menstruation or no ovulation, weight gain, masculine features (e.g. hairy face and chest), acne, hair loss, infertility.
Causes: Insulin resistance and hormonal imbalance.
5. Growth hormone abnormalities
Dwarfism: Insufficient production of growth hormone, resulting in lower than normal height.
Gigantism and Acromegaly: excess growth hormone, resulting in enlarged limbs, facial bones and soft tissues.
Symptoms: enlarged limbs, protruding facial bones, joint pain, headaches, blurred vision, and fatigue.
6. Bone density problems
Osteoporosis (Osteoporosis):
Symptoms: increased risk of fracture, back pain, change in posture (hunching), loss of height.
Common causes: Hormonal imbalances (e.g. oestrogen deficiency, thyroid problems), aging, vitamin D deficiency, etc.
Rickets (rickets): mainly seen in children, due to vitamin D deficiency resulting in abnormal bone development, which is characterised by bone deformities and muscle weakness.
7. Gonadal problems
Premature Gonadal Failure: Premature ovarian failure in women and testicular failure in men.
Symptoms: cessation of menstruation, infertility, hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings.
Infertility: Endocrine problems are a common cause of infertility, especially abnormalities related to ovulation.
Multiple miscarriages: Related to hormone level imbalance (e.g. luteinising hormone deficiency).
8. Hyperglycaemia and hypoglycaemia
Hyperglycemia (high blood sugar): elevated blood sugar, common in diabetics.
Symptoms: thirst, frequent urination, blurred vision, weight loss, fatigue.
Hypoglycemia: low blood sugar.
Symptoms: hunger, dizziness, palpitations, sweating, fatigue, fainting, anxiety.
9. Hypercalcemia and hypocalcemia
Hypercalcemia (high blood calcium): too much calcium in the blood.
Symptoms: weakness, nausea, vomiting, bone pain, constipation, confusion, frequent urination.
Hypocalcemia (low blood calcium): too low a level of calcium in the blood.
Symptoms: twitching of hands and feet, muscle spasms, numbness, abnormal heartbeat.
10. Hypothalamic and pituitary problems
Pituitary Adenoma (Pituitary Adenoma): Benign tumour may trigger abnormal secretion of several hormones.
Symptoms: headaches, blurred vision, menstrual irregularities, sexual dysfunction, excessive milk production.
Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Gonadal Axis Dysregulation: affects hormone levels, leading to irregular menstruation, infertility, and low libido.
11. Obesity (Obesity)
Symptoms: significant weight gain, increased waist circumference, accumulation of fat in the abdomen, chest, hips, etc., breathing difficulties, sleep disorders, increased risk of diabetes and hypertension.
Causes: Genetic factors, dietary habits, lack of exercise, hormonal imbalance (e.g. hypothyroidism).
12. Vitamin D Deficiency (Vitamin D Deficiency)
Symptoms: Bone pain, muscle weakness, increased risk of fracture, decreased immune system function.
Common causes: insufficient sunlight exposure, dietary vitamin D deficiency, kidney or liver disease.
13. Endocrine Hypertension
Symptoms: Persistent high blood pressure, commonly associated with adrenal gland diseases (e.g. primary aldosteronism), hyperthyroidism, etc.
Etiology: imbalance of hormone levels (e.g., aldosterone, adrenaline, excessive thyroid hormones).
14. Insulin Resistance and Metabolic Syndrome (IRMS)
Symptoms: weight gain, accumulation of abdominal fat, elevated insulin levels, high blood sugar, high blood lipids, high blood pressure, low HDL cholesterol.
Causes: Unhealthy diet, lack of exercise, genetic factors.
