What is the endocrine system?

The endocrine system is a complex group of glands.  Glands are organs that make hormones.  These are substances that help to control activities in your body.  Hormones control reproduction, metabolism (food burning and waste elimination), and growth and development.  Hormones also control the way you respond to your surroundings, and they help to provide the proper amount of energy and nutrition your body needs to function.  Sometimes the glands of the endocrine system are impaired and can cause a hormone imbalance.  This hormone imbalance (or endocrine disease/condition) can affect your health in many ways, and some endocrine diseases/conditions are more serious than others.  The endocrine glands include the thyroid, parathyroid, pancreas, ovaries, testes, adrenal, pituitary and hypothalamus.



What do endocrinologists do?

Endocrinologists are physicians trained to diagnose and treat hormone problems by helping to restore the normal balance of hormones in your system.  An endocrinologist's training takes more than 13-14 years and they manage the following endocrine diseases: 


*Diabetes


*Thyroid diseases


*Thyroid nodules 
    (we have a portable ultrasound machine on-site for expedited evaluation of thyroid nodules and biopsy.  Post-surgical thyroid cancer patients also need regular ultrasound surveillance).


*Metabolic disorders


*Obesity   
   (i.e. evaluation and follow-up of patients before and after gastric-bypass surgery)


*Over or under production of hormones
   (i.e. growth hormone, testosterone, prolactin, parathyroid, cortisol, and other sex hormones)


*Menopause


*Osteoporosis and other bone diseases


*Hypertension


*Cholesterol (lipid) disorders


*Infertility and erectile dysfunction


*GYN endocrine disorders
   (i.e. PCOS or Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, irregular menses, hirsutism or abnormal/excess hair growth in women, thyroid diseases during pregnancy, etc.)


*Electrolyte imbalances
   (i.e. excess or deficiency of calcium, sodium, etc.)


*Cancers of the endocrine glands


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