Hormones and hormones AGAIN!

Well since we have time, we are here for another post, back to back!! Aren't you delighted??

So far, we have already discussed on the definition, different symptoms and causes of Addison Disease. Hence, what's up next for you guys?

It is of course the reasons behind the symptoms of Addison Disease! BUT! Before we start on that we will have to know more about the Cortisol and Aldosterone  hormones.

1. Cortisol Hormone

A few weeks ago, we mentioned that cortisol works hand in hand with Epinephrine (adrenaline) to help the body with the "Fight or Flight" response.




Hence when we faces stress, it help Epinephrine to prepare our body by:
- Increase our heart rate.
- Increase production of Glucose -> Increase Energy

However! Cortisol do not only do the 2 simple tasks above. It can also help in:
1. Maintaining blood pressure and heart and blood vessel function.
2. Slowing the immune system’s inflammatory response
3. Regulating metabolism

TAKE NOTE!!!
Amount of cortisol produced by the adrenal glands is strictly managed to ensure levels of cortisol in the body is just sufficient, not too high and not too low.

2. Aldosterone Hormone

Does Aldosterone do the same things as Cortisol?

Aldosterone also helps to maintain blood pressure.

However! It also helps to balance the sodium and potassium levels in the body! -> Something that cortisol can't do!! HEEEHEEE




Why is there a need to balance the levels of sodium and potassium in our body? Is it that important?

YES!! It is VERY important! As.......

So does this post give you a better idea about the function of Cortisol and Aldosterone hormone?
I hope is does!

Okay it is time to say goodbye again! We will post the 12th post soon and it will be on the reasons behind the symptoms of Addison Disease. :) Cya soon.

Credits:
https://www.drugs.com/drp/anusol-hc-cream-2-5.html

http://www.sigmaaldrich.com/catalog/product/sigma/a9477?lang=en&region=SG

http://endocrine.niddk.nih.gov/pubs/addison/addison.aspx

** All credits include the websites for both the pictures and information! [Just saying] :) 

What's HAPPENING?? - Addison Disease

Hey! Hey! The two musketeers are back with more interesting facts for our cutest audience! :) So do you guys miss us?

In the previous post, we briefly talked about Addison Disease, so do you guys still remember what it is?

So for today, more interesting facts about this disease will be shared with you guys! So are you EGGcited (excited)?

                                                                                                                               



Addison Disease can be caused by 2 types of insufficiency:

The first cause is know as Primary Adrenal Insufficiency:

This happens when our immune systems (Autoimmune Diseases) attacks the outer portion of our Adrenal Gland.

This also can happen when one has long lasting infections like tuberculosis, HIV and certain fungal infections. 

All of these factors will lead to adrenal problem and therefore the insufficiency is directly caused by the Adrenal Gland.

The second cause is known as Secondary Adrenal Insufficiency: 

Pituitary gland and Hypothalamus produces hormones that acts like a switch for production of other hormones. 

So when our hypothalamus or pituitary gland produce low levels of CRH or ACTH, it will indirectly cause low production of cortisol in our Adrenal Gland.

Moreover, it also happens when one uses steroid hormones inappropriately. 

However, this is a less common cause for Addison Disease. 

With that, it will conclude our 10th post!:)

So have we hooked on to your curiosity? If yes [:)], please remember to stay tune to our next post! However, you guys must also stay tune to our upcoming posts even if we failed to hook on to your curiosity [:(], because more interesting things are coming! :)

Hence, in another words, please look forward to more upcoming posts and see you again! :)

                               

Credits:
http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/understanding-addisons-disease-basics?page=2
http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Addisons-disease/Pages/Introduction.aspx
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000378.htm
http://www.fotosearch.com/illustration/professor.html
http://searchpp.com/waving-goodbye-clip-art/2/
http://endocrine.niddk.nih.gov/pubs/addison/addison.aspx

Moving on......Addison Disease Part 1. :)

Hey buddies! How's the videos? Did you guys benefit from it? Hope you guys did! :)

So for today's post, the two musketeers will be introducing the 2nd Adrenal Disorder to you guys. BUT.........!!!! Before that, we unanimously felt that these articles that we found should be shared with you guys.

In the earlier posts, majority of the discussion was about the facts of Cushing Syndrome. HOWEVER...!!

Articles from:

1. http://www.aboutcushings.com/living-with-cushings-disease/nutritional-information.jsp -> provided information on the dietary needs of a person with Cushing Syndrome. 
2. http://www.aboutcushings.com/pdf/FINAL_G%20SOM%202014%20WWHCS%20Infographic_10%2027%2014.pdf-> Provided information on the overview of Cushing Syndrome.

Hence, with that, WE FINALLY COME TO THE END OF CUSHING SYNDROME! However, if we happen to glance upon interesting articles on this disease, we will definitely shared it with our cutest audiences! :) 

What is Addison Disease?

It is a disorder that occurs when insufficient amounts of certain hormones produced by your adrenal glands.

AND guess what!! It is cortisol AGAIN! (Troublesome cortisol!)

However, this can happen too if there is insufficient amount of aldosterone!:)

Wondering what this disease will cause? Patience patience! We are coming to it now!! :)

Symptoms include:

1. Chronic diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting
2. Paleness
3. Extreme weakness/ Fatigue
4. Slow, sluggish movement. 
5. Salt craving
6. Dehydration.
7. Weight loss with reduced appetite. 
8. Low blood sugar
9. Hypotension
10. Hyperpigmentation
11. Body hair loss or sexual dysfunction in women
12. Unable to cope with stress
13.  Depression
14. Muscle or joint pains

Info overloading??? Haha! No worries, we are stopping here. Will continue blogging about Addison disease soon! So please look forward to our 10th post! We will miss you guys! BYE!

Signing off:

 

Credits:

https://www.google.com.sg/search?q=mr+nosey&espv=2&biw=1517&bih=714&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=qImfVLegNIjJuASZ8YCwCw&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ&dpr=0.9#tbm=isch&q=little+mr+daydream&facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=Cx0e_7wLzWFliM%253A%3BXgb7KGIig0NFTM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.bangzo.com%252Febayimages%252Fmr_daydream.gif%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.ebay.co.uk%252Fitm%252FMr-Men-My-Complete-Collection-46-Books-In-Box-Gift-Set-%252F170446646224%3B517%3B475

http://www.penguin.com.au/products/9781846462412/mr-men-and-little-miss-little-miss-scatterbrain

http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Addisons-disease/Pages/Introduction.aspx

http://novusdetox.com/press/dependence.php?include=139840            

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/addisons-disease/basics/definition/con-20021340

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/addisons-disease/basics/symptoms/con-20021340 

https://www.google.com.sg/search?q=addison%27s+disease&espv=2&biw=1517&bih=666&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=Ho6fVOefEIyYuQSRgYHoCQ&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ&dpr=0.9#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=g6fXBZR6PNf9DM%253A%3BxbxogJs8PWkKaM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fclassconnection.s3.amazonaws.com%252F319%252Fflashcards%252F1117319%252Fjpg%252Faddisons_disease1332524676283.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww2.warwick.ac.uk%252Ffac%252Fmed%252Fstudy%252Fugr%252Fmbchb%252Fsocieties%252Fslime%252Fproducts%252Fhandouts%252Fcushings_addisons_and_acromegaly_ed.pptx%3B1602%3B1203

http://blog.beruby.com/us/2011/05/09/mr-and-little-miss-beruby/                                  

Sharing Experiences! :)

Hihi! We are BACK!!

Previously, we mentioned that we will be giving you guys a Christmas present. SO! After much discussion on what will be the ideal present for you guys, we have decided to share two videos on the experiences of  2 women who was diagnosed with Cushing Syndrome.

We are 99.999% confident that you guys will benefit from these two videos! Hope you guys will learn something!

So now, sit back, relax and prepare to learn something from the videos!

After this post, we will move on to talk about another adrenal gland disorder. So please do continue to read our blog and we look forward to meet you guys again! BYE!

DOCTOR!!! How to treat Cushing Syndrome?

As promised, WE ARE BACK FOR ANOTHER POST! :) Back to Back!

This post is going to be about treatments for Cushing Syndrome! So, are you excited!!!

As mentioned in the previous post, Cushing Syndrome can be caused by several reasons. Thus different causes will have different treatment!

1st cause: Use of corticosteroid medication for a long period of time.
Corticosteroid medication are normally prescribed for people who had an organ transplant (to prevent organ rejection), inflammation for joints (Arthritis), inflammation due to immune system attacking body tissue/organs (Lupus) and back pain.

Hence, for patients who had Cushing Syndrome due to the use of corticosteroid medication, doctors would usually change the medication or dosage that you are taking currently.

2nd cause: Adrenal gland/ Pituitary gland tumor.         

(a) Adrenal gland tumor.
Surgery is normally used to remove the benign or malignant tumor on the patient Adrenal Gland. 

Chemotherapy/ radiation can be used to treat too!

(b) Pituitary gland tumor
Transsphenoidal adenomectomy,the removal of pituitary tumor through surgery is normally done to remove the tumor. A very special microscope and a very fine instrument are inserted into the patient's nostrils to reach the pituitary gland. 

Surgery can be done again if it fails or if the surgery only provides a temporary cure.




Chemotherapy/ radiation can be used too!

With this we will end off our 7th post for our blog. We will really like to continue but today is Christmas eve so we got to go!!! Soon we will post our 8th post as our Christmas present for you guys!

Bye bye and MERRY CHRISTMAS PEOPLE! Hope you guys will have a great Christmas! :)

Credits:
http://www.medicinenet.com/cushings_syndrome/page4.htm
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/lupus/basics/definition/con-20019676
http://www.healthline.com/health/cushing-syndrome#Complications6
http://www.healthline.com/health/arthritis#Causes2
http://www.macmillan.org.uk/Cancerinformation/Cancertypes/Brain/Typesofbraintumours/Pituitarytumours.aspx
http://cancerssymptoms.org/adrenal-gland-tumor-symptoms
http://www.share-christmas.com/poems/gingerbread/

Diagnosis for Cushing Syndrome!

Hey peeps! So sorry for the very long wait! We actually lost our souvenir that was prepared for this post. Hence, we have to make another trip down to Adrenal-Land! Really really very sorry for that! Hope you guys will forgive our carelessness! :)

Okie! So back to the topic, this souvenir that we lost was all about the diagnosis of Cushing syndrome! From what we know, Cushing Syndrome does not have a single definitive test! So how do we know if one contracted this disease?

In order to diagnose this Syndrome, one will have to go through a physical examination and a review of both the patient's medical history and the symptoms that he/she are experiencing. Adding on, laboratory tests can also help with the diagnosis.

These tests includes:

1. 24-hour urinary free cortisol test
2. midnight plasma cortisol and late-night salivary cortisol measurements
3. low-dose dexamethasone suppression test (LDDST) (blood test)

How LDDST work?

If patient's cortisol levels still remain high after taking a short course of Dexamethasone, it will mean that the patient body is producing too much cortisol. 

So after diagnosing the patient with Cushing Syndrome, does the patient undergo treatment immediately? 

Patient still need to undergo tests like:

1. corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) stimulation test
2. high-dose dexamethasone suppression test (HDDST)  (blood test)
3, imaging tests such as computed tomography (CT) scan  and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

These tests are essential to determine if he/she contract Cushing due to:

1. Use of corticosteroid medication for a long period of time

2.  Pituitary gland tumor
3. Familial Cushing syndrome
4. Adrenal Gland abnormality or tumor

***Familial Cushing Syndrome:  An inherited tendency to develop tumors of the endocrine glands!

So! I guess that's all about the diagnosis of Cushing syndrome! Treatment for this disease will be up very very SOON! :) SO PLEASE PLEASE STAY TUNE! :) 

Credits:

http://www.healthline.com/health/cushing-syndrome#Diagnosis4

http://www.healthline.com/health/cushing-syndrome#Causes3

http://www.imperialendo.com/for-doctors/dynamic-function-testing/low-dose-dexamethasone-suppression-test

http://www.dreamstime.com/illustration/shocked.html

Reasons Behind The Symptoms! PART TWO!! :)

Hey brothers and sisters, it is time for another souvenir! Are u guys excited?

From the previous post;


We mentioned that when cortisol levels increases, it causes weight gain as it can cause overeating, increase in visceral fat storage and increase in appetite.



So why does high levels of cortisol cause Osteoporosis and sex hormone changes?




1. Osteoporosis

Studies have proved that high levels of cortisol can accelerate the loss of cartilage,bone and muscle tissues. Not only that, studies have also found out that cortisol can decrease the level of connective-tissue growth factors and inhibit the activity of bone-building cells (osteoblasts), muscle-building cells (satellite cells), and cartilage-building cells.

2. Sex Hormone Changes

Sex hormones are produced in adrenal gland thus when excess cortisol production occurs, the optimal production of sex hormones can be affected.

Yawn!!! We so tired! Maybe we will continue another day! Bye and see you guys very soon! :)

Reasons behind the symptoms!

HEY GUYS! We are finally back from collecting souvenirs in the Adrenal-Land! Really excited to share with you guys!

In the earlier post, we mentioned that Weight gain, Osteoporosis and Sex hormones changes are often the common symptoms that a Cushing Sydrome patient can experience.

So why does high level of Cortisol cause these symptoms?

To answer that we are going to give away the 1st souvenir from our trip and it will be "The Reasons Behind Weight Gain in Cushing Sydrome Patients".

1. Overeating 

When Cortisol is release, it will inhibit insulin production to prevent Glucose from being stored. By doing that, immediate use of glucose can be favored. So when high levels of Cortisol is produce, it may cause one to overeat.

So when one overeats, he/she will have an excess of unused glucose and eventually, these glucose will be stored as body fats, which will lead to weight gain.

2. Increase in visceral fat storage

Not only that, high levels of Cortisol can caused visceral fat storage. This is done by mobilizing the triglycerides and moving them to the visceral fat cells. Visceral fat cells are found under the muscle, deep in the abdomen.

So when more fats are stored in the visceral fat cells, it will cause the patient to have fat accumulating under the abdomen. (Weight gain at waist area)

3. Increasing in appetite

Studies also shown that Cortisol may directly influence appetite and cravings by binding to hypothalamus receptors in the brain. It also can indirectly influences appetite by modulating other hormones and stress responsive factors known to stimulate appetite.

 




So are you guys happy with our 1st souvenir from the Adrenal Land? Hope you like it and STAY TUNE for the 2nd one! See ya soon! :)

Credits:
http://www.todaysdietitian.com/newarchives/111609p38.shtml
hqvectors.com
www.illustrationsof.com
cane2.com

Basic Knowledge of Cortisol!

BELLO! (Minion Language: Hello) We are back for another post on Cushing Syndrome! :)

Previously, we mentioned that Cushing Syndrome is a collection of hormonal disorders caused by high levels of Cortisol.  Moreover, we talked about the different kinds of symptoms that one may experience when he/she is diagnosed with this diseases. 

So why high levels of cortisol will cause one to look like this?

But before that, we need to know how Cortisol hormone works!

All in all, cortisol works hand in hand with Epinephrine (adrenaline) to help the body with the "Fight or Flight" response.

Therefore, when our body faces stress, Cortisol will help Epinephrine to prep our body. This is done by increasing our heart rate and production of glucose. (Glucose = ENERGY)

By now, We believe your eyes are tired from all those reading and on account of that, we will stop here!
However, please look forward to read our next blog post! SEE YA!

Credits:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/19/adrenaline-cortisol-stress-hormones_n_3112800.html http://www.todaysdietitian.com/newarchives/111609p38.shtml 
www.zastavki.com

What is happening to our adrenal glands? (Cushing syndrome)

Hi peeps! WE ARE BACK! :)

In the previous post, we briefly talked about the anatomy and functions of the adrenal gland. So in a nutshell, our adrenal glands have two structures that produces hormones to either help with our body functions (Adrenal Cortex) or in the ''Fight or Flight" system (Adrenal Medulla).

Since our Adrenal Glands produces hormones that are essential for us, what would happen to our body if the production of hormones go hay-wired? And with this, we come to the first adrenal gland disorder, which is known as Cushing Syndrome.

So what is Cushing Syndrome?
It is basically a collection of hormonal disorders caused by high levels of Cortisol.  As mentioned in the previous post, our Adrenal Cortex produces Corticosteroid hormones and one of them is hydrocortisone hormone (Cortisol).

What are the Symptoms of Cushing Disease?

1. Weight gain, especially on the waist.
2. Moon Face
3. Extra fats found at the neck
4. Buffalo bump
5. Skin changes
6. Mood changes
7. Bone or muscle weakness
8. Changes in sex hormones

      


We believed you guys will be thinking that why high levels of cortisol will cause Cushing Syndrome and also what causes the high levels Cortisol.

However, we shall be bad and leave your curiosity hanging! HEEHEE! :P So STAY TUNE!

Credits:
http://www.medicinenet.com/cushings_syndrome/page2.htm
http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/cushings-syndrome-topic-overview-2
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000410.htm
badtzmarucy831.wordpress.com
almost.thedoctorschannel.com
www.fotosearch.com

Welcome to the world of Adrenal Gland!

Hi peeps! Glad you guys are visiting our new blog on the Adrenal Gland! To start of, we will introduce the anatomy of our wonderful Adrenal Glands. :)

Firstly, where are our adrenal glands found? They are basically neighbors of our kidneys! 

In other words, they are found sitting on the top of our kidneys.

Even through our adrenal glands lives very far away from our hypothalamus (which is found in the brain), they are actually very good business partners and without any one of them, the business (our body) will face huge problems.

Our adrenal gland is made up of two structures that produces hormones: the adrenal cortex and the adrenal medulla.

Even through this two structures are found in the same gland, but the hormones that they produced perform different functions.

Adrenal Cortex
Corticosteroid hormones		Aldosterone hormone	Androgenic steroids
Hydrocortisone	Corticosterone		Sex hormones
Controls the body’s metabolism of fats, proteins and carbohydrates	Plays a part in the immune system and suppresses inflammatory reactions.	Maintains the blood volume and pressure by inhibiting the amount of sodium being excreted into urine.	Does not have a huge impact as it is overshadowed by other hormones such as estrogen and testosterone.

Adrenal Medulla
Epinephrine (adrenaline)	Norepinephrine (noradrenaline)
Increases the heart rate and the force of heart contractions. Results in more blood flow to the muscles, brain and quickens the conversion of glycogen to glucose in the liver.	Helps epinephrine in responding to stress by increasing the vasoconstriction of blood vessels thus increasing blood pressure.

Please stay tune to our next blog post for more information about our adrenal gland! Look forward to see you again! :)

Credits:
http://umm.edu/programs/diabetes/health/endocrinology-health-guide/adrenal-glands 

http://www.endocrineweb.com/endocrinology/overview-adrenal-glands

www.canstockphoto.com 

www.picturesdepot.com