Written by: Noshin Chowdhury
What is the endocrine system?
The endocrine system consists of glands that produce and secrete hormones. These hormones are used for a variety of bodily functions and control multiple aspects of the body, including:
Respiration
Metabolism
Reproduction
Sensory perception
Movement
Sexual development
Growth
Hormones, from the glands, enter the bloodstream and send signals to tissues that tell them what to do. When an unnaturally high or low amount of hormones are produced, it results in diseases and a dysfunctional body. That is where endocrinologists come in.
What does an endocrinologist do?
Endocrinologists are a group of medical doctors that primarily focus on problems relating to hormones. They treat people who suffer from hormone imbalances, usually from glands in the endocrine system, and sometimes certain types of cancer. The path of treatment the patient is recommended is primarily on the basis of ongoing research. Some endocrinologists even work as research physicians. The ultimate goal of the research and the treatments is to restore the normal balance of hormones in the patient's body.
What patients and diseases do endocrinologists typically treat?
Endocrinologists find themselves mostly treating the following diseases:
Diabetes: Absence or insufficient production of insulin, or an inability to properly use insulin
Menopause: Ovaries stop producing as much of the hormone oestrogen and no longer release an egg monthly
Metabolic disorders: Metabolism process fails and causes the body to have either too much or too little of the essential substances needed to stay healthy (usually because of insulin resistance)
Although all ages are prone to hormonal issues, endocrinologists typically see older patients due to them having higher chances of getting the diseases mentioned before.
Education
Endocrinologists, like other medical professions, have to attain a bachelor’s degree from their university/college. Towards the end of the bachelor’s program, application to medical school should be completed. Medical school is followed by a residency that lasts from 3 to 4 years. Lastly, a state license is obtained and the student can be a legal and professional endocrinologist. The general idea is similar to how most doctors make their way to their specialty. What is different is the courses endocrinologists have to take. Some of them include thyroid imaging and analysis, clinical endocrinology, endocrinology and genetics, molecular endocrinology concepts, endocrine tumors, and more. It takes a total of about 10 years to get a state license. Although an exceptionally long time, people passionate about this manage to pursue this career and complete all necessary schoolwork.
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