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Pituitary Disorders: All we need to know

About

It is a condition caused due to too much or too fewer hormones produced by the pituitary gland.
The pituitary gland has two parts:
- Anterior (front)
- Posterior (back)

Pituitary disorders can affect any age group, but most commonly it affects people between 30-50 years of age. (4)

- Not self-treatable
- Not self-diagnosable
- Lab tests or imaging are required

Causes
The most common cause of the disorder is the growth of a tumor. Other causes include:
- Inherited genetic changes
- Congenital conditions
- Head trauma
- Lack or less blood supply to the gland
- Surgical or radiation treatment to cure a previous disorder

Symptoms

Self diagnosable:
- Headaches
- Vision problems
- Fatigue and weakness
- Seizures
- Mood swings and irritability
- Fluctuations in menstrual cycle
- Infertility and erectile dysfunction
People may experience cushingâ€™s syndrome, i.e., weight gain, high blood pressure, and diabetes.

Diagnosis:
- Diagnosis of pituitary disorders include measurements of level of hormones produced by the pituitary gland in the body. Some of the other hormones are also tested such as prolactin, LH and FSH, TSH, ACTH, cortisol and GH.
- A water deprivation test to diagnose diabetes may also be suggested.
- MRI and CT-Scan are recommended to examine the presence of tumors.

Treatment

Medicines: surgery may be performed to remove the tumor; if present. Medicines to block hormone action may be prescribed. Hormone replacement as required i.e. supplementing the deficient ones and removing the excess hormones may help. Also, targeted radiation therapy might be done to reduce the size of tumor.

Specialists: For further concerns, contact a doctor or a primary care provider. At mfine, you will receive a holistic treatment plan for optimum health.