Endocrinology is the study of the endocrine system, which focuses on the complex system of glands in the body. These glands consist of the adrenal, hypothalamus, thyroid, ovaries, pancreas, parathyroid, pituitary and testes. Their primary function is to secrete hormones into the bloodstream in order to regulate the body properly. Hormones are substances which help to control various activities in the body and serve many purposes. They regulate several different functions of the body including growth and development, metabolism, mood and behavior and reproduction. They also help to provide an adequate amount of nutrition and energy which the body needs to function.
What is an Endocrinologist?
An endocrinologist is a physician who specializes in the endocrine system and its disorders. They are specially trained to diagnose and treat hormone imbalances by aiming to restore and maintain a functional balance of hormones in the body's system. They are also involved in conducting research aimed at learning the ways in which the glands function, as well as clinical research aimed at learning the best ways to treat patients with hormone imbalances. Through this research, endocrinologists are able to develop new medications and various methods of treatment for hormone disorders.
What Type of Medical Training Does an Endocrinologist Require?
Endocrinologists need to complete four years of medical school and then spend between three and four years in a residency and internship program. These programs cover specialty areas such as internal medicine, obstetrics and gynecology and pediatrics. They spend two to three additional years training to diagnose and treat hormone conditions. In total, an endocrinologist will train for more than 10 years.
The Types of Disorders an Endocrinologist Treats:
- Cancer of the endocrine glands
- Cholesterol disorders
- Diabetes
- Growth disorders
- Hormonal production disorders
- Hypertension
- Infertility
- Menopause
- Metabolic disorders
- Osteoporosis
- Thyroid disorders
Finding an Alabama Endocrinologist
There are many skilled and qualified specialists, and finding the right Alabama endocrinologist to treat a disorder of this nature is very important. It would be wise to obtain a referral from a reliable source. Likely a patient will be referred to an endocrinologist by another medical provider, such as their family physician. The patient may also know friends or family who have seen this type of specialist and can make a recommendation. If unable to obtain a referral, a patient will want to conduct some background research on multiple specialists in this field. There are several Alabama endocrinology clinics, including those which specialize in pediatric endocrinology.
![[Valid RSS feed]](http://www.massagebyben.com/articles/images/icon_Rss.png "XML Feed For RSS"){kind=icon}
Category Rss Feed
Print This Article
Add To Favorites 