By Robert Gilliland, B.S., D.C. –
The pituitary gland is a pea-sized gland that is found just below the brain. It is often called the master gland because it tells the other endocrine systems to release their hormones. So, if your pituitary is malfunctioning it can cause everything from fatigue to weight gain.
Let’s take a look at just three of the things that the pituitary controls, the adrenal glands, the thyroid gland and sex hormones.
The adrenal glands are responsible for adrenaline, cortisol, and, if you are post-menopausal, your sex hormones.
Some of the symptoms you may experience with an adrenal gland not receiving the proper signals from the pituitary include; stress, fatigue, insomnia, anxiousness, irritability, nervousness, fibromyalgia, allergies, head aches, sugar cravings and dizziness.
Symptoms of a malfunctioning pituitary on the thyroid gland include being cold, goiters, brittle hair and nails, constipation, slow or rapid heart rate, fatigue and inability to lose weight.
Symptoms of a malfunctioning pituitary on sex hormones include:
Low Estrogen- hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness and incontinence.
Estrogen Dominance- irregular periods, uterine fibroids, water retention, tender breast, forgetfulness, depression and mood-swings.
High Androgen– infertility problems, acne, facial hair, hair loss, weight gain (hips and waist), high cholesterol and elevated triglycerides.
Low Androgen- decreased libido, deceased muscle size, thinning skin, rapid aging, aches and pains and bone loss.
As you can see, when the pituitary is not functioning properly, it can cause all sorts of symptoms. So, if you are having any of these symptoms and yet your doctor tells you that your tests are normal, you might want to check your pituitary function. One of the most common signs of pituitary dysfunction is a TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) that stays between .9 and 1.7.
The Unresolved Thyroid
Saturday, June 9th & 23rd at 1pm
SWF Natural Health Center
(239) 444-3106 – www.swfthyroid.com