Tag

hormones

Browsing

Cells and organs in a human body are known to work in a system manner. People tend to forget the presence of hormones in the human body that plays an important role in regulating the many body systems. While you may have been used to knowing a bit about reproductive hormones such as estrogen and testosterone, other hormones such as calcitonin may seem a new thing if you are not used to reading or learning about hormones in humans. If you are put on a blood test, you may have seen levels of calcitonin and some people with high calcitonin levels might ask a doctor what causes this.

To answer this, you have to know a bit more about the calcitonin hormones first. Calcitonin is a hormone that is produced and released by the parafollicular cells (also known as C-cells) of the thyroid gland. Calcitonin plays a role in regulating the calcium level in blood. It also regulates phosphorus in the blood. Calcitonin works to reduce calcium level by either inhibiting the activity of osteoclasts or decreasing resorption of calcium in kidneys. Osteoclasts are cells that degrade the bone that are involved in remodelling of bones and maintain bone mass. As bone degrades, calcium in the bone is released into the blood system. Hence, inhibition of osteoclast by calcitonin reduces the amount of calcium from being released into the blood.

Calcitonin is stimulated when there is an increase of calcium in blood. It is also stimulated by the gut hormones such as gastrin. Calcitonin is known to maintain the calcium in the body so that it reaches the state of balance (calcium homeostasis). When level of calcium in blood is low, calcitonin secretion decreases and parathyroid hormones kick in to increase blood calcium level. Inhibition of calcitonin not only is caused by the low level of blood calcium but is also inhibited by the hormone somatostatin which is released by the C-cells. Calcitonin is also known to stimulate the production of vitamin D in the kidney.

A calcitonin test is a test that measures the level of calcitonin in blood samples. In normal state, a person will have a small amount of calcitonin in their blood. However, when the calcitonin test reveals high amounts, it may be signs of diseases. Common causes of high calcitonin levels are either C-cell hyperplasia or medullary thyroid cancer. Both of these conditions are quite rare. C-cell hyperplasia is an abnormal growth C-cell in the thyroid glands that can turn into medullary thyroid cancer. However, other causes such as certain medications, other types of cancers and pregnancies may lead to high calcitonin levels.

Calcitonin is measured in picograms per millilitres (pg/mL). The normal value is 8.4 pg/mL or less for male and 5.0 pg/mL or less for females. It is worth noting that the normal values may vary slightly according to the measurement of the laboratory that runs the calcitonin test. Patients with calcitonin levels of more than 100 pg/mL have high risk for medullary thyroid carcinoma. Patients with values 10 to 100 pg/mL have less than 25% risk for medullary thyroid carcinoma.

A person may be recommended to get calcitonin test when they show suspicion of medullary thyroid cancer or C-cell hyperplasia. Symptoms such as lump in the front of the neck, swollen lymph nodes or swollen glands in the neck, pain in the throat, changes in voice commonly hoarse voice, choking sensation, persistent cough without cold and diarrhoea are common in patients with medullary thyroid cancer. Thus, when a person presents with symptoms such as mentioned just now, calcitonin test helps to verify if they really have the cancer.

Beside calcitonin test to detect medullary thyroid cancer, it is also used to check for multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (MEN 2). MEN 2, also known as Sipple syndrome is a rare familiar syndrome that affects thyroid, adrenal and parathyroid glands. It is caused by a mutation in a gene known as RET.  People with family history of MEN 2 do have high chances for developing medullary thyroid cancer. Regular calcitonin tests can help detect the cancer before any symptoms occur.

It can be concluded that calcitonin hormones do play an important role in calcium homeostasis. While low calcitonin level does not cause any clinical effect on the body, high calcitonin levels should be taken seriously especially when patients do have symptoms related to C-cell hyperplasia and/or medullary thyroid cancer. High calcitonin levels are consequences of the disease and not a direct cause. Calcitonin tests not only help detect the cancer but also help in monitoring treatment and to check if the cancer returned even after treatment. In some cases, a more accurate test known as “calcitonin stimulation test” can help differentiate C-cell hyperplasia or medullary thyroid cancers. The calcitonin test is not the only test to diagnose medullary thyroid cancer. Healthcare professionals will do many other tests such as imaging tests and biopsy procedures to confirm a diagnosis. Many people can live with medullary thyroid cancer for many years especially when it is detected and treated early. The survival rates for patients with this cancer is not very accurate as there are so few patients.  

Buy Janumet 50/500mg Tablet 7s (strip)

The bioidentical hormones are not the real hormones and these are artificially made to resonate with the real hormones of the human body. It is the kind of treatment meant for those who don’t have the proper and balanced hormones. You can get the benefit from bioidentical hormones but certain risk factors are coming with the treatment. The bioidentical hormones are designed and designated to replace the original hormones produced by the human glands. If you take the specific treatment you will not have to face the problem of low and unbalanced hormones. It is the case with those suffering from menopause or perimenopause.

Effects of Bioidentical Hormonal Effects

You have the sheer possibility of Bioidentical Hormones Side Effects. It is an FDA-approved treatment and the drug should report the possible side effects. All the side effects are mentioned in the paperwork and you can see them well when you can choose to have the medication at the pharmacy. These are compound hormones you can find at the store and using the same you can well treat the bodily imbalance. The pharmacies provide the compound hormones and they will provide the reported work. The pharmacies produce the paperwork and the FDA will mention the side effects mentioned on the leaflet.

The intensity of the Side Effect

The healthcare providers will deliver with the compound hormones and it is safer with the bioidentical treatment.  In the case of biomedical hormone treatment, the side effects can be noticed after the first dose. The body is not accustomed to the newly introduced hormone. The side effects tend to get better with time when the body learns how to get adjusted to the newly introduced hormones. In certain cases, if the medical condition is not right it important to revise the doses. Here you have the list of the common side effects that may occur with the kind of treatment.

Discussing the Side Effects

Among the Bioidentical Hormones Side Effects, you have conditions like sudden gain in weight. You can feel the bulk within a few months and it is time that you refer to the physician for the purpose. You can have more problems like blurred vision and a feeling of tiredness. The intake of the treatment hampers your natural ability to see properly. Moreover, you don’t feel like toiling and the tiredness persists. You can even notice acnes and rashes on the skin and this is one of the common side effects occurring with bioidentical hormones.

The Other Adversities to Control

It is the kind of replacement being done and for this, you should know the Testosterone Replacement Therapy Cost. The treatment is highly effective and you can notice unnecessary growth of facial hairs. There is headache and breast tenderness. Among the other side effects you have spotting, bloating, and cramping and you can even have pliable mood swings when you don’t feel like doing anything. The area of the skin where you have applied the hormones can turn red and itchy. The discomfort is there and you can consult the physician for that feeling of relief.