Metabolic disorders, including hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, diabetes, galactosemia, and phenylketonuria, can cause various medical problems. Symptoms range from weight gain to weight loss, fatigue, blurred vision, and behavioral problems. Treatment options include medication, hormone replacement therapy, and surgery. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial for children with galactosemia and PKU.
There are several disorders that affect the metabolism, causing various medical problems. Two of the more common metabolic disorders include hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, both of which are caused by problems with the thyroid gland. Diabetes is another well-known metabolic disorder caused by high blood sugar levels. Galactosemia and phenylketonuria are two metabolic disorders caused by the body’s inability to break down certain products. All of these disorders produce different symptoms and tend to affect more than just metabolism.
Hypothyroidism involves an underactive thyroid gland, which can be caused by thyroid disease, pituitary gland problems, a deficiency in a certain vitamin, or a developmental problem. The result is that not enough thyroxine is released, leading to a reduction in basal metabolic rate which can lead to unexplained weight gain, exhaustion, dry skin, joint pain and a slower heart rate. On the other hand, hyperthyroidism is the result of an overactive thyroid gland releasing too much thyroxine, increasing the basal metabolic rate. The result is weight loss, high blood pressure, bulging eyes and a higher heart rate. Treatment for any of these metabolic disorders includes medications, hormone replacement therapy, and surgery.
Diabetes is a major metabolic disorder and occurs when blood sugar levels are too high. Type 1 diabetes is caused by low or no insulin production, requiring patients to take insulin to help balance blood sugar. Type 2 diabetes, however, is caused by the body not using the insulin produced by the pancreas properly. Both types of metabolic disorders produce symptoms such as fatigue, blurred vision, weight loss, and slower wound healing. Additionally, both types of diabetes often cause increased hunger, thirst, and urination.
Galactosemia is a genetic disorder in which the body lacks an enzyme needed to break down galactose, which is found in dairy products. Galactose tends to accumulate in the blood because it cannot be digested, resulting in an enlarged liver, vomiting and jaundice. Phenylketonuria, PKU, is another genetic disease, but it is caused by the body’s inability to digest the amino acid phenylalanine. Although this metabolic disorder is often present at birth, symptoms such as seizures, a small head, behavioral problems, or mental retardation usually don’t show up for some time. Both of these metabolic disorders tend to affect children the most and can lead to serious problems if not diagnosed and treated early.
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