Guide To Understanding The Pituitary Gland

Symptoms Of Pituitary Gland Problems

Symptoms of a problem in their pituitary gland are highly dependent on what the problem is. Generalized symptoms include vision problems, loss of libido, pale complexion, coarsening of facial features, excessive sweating, carpal tunnel syndrome, oily skin, headaches, unexplained weight gain, dizziness, nausea, muscle wasting, enlarged hands, enlarged feet, and moon face. Symptoms of a pituitary gland problem that occur in children specifically include loss of vision, excessive frequency of urine passing, weight gain, early puberty, late puberty, milk secretion, poor growth, excessive drinking, and tiredness. Acromegaly is known to cause symptoms such as mood swings, speech changes, increased shoe size, joint pain, and facial pain. Cushing's disease produces symptoms such as a fatty hump at the top of the spine, bone density loss, dark purple stretch marks, extreme hairiness, darkening of the skin, depression, and rounded face. Hypopituitarism causes symptoms like exhaustion, constipation, poor sleep patterns, low blood pressure, poor muscle tone, poor body temperature control, and slowed thought processes.

Uncover the causes of pituitary gland issues next.

Causes Of Pituitary Gland Issues

Pituitary gland issues may arise when individuals experience an injury to their head, brain trauma, or due to the development of a pituitary tumor. A type of pituitary gland tumor referred to as a pituitary adenoma is the most common cause of pituitary gland disorders. Over ninety-nine percent of pituitary adenomas are benign, and most of these are non-functional. This means the majority of tumors that develop in the pituitary gland are not cancerous and do not produce excessive amounts of hormones. However, non-functional pituitary gland tumors have the potential to grow to a large size and cause pituitary gland compression. When the pituitary gland becomes compressed, it is not able to produce hormones as well as it could otherwise. Large benign non-functional pituitary tumors can also cause pituitary symptoms when it causes the compression of the optic nerve.

Get the details on diagnosing pituitary gland conditions now.