Updated on Jun 30, 2022 | Endocrinology, Exercise, Health Tips, Men's Health, Women's Health
Guest post by H. Marie Williams
One of my favorite roles as a physician is educating patients during the process of taking care of them. When patients come to my office for an evaluation regarding a specific condition (thyroid, diabetes, pituitary, bone) I start by asking them what they know about the disorder. Often, even if the patient has had the condition for many years, I can teach them something about how their body works. In this post, I aim to teach you all something about the pituitary gland, part of the body’s endocrine system.
Function of the Pituitary Gland
The pituitary gland is a pea-sized structure located in the brain directly behind the eyes. Despite its small size, I think of the pituitary gland as the “quarterback” of the body. This quarterback relays the signals from the “head coach”—a small section of the brain called the hypothalamus—to the rest of the glands of the body. These interactions make up the so-called hypothalamic-pituitary axis. The hormones from the pituitary gland control reproduction, thyroid function, breastfeeding, growth, our stress response and much more.
The best part of this whole system is that it makes sense. The head coach (the hypothalamus) knows what plays to call based on the feedback it gets from the rest of body. For example, if the circulating level of thyroid hormone is low, then the hypothalamus will receive this message and communicate with the pituitary gland to increase the stimulatory signal to the thyroid to produce more hormone.
When the Pituitary Gland is Compromised
Many different types of conditions can compromise the function of the pituitary gland. Some of these conditions send out excess hormone and some may cause a deficiency in a specific hormone. Of course, since the pituitary gland is the quarterback, this can cause many changes in the body.
Adenomas May Produce Extra Hormone…
A pituitary tumor is an abnormal growth in the pituitary gland. These are generally non-cancerous growths called adenomas. An adenoma may be producing extra hormone, such as prolactin, which is the hormone that regulates breastfeeding. A high prolactin level may cause breast discharge and disrupt the menstrual cycle. This condition, called a prolactinoma, can generally be treated with medication.
…Or Cause a Deficiency
Other adenomas do not produce hormone, but may affect the normal hormone production by the pituitary gland. For example, testosterone deficiency in males may be caused by a large pituitary adenoma, which has decreased the stimulatory signals to the testes.
I hope this basic overview provides you with insight into how the pituitary gland helps create balance in our complex body.
To find an excellent doctor who is right for you, please call our Physician Referral Service at 866.804.1007.
Updated on Jun 30, 2022 | Health Tips, Your Health
Dr. Cindy Feely
In my daily practice at Primary Care Associates, I get asked many questions about the flu and the flu vaccine. Despite improved access to accurate, responsible information in the media and on the web, a number of myths about the flu and the vaccine still exist. So here it is, point-by-point, information for you to make informed choices for your healthcare.
Myth #1: The flu vaccine gives you the flu
Facts: The vaccine, including this year’s version, consists of a dead virus which cannot infect you. What it can do is make your body produce the antibodies necessary to fight that virus if you come in contact with a live version of it. The live virus is included in the Flu Mist – a nasal spray, not an injection – but it is engineered so that it will not make you sick.
Myth #2: If you weren’t vaccinated by November, there’s no point in getting it now
Facts: While we are seeing a large number of cases right now, the flu often doesn’t hit its peak until February or even March. And while it does take two weeks to be fully effective, the vaccine will help lessen the severity if you do get the flu.
Myth #3: There’s no treatment for the flu
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Updated on Jun 30, 2022 | Health Tips, Your Health
Influenza has officially reached epidemic proportions in several regions of the United States. Approximately 7.3% of deaths (exceeding the 7.2% threshold) are now attributed to pneumonia and the flu, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Mount Sinai is taking a number of actions in order to continue to provide optimal care to all of our patients and to protect our patients and staff from exposure to influenza.
What can you do to protect yourself and others from influenza?
- It’s not too late to get vaccinated. Click here to make an appointment online with one of our primary care doctors or call 212-241-6585
- Dr. Prarthana Beuria recommends being vigilant about washing hands every time you’re out in public and around lots of people, whether in the subway or at the office, and to avoid touching your face with your hands.
- If you have the flu, Dr. Beuria recommends that you “stay home from work until the fever has been gone for 24 hours. If people around you have compromised immune systems, stay away.”
Click here to view the full infographic
Aquí está la influenza gráfica en Español
Who is at risk of getting the flu?
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Updated on Jun 30, 2022 | Family Medicine, Health Tips, Nephrology, Primary Care, Surgery, Transplant
Many of the patients we evaluate for kidney transplant wonder how they could have found out they had kidney disease earlier, or before it progressed to the point that they needed to consider kidney dialysis or transplantation. (more…)
Updated on Jun 30, 2022 | Diabetes, Diet and Nutrition, Exercise, Health Tips, Men's Health, Popular, Women's Health
Every year at the end of December, I reflect on the past year’s highs and lows, and the goals I set and didn’t achieve along with those I did. Most of them involve going to the gym and eating better, and 90% of the time I haven’t come close to meeting them. As inconceivable as it sounds, I find myself again making the exact same New Year’s resolutions I wasn’t able to accomplish last year! Sound familiar?
Resolutions Need a Reason
Many people get stuck in this same loop, making the same New Year’s resolutions year after year: “I will work out at least three times a week,” “I will lose 10 pounds,” “I will go to sleep by midnight,” etc. Most of us enter the new year determined to achieve our goals, but the changes never last to March. Why? Because most New Year’s resolutions are emotionless and without any motivating or driving force behind them.
To change a behavior or daily habit for a week or two is easy, but it is incredibly difficult to sustain that change over a long period or for the rest of your life if you don’t have a good reason to do it (and knowing you should do it isn’t a good enough reason for most of us). We all know we should exercise and eat better, but most of us don’t do it. So, how do you make a New Year’s resolution that sticks? Make it personal and important.
How to Make and Keep Yours
If you want to change your behavior or lifestyle, here are some steps that can help you start 2013 on the right track.
1. Think of a New Year’s resolution and write it down.
Example: I want to have better blood sugar control.
2. Look at the resolution and ask yourself why it is important to you. List your reasons.
Example: I want to live a long time and watch my son graduate high school; I don’t want to lose my toes or feet; I watched my mother die from the disease and I don’t want to go through the same thing.
3. Rate your reasons (1 being the most important, 10 the least).
Example: 1) My son’s graduation; 2) Don’t want my Mom’s end of life; 3) I want to keep my toes.
4. Now that you have solid and important reasons to change your behavior and achieve your goal, think about how you can go about it.
Write down what you will have to change on a daily or weekly basis to make the goal work. Be very detailed.
Example: I will put out my finger sticks by the bedside table so I can test my blood sugar as soon as I wake up. I will make an appointment with a dietitian to make a meal plan. I will keep a log of my sugars every day. I will switch from juice to diet soda.
5. Set-up some mini milestones and rewards (not food related) for when you meet them.
This will help your motivation continue through the year until it becomes routine.
Example: If my blood sugar stays below 200 for one month I will take my family ice-skating. If I keep my blood sugar below 180 for three months, I get to book my summer vacation.
Remember, you can make goals and revise goals throughout the year and use the same method to meet them. What are you waiting for? Get started on your New Year’s resolutions now and have the faith and belief that this time you are knocking them out of the ballpark!
Updated on Jun 30, 2022 | Health Tips
Susan Bowers-Johnson, MD, Attending Physician at Mount Sinai Beth Israel explains how you can avoid getting sick this winter.
Since cold and flu are both caused by viruses that can be freely transmitted through droplets in the air or surfaces, all of us are susceptible. You can stop cold and flu germs from invading your system by taking some simple precautions. (more…)
Guest post by H. Marie Williams