Condition Lookup
Sub-Category:
Metabolic and Endocrine Disorders
Number of Conditions: 9
Hypothyroidism
Specialty: Senior Health and Geriatrics
Category: Chronic Diseases and Multimorbidity
Sub-category: Metabolic and Endocrine Disorders
Symptoms:
fatigue; weight gain; cold intolerance; constipation; dry skin; hair loss; depression
Root Cause:
Underactive thyroid gland that produces insufficient thyroid hormones (T3 and T4), leading to slowed metabolism.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Blood tests measuring levels of TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone) and free T4.
Treatment:
Lifelong thyroid hormone replacement therapy, typically with levothyroxine.
Medications:
Levothyroxine (a synthetic form of T4) to replace missing thyroid hormone.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Affects approximately 4-5% of adults, with a higher prevalence in older adults, especially women.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Autoimmune diseases (e.g., Hashimoto's thyroiditis), age, gender (more common in women), and family history.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Well-controlled with appropriate medication. Untreated hypothyroidism can lead to serious complications.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Heart disease, infertility, nerve damage, myxedema coma (in severe cases).
Metabolic Syndrome
Specialty: Senior Health and Geriatrics
Category: Chronic Diseases and Multimorbidity
Sub-category: Metabolic and Endocrine Disorders
Symptoms:
high blood pressure; high blood sugar; abdominal obesity; high triglycerides; low hdl cholesterol
Root Cause:
A combination of metabolic risk factors (insulin resistance, high blood pressure, dyslipidemia, and obesity) that increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Diagnosis typically involves the presence of three or more of the following
Treatment:
Lifestyle changes (diet, exercise, weight loss), medications to manage blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar, and potentially insulin therapy.
Medications:
Statins for dyslipidemia, antihypertensive drugs (e.g., ACE inhibitors, diuretics), metformin for insulin resistance, and medications to control cholesterol and triglycerides .
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Affects approximately 25% of the global adult population, with increasing prevalence among older adults.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Age, obesity, physical inactivity, high cholesterol, family history, and smoking.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
If untreated, metabolic syndrome increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes. Effective management can prevent or delay complications.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Increased risk of heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes.
Vitamin D Deficiency
Specialty: Senior Health and Geriatrics
Category: Chronic Diseases and Multimorbidity
Sub-category: Metabolic and Endocrine Disorders
Symptoms:
fatigue; bone pain; muscle weakness; frequent infections; depression; hair loss
Root Cause:
Insufficient levels of vitamin D in the body, leading to poor calcium absorption, bone weakness, and muscle problems.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Blood test measuring levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D.
Treatment:
Vitamin D supplementation, increased sun exposure, and dietary changes (foods rich in vitamin D like fatty fish, fortified foods, etc.).
Medications:
Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol ) supplements, either orally or through injections in severe cases.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Affects about 30-50% of the global population, with higher rates in older adults.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Age, limited sun exposure, dark skin, obesity, certain medications, and poor dietary intake.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Timely diagnosis reduces the risk of fractures, falls, and associated complications, while also enhancing bone health, muscle strength, and overall quality of life.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Osteoporosis. Increased risk of fractures. Muscle weakness. Falls. Impaired immune function. Potential cardiovascular and cognitive issues.
Osteoporosis
Specialty: Senior Health and Geriatrics
Category: Chronic Diseases and Multimorbidity
Sub-category: Metabolic and Endocrine Disorders
Symptoms:
often asymptomatic until a fracture occurs. in some cases, back pain, loss of height, or stooped posture.
Root Cause:
Loss of bone density and strength, leading to fragile bones and an increased risk of fractures.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Bone mineral density (BMD) test (DEXA scan).
Treatment:
Medications to increase bone density, weight-bearing exercises, calcium and vitamin D supplements.
Medications:
Bisphosphonates (e.g., alendronate ), denosumab (RANKL inhibitor), and selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) (e.g., raloxifene ).
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Affects approximately 1 in 3 women and 1 in 5 men over the age of 50.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Age, gender (more common in women), family history, low calcium or vitamin D intake, smoking, and physical inactivity.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Treatable and manageable with medication, lifestyle changes, and monitoring; untreated osteoporosis leads to an increased risk of fractures.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Fractures, especially hip, spine, and wrist fractures.
Hypoglycemia
Specialty: Pediatrics
Category: Neonatal Conditions (Newborns)
Sub-category: Metabolic and Endocrine Disorders
Symptoms:
jitteriness; irritability; lethargy; poor feeding; cyanosis; apnea; seizures
Root Cause:
Low blood glucose levels caused by inadequate glycogen stores, excessive insulin, impaired gluconeogenesis, or increased glucose utilization.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Blood glucose measurement via heel prick or venous sampling; confirmatory laboratory tests for serum glucose, insulin levels, and ketones.
Treatment:
Immediate administration of glucose (oral or intravenous); long-term management depends on the underlying cause and may include dietary modifications or medications.
Medications:
Dextrose (administered intravenously for immediate correction); glucagon injections for emergency treatment.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Common in newborns, particularly in preterm infants or infants of diabetic mothers.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Prematurity, maternal diabetes, intrauterine growth restriction, perinatal asphyxia, or sepsis.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Good with prompt treatment; delayed intervention can lead to permanent neurological damage.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Seizures, developmental delay, cerebral palsy, and other long-term neurodevelopmental impairments if untreated.
Hyperbilirubinemia
Specialty: Pediatrics
Category: Neonatal Conditions (Newborns)
Sub-category: Metabolic and Endocrine Disorders
Symptoms:
yellow discoloration of skin and eyes (jaundice); poor feeding; lethargy; irritability; high-pitched crying; arch back (opisthotonos) in severe cases
Root Cause:
Excess bilirubin accumulation due to immature liver function, increased bilirubin production (hemolysis), or delayed excretion.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Serum bilirubin measurement; transcutaneous bilirubinometer; Coombs test if hemolysis is suspected.
Treatment:
Phototherapy (light therapy to break down bilirubin); exchange transfusion in severe cases; treatment of underlying cause (e.g., treating hemolysis).
Medications:
No direct medications; intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) may be used in hemolytic disease of the newborn.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Affects approximately 60% of term newborns and 80% of preterm infants.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Prematurity, breastfeeding, blood group incompatibility (e.g., Rh or ABO), bruising, delayed meconium passage, or maternal diabetes.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Excellent with early detection and treatment; untreated severe hyperbilirubinemia can cause kernicterus and permanent neurological damage.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Kernicterus, hearing loss, developmental delays, and cerebral palsy in severe or untreated cases.
Inborn Errors of Metabolism
Specialty: Pediatrics
Category: Neonatal Conditions (Newborns)
Sub-category: Metabolic and Endocrine Disorders
Symptoms:
poor feeding; lethargy; vomiting; failure to thrive; seizures; distinctive odor in urine (e.g., maple syrup in msud); jaundice; hypoglycemia
Root Cause:
Genetic defects affecting enzymes in metabolic pathways, leading to toxic accumulation of intermediates or energy deficiency.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Newborn screening (heel-prick blood tests); confirmatory tests include enzyme assays, genetic testing, and metabolite analysis in blood or urine.
Treatment:
Dietary management (e.g., protein restriction for MSUD or lactose-free formula for galactosemia); emergency interventions for metabolic crises (e.g., intravenous glucose or dialysis).
Medications:
No specific medications for many conditions; dietary supplements such as thiamine (MSUD) or calcium (galactosemia) may be prescribed.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Rare; varies by condition and population (e.g., MSUD prevalence
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Autosomal recessive inheritance; increased risk in consanguineous marriages or certain ethnic groups (e.g., Mennonite populations for MSUD).
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Depends on the condition; early diagnosis and strict adherence to dietary management can lead to good outcomes; delayed treatment can result in severe neurological damage or death.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Acute metabolic crises, intellectual disability, developmental delay, organ damage (e.g., liver failure in galactosemia).
Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Specialty: Senior Health and Geriatrics
Category: Chronic Diseases and Multimorbidity
Sub-category: Metabolic and Endocrine Disorders
Symptoms:
increased thirst; frequent urination; fatigue; blurred vision; slow wound healing; numbness or tingling in hands or feet
Root Cause:
Insulin resistance, where the body’s cells do not respond properly to insulin, leading to elevated blood sugar levels. The pancreas eventually cannot produce enough insulin to maintain normal blood sugar levels.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Blood tests including fasting blood glucose, HbA1c (glycated hemoglobin), or an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT).
Treatment:
Lifestyle changes (diet and exercise), blood sugar monitoring, oral medications (e.g., metformin), and insulin therapy in some cases.
Medications:
Metformin (an oral biguanide that improves insulin sensitivity and reduces glucose production in the liver), sulfonylureas (e.g., glimepiride ), SGLT2 inhibitors (e.g., empagliflozin ), GLP-1 agonists (e.g., liraglutide ), and insulin.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Affects approximately 9.3% of the global population, with a higher prevalence in older adults.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Age, family history, obesity, physical inactivity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and an unhealthy diet.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Can be managed with lifestyle changes and medications, though long-term complications can arise if blood sugar levels are not well-controlled.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, nerve damage, eye damage, poor wound healing, and increased risk of infections.
Hyperlipidemia (Dyslipidemia)
Specialty: Senior Health and Geriatrics
Category: Chronic Diseases and Multimorbidity
Sub-category: Metabolic and Endocrine Disorders
Symptoms:
generally asymptomatic, but may lead to atherosclerosis or other cardiovascular problems.
Root Cause:
Elevated levels of cholesterol and/or triglycerides in the blood, leading to the buildup of plaques in arteries and increasing the risk of heart disease and stroke.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Blood tests that measure levels of total cholesterol, LDL (low-density lipoprotein), HDL (high-density lipoprotein), and triglycerides.
Treatment:
Dietary changes, weight loss, increased physical activity, and medications (statins, fibrates, etc.).
Medications:
Statins (e.g., atorvastatin ) to reduce LDL cholesterol, fibrates (e.g., gemfibrozil ) for triglycerides , and niacin (vitamin B3) to improve HDL levels.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Affects approximately 40-50% of adults, with higher rates in older populations.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Family history, obesity, high-fat diet, physical inactivity, diabetes, and smoking.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
With effective treatment and lifestyle changes, individuals can manage hyperlipidemia and reduce the risk of cardiovascular events.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Atherosclerosis, heart disease, stroke, and peripheral artery disease.