Abstract
Because diabetes is one of the most researched diseases regarding the autonomic nervous system and due to its near epidemic conditions, other endocrine diseases are often overlooked. This is unfortunate, especially given the intimate relationship between the ANS and the endocrine system. Virtually, all hormones are at least neuromodulators and some serve as neurotransmitters. This relationship often makes these “other” endocrine diseases (the title is in no way meant to be de minimis) some of the more interesting diseases to diagnose and treat. Unfortunately, at this time, we only have significant amounts of data to discuss hypothyroid and estrogen dysfunction. In many cases, establishing and maintaining P&S balance helps to maintain a more normal endocrine function. However, the challenge is in the fact that changes, due to therapy, in the functioning of the ANS and the endocrine system are on different time scales and treating one affects the other. As a result, the physician and the patient must treat one and wait to see the response in the other, treat the other, and wait again. This “seesawing” back and forth may happen three or more times over 18 or more months before a final equilibrium is reached. Examples are included.
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Colombo, J., Arora, R., DePace, N.L., Vinik, A.I. (2015). Other Diseases in Endocrinology. In: Clinical Autonomic Dysfunction. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-07371-2_22
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-07371-2_22
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Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
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