What happens if the hypothalamus gland malfunctions

Some of the functions of the hypothalamus include regulating:. The hypothalamus regulates many body functions, so many types of disorders can occur if the hypothalamus dysfunctions, which some diseases can cause. Common problems that affect the hypothalamus include:. When an injury or inflammation affects the hypothalamus, it may change your appetite. One type of disorder is called hypothalamic obesity, and it has the following symptoms:.

Other disorders that affect the hypothalamus and your appetite include:. When the hypothalamus is not functioning properly because of a disorder, the adrenal system may also be affected, causing:. Since the hypothalamus helps regulate many hormones in the body, it can affect a variety of functions. For example, Kallmann syndrome is a genetic disorder that affects the hypothalamus and leads to a delay or absence of puberty.

Common hormonal symptoms caused by a hypothalamus disorder include:. Hypothalamus disorders can affect sexual function by causing problems such as:. A doctor can order tests to measure hormone levels in your body and determine if you have a hypothalamus disorder.

Common tests include:. Your diet can affect the hypothalamus. For example, a diet high in saturated fats may cause inflammation in the hypothalamus and lead to obesity. Consider eating a diet that is:. The hypothalamus is a small but important part of your brain. It is responsible for making hormones that affect many body functions. If the hypothalamus is injured, it can cause a number of problems in the body, including unexplained weight gain, fatigue, reduced sex drive, and neurological issues like brain fog and memory loss.

Knowing how the hypothalamus works can help you understand more about your brain and body. It is important to find ways to maintain your brain health and prevent problems. You should protect your brain from injury whenever possible and provide it with proper nutrition.

You should seek medical help if you have persistent headaches and vision problems. If the hypothalamus receives a signal that the internal temperature is too high, it will tell the body to sweat. If it receives the signal that the temperature is too cold, the body will create its own heat by shivering. To maintain homeostasis, the hypothalamus is responsible for creating or controlling many hormones in the body. The hypothalamus works with the pituitary gland, which makes and sends other important hormones around the body.

Together, the hypothalamus and pituitary gland control many of the glands that produce hormones of the body, called the endocrine system. This includes the adrenal cortex, gonads, and thyroid.

The hypothalamus also directly influences growth hormones. It commands the pituitary gland to either increase or decrease their presence in the body, which is essential for both growing children and fully developed adults. A hypothalamic disease is any disorder that prevents the hypothalamus from functioning correctly. These diseases are very hard to pinpoint and diagnose because the hypothalamus has a wide range of roles in the endocrine system.

The hypothalamus also serves the vital purpose of signaling that the pituitary gland should release hormones to the rest of the endocrine system. As it is difficult for doctors to diagnose a specific, incorrectly functioning gland, these disorders are often called hypothalamic-pituitary disorders.

In these cases, there are some hormone tests that doctors might prescribe to get to the root of the disorder. The most common causes of hypothalamic diseases are injuries to the head that impact the hypothalamus. Surgeries, radiation, and tumors can also cause disease in the hypothalamus. Some hypothalamic diseases have a genetic link to hypothalamic disease.

For instance, Kallman syndrome causes hypothalamic problems in children , most noticeably delayed or absent puberty , accompanied by an impaired sense of smell. O f the endocrine glands, the hypothalamus and pituitary glands are of major importance since they act as the coordinating centers of the endocrine system.

The hypothalamus is responsible for maintaining the body's internal balance homeostasis by stimulating or inhibiting major bodily functions such as the heart rate and blood pressure, body temperature, fluid and electrolyte balance, appetite and body weight, sleep cycle and function of the gastrointestinal track.

The hypothalamus is also considered the master regulator of the endocrine system; Regulatory hormones secreted by the hypothalamus are transported by the hypophyseal-portal system to the anterior and posterior pituitary Figure 2 , prompting the release of secondary hormones that can affect various organ functions. Figure 2. The hypophyseal-portal system. It lies just below the hypothalamus. The pituitary, in turn, controls the:.

Symptoms are usually due to the hormones or brain signals that are missing. In children, there may be growth problems, either too much or too little growth. In other children, puberty occurs too early or too late. If the thyroid is affected, there may be symptoms of an underactive thyroid hypothyroidism.

Symptoms may include feeling cold all the time, constipation, fatigue , or weight gain , among others. If the adrenal glands are affected, there may be symptoms of low adrenal function.

Symptoms may include fatigue, weakness, poor appetite, weight loss, and lack of interest in activities. Many causes of hypothalamic dysfunction are treatable or reversible.

Most of the time, missing hormones can be replaced. Giustina A, Braunstein GD.