Page 327 - Critical Care Nursing Demystified

312 CRITICAL CARE NURSING DeMYSTIFIED

KEY WORDS

Acromegaly Dwarfism
ACTH – adrenocorticotrophic ECF – extracellular fluid
Addison’s disease Euthyroid
ADH – antidiuretic Graves’ disease
Adrenal glands – suprarenals HHNS – hyperglycemic hyperosmolar
Aldosterone nonketotic syndrome
AVP – arginine vasopressin Hirsutism
Cretinism Hypothalamus
Cushing’s syndrome Myxedema
DI – diabetes insipidus Parathyroid
DKA – diabetic ketoacidosis Prognathism
DM – diabetes mellitus

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During one’s youth, hormone production can be perceived as “over active,”
“raging,” or “running rampant.” Sadly, as a person ages, organs atrophy, metabo-
lism decreases, and hormone secretion diminishes and becomes underactive.
The endocrine system consists of various organs that function to maintain
homeostasis within the body by releasing significant hormones throughout the
bloodstream. The process of maintaining hormonal balance is intricate and
delicate. An imbalance of hormones can provoke numerous and devastating
individual health care problems. Hormones are chemical substances that either
stimulate or prevent specific functions from occurring. These chemical sub-
stances have either a protein/amino acid structure or a steroid structure that is
synthesized from cholesterol. An organ-specific hormone is something like pro-
lactin, particular only to the mammary gland, while insulin, particular to the
pancreas, affects almost all cellular functions of the body. Hormones tend to be
released when the circulating level of that hormone is low, known as positive
feedback. If the circulating hormone level is too high, the release of that hor-
mone stops until a lower level is achieved, known as negative feedback. This
process is performed to regulate blood hormone levels and to prevent an over-
production of hormones.