How Different Hormones Affect Your Child

Our bodies are miraculous mechanisms – they perform a variety of different functions. In fact, many of the processes take place inside our bodies without us even knowing or thinking about it. Hormones are the ones doing all the hard work – they tell the body when to grow or stop doing so and when it should begin puberty. They also regulate our mood, metabolism, and reproductive processes, and they’re in control of our development.

As such, hormones play a vital role in how our bodies function on an everyday basis, and there are a variety of them that both adults and children produce. In this article, we’ll look at different hormones and the ways in which they affect your child.

What are hormones?

Simply put, hormones are signaling molecules that keep all the tissues and organs in our bodies functioning. They are produced by glands and released into the bloodstream. From there, they send messages to receptors and act as signals to our body parts and cells to carry out certain functions.

The glands that produce the hormones make up your child’s endocrine system, with some of the major ones being:

•  pituitary gland – produces growth hormone as well as hormones that control pubertal development
•  thyroid gland  produces hormones that control metabolic processes and support growth hormone     activity
•  hypothalamus – controls other glands such as the pituitary gland
•  adrenal gland – produces cortisol which is vital for controlling growth, metabolism, and the body’s stress  response
•  testes – produce male sex hormone responsible for the production of sperm, muscle mass, growth, and facial and body hair growth
•  ovaries – produce female sex hormones vital for reproductive organ development, fertility, and menstrual cycle

Why are hormones important?

Hormones largely dictate the development of the child as well as their overall health. If it weren’t for hormones, the body would be unable to get signals to, for example, grow bigger, or enter puberty. But more importantly, the vital role of the hormones in your child’s body lies in the fact that if any hormonal abnormalities take place, it will have substantial implications.

According to a reputable pediatric endocrinologist from Port St Lucie, this happens due to abnormal function of one of the endocrine glands. Any deficiency or surplus of a particular hormone is a sign of hormone imbalance. This disorder will require working with a professional to properly diagnose and treat this particular condition.

How and which hormones affect children?

Childhood, and especially puberty, is a time of rapid growth and development. This is the time when your child’s metabolism and brain develop, and they grow at a fast pace. There are several hormones that dictate all these important functions. Your child’s metabolism, growth, and brain development are largely influenced by the hormones produced by their thyroid gland.

On the other hand, everything from cortisol and puberty to growth and thyroid hormone production are controlled by the hormones that the pituitary gland produces. Other than performing all those functions, hormones are also the ones responsible for many of the behavioral changes in adolescents. Sex hormones such as estrogen and testosterone are vital for the growth and development of reproductive organs as well as puberty. Any deficiency in these hormones could result in significant problems regarding children’s development and growth.

What are the symptoms of hormone deficiency?

Symptoms vary depending on the type of hormone deficiency a child has. Growth hormone deficiency often reflects in weakness of the muscles, delays in puberty as well as the eruption of teeth, low levels of blood sugar, and small penis size in males at birth. This deficiency is commonly diagnosed through X-rays, MRI, blood tests, and a stimulation test for this particular hormone. Treatment involves taking growth hormone shots and tracking how the child’s body responds to the medication.

Aside from this hormone deficiency, some children may develop puberty problems such as precocious (early) or delayed puberty, or premature adrenarche. Depending on the cause, the doctor may recommend taking drugs to delay puberty, or hormone replacement therapy to ensure the production of hormones needed for a child to reach puberty.

Wrapping up

There’s no denying the incredibly vital role hormones play in our bodies on a daily basis. This is why maintaining optimal hormone levels is so important, and a big part of that is knowing and recognizing the symptoms of hormone imbalances and deficiencies. In doing so, parents can ensure their child’s overall well-being and give them an optimal start at life.

About The Author

Taylor Parker is an American based writer and blogger. She is very passionate about family, fashion, health and lifestyle. Taylor writes mostly lifestyle articles, but also you’ll find her in home improvement and other niches.

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