Hypothalamus: Function, Disorders, Treatment - WebMD

The hypothalamus is a gland in your brain that controls your hormone system. It releases hormones to another part of your brain called the ... MenuNews&FeaturesReferenceSlideshowsQuizzesVideosFindaNeurologistLivingBetterWithMSADHDAlzheimer'sDiseaseAutismConcussionCreutzfeldt-JakobDiseaseEpilepsyGuillain-BarréSyndromeLouGehrig’sDisease(ALS)MultipleSclerosisParkinson'sDiseaseRestlessLegsSyndromeSpinalMuscularAtrophyStrokeMoreRelatedTopicsBrain&NervousSystemReferenceMenuMedicallyReviewedbyDanBrennan, MDonJune20,2021InthisArticleWhatIstheHypothalamus?HypothalamusDisordersCausesofHypothalamusDysfunctionTestsforHypothalamusDisordersTreatmentforHypothalamusDisordersComplicationsofHypothalamusDisordersThehypothalamusisanimportantpartofyourbrainthatcontrolslotsofyourbasicbodilyfunctions.Somehypothalamusdisordersleadtohormoneandweightproblems.                                      WhatIstheHypothalamus?Thehypothalamusisaglandinyourbrainthatcontrolsyourhormonesystem.Itreleaseshormonestoanotherpartofyourbraincalledthepituitarygland,whichsendshormonesouttoyourdifferentorgans.Theseinclude:AdrenalsThyroidOvariesTesticles ‌Yourhormonesystemoperatesinafeedbackloopthatsignalsthehypothalamustoreleasemorehormonesortostopreleasingthem. ‌Thehypothalamuscontrolsmanydifferentfunctions.It'simportantforyoursexdrive,behaviors,andemotions.Otherfunctionsinclude:HungerThirstWeightBodytemperatureBreastmilkproductionSaltandwaterbalanceCircadianrhythm,oryoursleep-wakecycleChildbirthHypothalamusDisordersSometimesthereareproblemswithyourhypothalamusthatcancausediseases.Theseproblemscanalsoaffectyourpituitarygland.Somedisordersleadtonotenoughortoomanyhormones.Hypothalamusdisordersinclude:‌Hypothalamicobesity.Injurytothehypothalamuscancauseproblemswithhunger.Peoplewhohavehypothalamicobesitycanhavesymptomslike:FastweightgainExcessiveweightgainUncontrollableappetiteLowmetabolism‌Functionalhypothalamicamenorrhea.Thisconditionissometimescalledsecondaryamenorrheaandhappenswhenyoustophavingyourperiod.‌Whenyourbodydoesn’thaveenoughenergyfromfood,itcancauseyoutohavehighcortisollevels.Thecortisoldampensyourhypothalamus-ovaryconnection,whichmeansyou'llhavelowamountsofhormones.Thisaffectsovulationandleadstoabsentperiods. ‌Functionalhypothalamicamenorrheacanalsobecausedbyabraintumor. ‌Centraldiabetesinsipidus.Thistypeofdiabetesisarareautoimmunedisorderwhereyourimmunesystemdamagesyourhypothalamus.Partsofyourhypothalamusreleaseahormonecalledantidiuretichormone,orvasopression,whichhelpsyourkidneysfilterwaterandkeepyouhydrated. Damagetothehypothalamusleadstoalackantidiuretichormoneandcausesfrequentpeeingandthirst. ‌Kallmansyndrome.Hypothalamusdysfunctioncanleadtoabsentordelayedpubertyandnosenseofsmell,asinKallmansyndrome.Thisisageneticconditionthatcausesproblemswiththehypothalamus.Itmeansyouwon'thaveenoughhormonesforsexualdevelopment.Symptomscaninclude:NoperiodsUndescendedtesticlesSmallpenisNoorsmallbreastsKidneyproblemsHearingproblemsCleftlipCleftpalate‌Prader-Willisyndrome.Thisgeneticconditioniscausedbyahypothalamusthatdoesn’tworkproperly.Thiscancause:IntellectualdisabilitiesPoorgrowthIrresistibleurgetoeatSmallgenitalsObesityBehavioralproblems‌Syndromeofinappropriateantidiuretichormone.SIADHcauseshighantidiuretichormonelevelsandlowelectrolytes.It'susuallycausedbystroke,infection,orcancerthatdamagesthehypothalamus.Toomuchofthishormonecancauselowsodiumlevelsandleadto:WeaknessThrowingupTirednessHeadachesTroublethinkingCausesofHypothalamusDysfunctionHypothalamusdysfunctioncanhappenforafewreasons.Sometimesageneticconditioncausesthehypothalamustonotformproperlyinthewomb,oritcanbecausedbyinjuryandotherconditions. ‌Conditionswhichcancausehypothalamusdysfunctioninclude:BraintumorCancerandcancertreatment,especiallyinchildrenHeadinjuryBrainsurgery Brainswelling‌Thehypothalamuscanbeaffectedbynutritionandexercise.Ifyourbodydoesn’thaveenoughenergy,itgoesintoastressstateandmakescortisol,whichcandampenactivityinyourhypothalamusandleadtoproblems.Thestressresponsecanbecausedbyeatingdisordersthatleadto:LowweightEmotionalstressToomuchexerciseNoteatingenoughcalories‌Highstress,drugslikecocaine,andeatinglotsofsaturatedfatswhichcauseinflammationcanallleadtohypothalamicdysfunction.Thedysfunctioncanaffectmanyotheractivitiesinyourbody.TestsforHypothalamusDisordersYourdoctorwillaskforyourpersonalhistoryandorderbloodandurinetestsbasedonyoursymptoms.Thetestswillcheckfordifferenthormones,electrolytes,andautoimmuneproteins. ‌Doctorsmightalsoorderimagingtestslikemagneticresonanceimaging(MRI)oracomputedtomographyscan(CTscan)tolookatyourbrain. TreatmentforHypothalamusDisordersMosthypothalamusdisordersaretreatable,butthetreatmentdependsonthecauseandthedisorder.‌Treatmentscaninclude:SurgeryorradiationfortumorsHormonemedicationforhormoneproblemslikehypothyroidismAppetitesuppressingmedicationsforovereatingproblemsDietaryplansObesitymedicationslikemetformin‌Ifyouhaveotherhealthproblems,likeaneatingdisorder,highstress,orbehavioralproblems,yourdoctormightsuggesttherapyforyourmentalhealthorlifestylecounsellingforstressandfitness. ComplicationsofHypothalamusDisordersHypothalamusdisorderscan’tbeprevented,unlessitisrelatedtoaneatingdisorderorpoornutrition.Youshouldseektreatmenttoavoidcomplicationslike:InfertilityErectionproblemsOsteoporosisBreastfeedingproblemsHeartproblemsHighcholesterolGrowthproblems WeightproblemsLowsexdriveYourdoctorcanhelpyoudiagnoseahypothalamusdisorder.Ifyouhaveanysymptomsorfeelunwell,talktoyourdoctor. MSBrainFog?TipstoHelpYouThinkClearly10EarlySignsofAlzheimer'sHowtoKeepYourMindSharpWithMSIsItMSorAmIHavingaStroke?MedicalMarijuana:HowIt'sUsedTreatingandPreventingMigrainesWhatIsMultipleSclerosis?Learnhowthisdiseaseaffectsthenervoussystem.WhyIsMyMuscleTwitching?Causesofspasmsandcramps.KeepYourBrainInGoodShapeTipstostaysmart,sharp,andfocused.MedicalMarijuanaWhatisitusedfor?ArticleIsItMSorAmIHavingaStroke?SlideshowHowHeadInjuriesHurtYourBrainArticleVertigo:Types,CausesARTICLEMedicalMarijuana:CanItTreatMS?SlideshowWhatIsaStroke?SlideshowMSSymptoms&CausesSlideshowSignsofAlzheimer'sDiseaseQuizHowWellDoYouKnowYourBrain?WhatIsSluggishCognitiveTempo?StrokeExplainedinPhotosParkinson'sDiseaseOverviewTreatingandPreventingMigrainesMS&YourBrain:10WaystoStaySharpHealthSolutionsPenisCurvedWhenErect?CouldIhaveCAD?TreatBentFingersTreatHR+,HER2-MBCTiredofDandruff?BenefitsofCBDRethinkMSTreatmentAFib-RelatedStrokesRiskofaFutureDVT/PEIsMyPenisNormal?RelapsingMSOptionsLiverTransplantsSaveLivesFinancePlasticSurgeryBentFingerCausesLivingWithPsoriasis?MissingTeeth?MorefromWebMD5TipstoHelpWithRelapsingMSHowtoThriveWithNarcolepsyReliefforBlockedHairFolliclesPsoriaticArthritisandYourSleepWhatPsoriasisFeelsLikeFirstPsoriaticArthritisFlareTalkingtoYourDoctorAboutRACrohn's:A'Full-Body'DiseaseAvoidingCrohn’sFlaresHealthBenefitsofHempSeedOilLiveBetterWithPsoriaticDiseaseTypesofB-CellTherapyforMS5HealthBenefitsofHempWhyProstateCancerSpreadsLivingwithAdvancedBreastCancerWhereBreastCancerSpreads