Metabolic diseases: Information & specialists

Prof. Joerg
G. Albert
Medical Author

Metabolic diseases disrupt important cycles in the human body. The cause of a metabolic disease is a metabolic disorder. The causes can be completely different. The diseases also bring with them very different symptoms and disease progressions. Here you will find further information as well as selected metabolic specialists and centers.

ICD codes for this diseases: E88

Recommended specialists

Brief overview:

  • What is metabolism? The body's metabolism controls the body, such as nutrition, cell renewal and the day-night rhythm. Disorders can seriously affect health and quality of life.
  • What is a metabolic disorder? An umbrella term for various clinical pictures that can have completely different progressions and symptoms.
  • Common metabolic diseases: Diabetes mellitus, hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism, gout, cystic fibrosis and others.
  • Risk factors: Shift work, unhealthy diet, long-term obesity, too little exercise, smoking, a harmful environment.
  • Diagnosis: Diagnosis is not always easy due to often diffuse symptoms. A hormone analysis and other blood values provide important clues.
  • Symptoms: Many metabolic disorders present with diffuse symptoms, including weight gain, weight loss, reddening of the skin, stabbing pain or swelling, abdominal cramps, nausea and stomach pain.
  • Treatment: The treatment depends on the exact disease diagnosed. Medication is often used.
  • Prognosis: The course of the disease cannot be generalized and depends on the exact disease and stage. Some can be treated well, others unfortunately not.

Article overview

A metabolic disorder can be caused by a congenital lack of enzymes or can develop in the course of life. The most common metabolic diseases include, for example

Disorders in the metabolism of amino acids also play a role in the development of metabolic diseases.

Three facts about metabolic diseases

  • Metabolic disorders can affect muscles as well as joints or organs.
  • Metabolic diseases have numerous non-specific symptoms, making diagnosis difficult.
  • Metabolic disorders can occur at any age.

What is metabolism?

The human metabolism is also referred to as metabolism. When doctors talk about metabolism, they are referring to different bodily functions and the entire human body.

Metabolism controls and influences a large number of bodily processes. It is responsible for all the cycles that our body goes through every day. This includes, for example

  • the day and night rhythm
  • nutrition,
  • the regular renewal of every body cell
  • the regulation of blood lipids and blood sugar.

Metabolism is therefore a very important component of health. Metabolic diseases can therefore have drastic consequences.

Risk factors for the occurrence of metabolic diseases

Metabolic diseases can have various causes. The following risk factors can favor the occurrence of such a disease:

  • Shift work
  • An unhealthy diet
  • being overweight for many years
  • too little exercise
  • Radiation and toxins in the workplace
  • smoking

Stoffwechsel
A healthy metabolism contributes a great deal to personal well-being © VectorMine | AdobeStock

The most common metabolic diseases

Diabetes mellitus is the most common metabolic disease. In diabetes, the pancreas is unable to regulate the sugar level in the blood. The ratio of various hormones is also disturbed.

Risk factors for diabetes mellitus are

  • being overweight
  • an unhealthy diet and
  • lack of exercise.

Typical symptoms associated with the disease are tiredness, ravenous appetite, a strong urge to urinate and increased thirst.

Malfunctions of the thyroid gland also occur frequently. Among other things, the thyroid gland controls body temperature and the beating of the heart. In the case of hyperthyroidism, too many hormones are produced, which leads to

  • Muscle weakness,
  • severe fatigue,
  • trembling and
  • inner restlessness

can result. An underactive thyroid gland, on the other hand, leads to insufficient production of hormones. This manifests itself in those affected by

  • a tendency to freeze quickly,
  • tiredness and
  • listlessness.

Although patients hardly have an appetite, they still put on weight.

Gout is also a metabolic disease. It is triggered when too much uric acid accumulates in the blood. This leads to the formation of uric acid crystals, which are deposited in bursae and joints. This is often the result of an unhealthy and unbalanced diet.

Hashimoto's disease is associated with chronic inflammation of the thyroid gland, which leads to the destruction of the gland over the years.

Cystic fibrosis, on the other hand, is a genetic defect that causes body secretions to be more viscous than normal. This then causes digestive and respiratory problems.

How does a doctor diagnose a metabolic disease?

Metabolic diseases can have different causes and different effects on the human body. For this reason, even experienced doctors do not always find it easy to make the correct diagnosis after a short time.

Metabolic diseases can, for example

heart. Pain in the joints or changes to the skin may also indicate metabolic disorders. In addition, under- or over-functioning of certain organs can also indicate metabolic problems.

Even harmless symptoms such as

can sometimes be explained by metabolic irregularities.

Metabolic disorders can therefore have different effects on each patient. For a reliable diagnosis, it is advisable to determine the relevant hormones and other values in the blood. Such an examination provides reliable information as to whether the patient is suffering from a metabolic disease or not.

What symptoms can indicate a metabolic disease?

There are various complaints and symptoms that may or may not indicate a metabolic disease. The symptoms mentioned can also be accompanying symptoms of completely different diseases. For this reason, the following list is not suitable for self-diagnosis.

However, if you notice one or more of these symptoms, you should consult a doctor.

  • Weight gain, even though you are not eating more than before. You also feel listless, lack energy and are often tired. This may indicate an underactive thyroid gland.
  • Although you eat normally, you lose weight. You often feel easily irritable, restless and nervous. These symptoms may be associated with an overactive thyroid gland.
  • If you suffer from reddening of the skin, stabbing pains or swelling around the joints of your fingers, this could be caused by gout.
  • If you frequently suffer from abdominal cramps, nausea or stomach pain, this may indicate a disorder in your digestive metabolism. If there is no nutritional deficiency, it helps to avoid foods that are the cause of the respective disorder.
Finger mit Gicht
Woman with gout on her finger joints © doucefleur | AdobeStock

    What are the effects of a metabolic disorder?

    The consequences for people suffering from a metabolic disorder cannot be generalized. It depends above all on the exact disease and the stage at which it was diagnosed.

    Some metabolic diseases cannot be cured. In these cases, only the symptoms can be suppressed with the help of medication. These include

    • Gout,
    • thyroid dysfunction or
    • diabetes.

    Other diseases, on the other hand, can be cured.

    What is the treatment for metabolic diseases?

    The treatment of metabolic diseases depends on the specific disease and the associated causes.

    Many metabolic diseases can be treated with medication. For this purpose, the doctor treating the patient will prescribe appropriate preparations. However, it can take some time to find the right dose. A certain amount of patience is therefore required when treating metabolic diseases.

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