Asked by Alexandria Coutret on Jul 28, 2024
Verified
A friend tells you that her husband has been feeling anxious and stressed for the past month. During this same time interval, he has had several infections, bouts of forgetfulness, and erectile dysfunction. Doctors have already checked for ulcers, cancer, blood pressure changes, and other blood irregularities, but these apparently are normal. You are an endocrinologist, so you suggest that he be tested for the most likely endocrine malfunction, which would be altered ____ levels in the blood.
A) estrogen
B) cortisol
C) calcitonin
D) melatonin
E) testosterone
Estrogen
Steroid hormones that encourage the formation and upkeep of characteristics associated with the female body.
Cortisol Levels
Cortisol Levels refer to the concentration of cortisol, a steroid hormone in the body known for its role in the stress response, metabolism regulation, and immune system modulation.
Erectile Dysfunction
A medical condition characterized by the inability to achieve or maintain an erection sufficient for satisfactory sexual performance.
- Understand the effects of prolonged pharmaceutical consumption on hormonal equilibrium.
Verified Answer
MA
Muhammad Abubakar SaleemJul 31, 2024
Final Answer :
B
Explanation :
Given the symptoms described, the most likely endocrine malfunction would be altered cortisol levels in the blood. Cortisol is a hormone released by the adrenal gland in response to stress, and prolonged stress can lead to high or low cortisol levels, which can cause a variety of physical and mental health issues. Additionally, cortisol levels can affect testosterone and other hormones, which could explain the other symptoms mentioned.
Learning Objectives
- Understand the effects of prolonged pharmaceutical consumption on hormonal equilibrium.