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.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

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.

A Friend Tells You That Her Husband Has Been Feeling