Bosnia doctors highlight hormone health at Sarajevo event

The Association of Endocrinologists and Diabetologists in Bosnia and Herzegovina organized a symposium in Sarajevo on the occasion of World Hormone Day.

In his opening speech, Executive Director of Medicana Sarajevo Hospital Sedat Ziyade welcomed colleagues, speakers, and guests on behalf of the host institution, emphasizing that hormones are invisible but key regulators of human health, CE Report quotes FENA.

“I hope this symposium will be useful for all of us and will contribute to even better cooperation and higher-quality patient care,” said Prof. Dr. Ziyade, adding that he presented certificates of appreciation to participants and speakers.

The president of the Association of Endocrinologists and Diabetologists in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Prof. Dr. Zelija Velija Ašimi, said that the initiative to mark World Hormone Day originated last year from the European Society of Endocrinology.

“Since last year, we have been celebrating World Hormone Day. Hormones are everything. Life begins with hormones and, in the end, when hormonal function ceases, life also ends. For this reason, we are here to raise global awareness about hormonal health and, of course, hormonal diseases, because when hormones are disturbed, they lead to disease,” Velija Ašimi told Fena.

She added that hormones essentially control all functions of the human body — growth, development, mental and intellectual functions, metabolism, body temperature, digestion, development of gonads, conception, pregnancy, and childbirth.

“They also control waking and sleep. There is no part of life in which hormones do not influence function and the organism as a whole. Therefore, hormones are extremely important, and we are here today to raise awareness among citizens so that more attention is paid to them, because any imbalance leads to disease,” she said.

The chair of the Board of the Association, Prof. Dr. Azra Bureković, also emphasized that hormones are essential “because there is no life without hormones.”

“When a baby is born, hormones already begin to be secreted that are vital for sustaining life, such as adrenocorticotropic hormone from the pituitary gland, cortisol from the adrenal gland, and thyroid hormones. Growth hormone is also very important for the growth of newborns and children, and it continues to play a role throughout life,” she said.

She added that sex hormones, important for reproduction, begin to be secreted intensively during puberty and effectively end their role with menopause in women or andropause in men.

“What is important for every individual is maintaining the homeostasis of insulin, cortisol, parathyroid hormone, adrenocorticotropic hormone, growth hormone, and thyroid hormones. Many diseases caused by changes in hormone secretion can lead to serious illnesses, even life-threatening conditions,” Bureković said.

She also warned that there are many environmental substances (disruptors) that can interfere with hormone secretion and affect health.

“That is why it is important for all of us to become aware, to pay attention to what we eat and which cosmetic products we use, because they are full of additives, toxic substances, and endocrine disruptors that can seriously damage both endocrine and mental health,” Bureković said at the symposium held at Medicana Hospital.