A guide to hormones – busting the jargon
AN AWARD-WINNING doctor at Southport and Ormskirk’s hospitals has published her latest book which offers an understandable insight into hormone conditions.
Dr May Ng, consultant paediatric endocrinologist at Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust, has released Me and My Hormones: What Can Go Wrong? as the follow-up to her debut which detailed her son’s experiences with autism and offering advice to other parents.
The book offers a jargonfree, comprehensive account of the underlying causes of hormone conditions that can affect all ages from birth to adulthood.
With chapters dedicated to various common hormonal issues such as puberty timing, short stature, adrenal fatigue, thyroid disorders, pituitary disorders, diabetes, weight issues and many more, the book is designed to bring clarity and help the reader understand how hormones can affect aspects of health and the body.
Dr Ng said: “Writing this book has been a labour of love. While my first book A Journey with Brendan took more than 10 years to complete, detailing the journey as a paediatrician and mother to my autistic son, the idea for Me and My Hormones came about more than two decades ago when as a paediatric endocrinologist looking after patients, I was not able to source a clear, concise and easy-to-read book which explains all about hormones and things that could go wrong from birth through to adulthood.
“Many of my students, colleagues and families I have encountered over the years wanted to have access to a less medically jargoned, bite-sized source for understanding hormone conditions. I became convinced that this book was needed.
“Untreated hormonal imbalance can have serious health consequences and in the growing years, it can also affect puberty, growth and well-being. For many families, parents, carers, adolescents and healthcare professionals, hormone conditions can be confusing and difficult to comprehend.
“While many books are written in a medically jargoned fashion, I hope that this book will make it easier to understand what is happening to the body and give you, families and carers a chance to ask questions, share a discussion and perhaps find an answer that you may be looking for.”
Dr Ng is a multi-awardwinning paediatrician, with an impressive five academic degrees under her belt. She qualified in medicine under a full scholarship at the University of Sydney, Australia, before training in paediatrics in Australia and the United Kingdom.
“This book is not meant to be a detailed or exhaustive review of endocrine disorders but is written for everyone who wishes to gain a practical understanding of hormone conditions that can affect their lives,” she explained.
“I hope that this book will also be a valuable resource for healthcare professionals, medical or nursing students to read and recommend to those who may wish to increase their understanding of hormonal conditions.”