Can you recognize adrenal gland problems? Did you know that the adrenal glands help you deal with stress? The stresses of today just do not let up. They just keep on coming regardless of how you feel or what you have to do. Adrenal glands are part of the endocrine system that helps you maintain balance in your body. When you get out of balance or sync, something has to pickup that slackness in you. Hormones step in and try to balance the body out. Sometimes they overproduce and sometimes they under produce. Regardless of which, problems arise. Those problems can lead to disorders and there are a lot of adrenal gland disorders. So, let’s take a further look. The adrenal gland disorders are as follows:
- Pheochromocytoma – usually means a tumor in the adrenal medulla which causes the secretion of too much epinephrine or norepinephrine. This results in an increase in blood pressure. Alpha and beta blockers medications may be prescribed. Surgical removal of said tumor may be recommended. If the tumor is inoperable, chemotherapy, radiation, or ablation may be recommended.
- Cushing’s syndrome – can be a result of a tumor in the pituitary gland that is producing too much adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) or an adrenal tumor producing too much cortisol. Treatment may be the removal of the pituitary or adrenal tumor. Lifelong replacement drugs, such as, glucocorticoids or mineralocorticoids may be prescribed.
- Pituitary adenoma – the pituitary gland is located at the base of the brain. The pituitary gland regulates the hormones of the body. It is a brain tumor. Most of them are benign and are referred to as “adenomas.” The adenomas can be referred to as “micro” (small) or “macro” (large). Treatment is dependent upon several factors, such as: patients’ age and health, size of said tumor, and how invasive it is.
- Hyperaldosteronism – means there is too much aldosterone and blood pressure increases. Aldosterone controls the sodium and potassium levels in the body. It signals the kidneys when to excrete less sodium and increase potassium excretion. Aldosterone production is regulated by corticotropics and renin-angiotension-aldosterone system. Renin is a kidney produced enzyme that controls the activation of angiotensin (hormone) that stimulates the adrenal glands to produce aldosterone. This creates a cycle. Aldactone is usually prescribed to treat the high blood pressure.
- Addison’s disease – when the immune system attacks and destroys the adrenal cortex. There is a deficiency of aldosterone in the body, so large amounts of sodium are excreted and large amounts of potassium are retained. The kidneys can’t concentrate urine, so you urinate excessively which can lead to dehydration. Treat with glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids.
- Adrenal gland tumors – are abnormal masses of tissue or growth of cells in the adrenal glands causing cortisol levels to decrease. Treatment is the removal of the tumor or tumors.
Adrenal gland problems are hard to catch because there are so many diseases that are similar to, or related to, adrenal gland disorders.