Adrenal Disorders

Adrenal disorders are the result of your adrenal glands making too much or not enough of certain hormones. Hormones produced by the adrenals include hydrocortisone (also called cortisol), adrenaline and aldosterone. Production of too much or too little can cause adrenal disorders, that affect the body’s overall functioning in many ways.

The types of Adrenal Disorders include:

• Addison’s Disease or Adrenal insufficiency - When the body doesn’t produce enough cortisol and/or aldosterone.
• Cushing’s Syndrome - In this disorder, your levels of cortisol are too high
• Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia A genetic condition when the adrenal glands are not able to produce cortisol properly. Depending on the defect higher levels of male hormone might be made.
• Adrenal Gland Suppression This is a type of adrenal insufficiency that is related to outside sources of cortisol or related synthetic hormones such as prednisone or dexamethasone.
• Hyperaldosteronism If you have this condition, your body produces too much aldosterone which can lead to blood pressure elevation and potassium loss.
• Virilization When the body produces too much of male sex hormones and is only apparent in females or boys before puberty.

Symptoms of high levels of cortisone (Cushing’s disease) include:

• Upper body obesity, while arms and legs stay thinner. (A common trait called a Buffalo hump refers to a lump in between the shoulders.)
• Fatigue and tiredness
• Confusion
• High blood pressure
• Diabetes
• Skin that bruises easily
• Wide purplish streak marks on the abdominal skin

Symptoms of high levels of aldosterone include:

• High blood pressure
• Low potassium levels
• Weakness
• Muscle pain and spasms

Causes:

• Unknown
• Genetics and environmental factorsa can play a part in certain adrenal disorders