What is the hypersecretion of adrenal glands?

Hypersecretion from the adrenal glands is associated with hypertension. Causes include Conn syndrome, Cushing syndrome and phaechromocytoma. This article discusses their clinical features, diagnosis and treatment as well as the management of incidentally identified adrenal tumours (incidentaloma).

What happens if the adrenal gland produces too much hormones?

An overproduction of the aldosterone hormone can lead to high blood pressure and to those symptoms associated with low levels of potassium, such as weakness, muscle aches, spasms, and sometimes paralysis.

What happens when your adrenal glands fail?

With adrenal insufficiency, the inability to increase cortisol production with stress can lead to an addisonian crisis. An addisonian crisis is a life-threatening situation that results in low blood pressure, low blood levels of sugar and high blood levels of potassium. You will need immediate medical care.

What happens when the adrenal gland is hypersecreted?

Hypersecretion of androgens results in adrenal virilism. Hypersecretion of epinephrine and norepinephrine results in symptoms of pheochromocytoma.

What are the side effects of adrenal hyperfunction?

Adrenal hyperfunction causes distinct clinical syndromes depending on the hormone involved: Hypersecretion of glucocorticoids results in Cushing syndrome. Hypersecretion of aldosterone results in hyperaldosteronism. Hypersecretion of androgens results in adrenal virilism. Hypersecretion of epinephrine and norepinephrine results in pheochromocytoma.

How to tell if your adrenal gland is overactive?

Dexamethasone suppression test. This test differentiates whether the excess production of corticotropins are from the pituitary gland or tumors elsewhere. Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) stimulation test. This test differentiates whether the cause is a pituitary tumor or an adrenal tumor.

What causes overactive adrenal glands and Cushing’s syndrome?

Cushing’s syndrome is the result of excessive corticosteroids in the body. The main cause is overproduction of adrenocorticotropin hormone (ACTH) in the pituitary gland.