Understanding Adrenal Gland Disorders
Adrenal gland disorders refer to the various medical conditions where the organs do not work properly. The problems may be caused by other glands or by the adrenal gland itself. The illness may be difficult to diagnose and if left untreated, it can lead to life threatening situations.
Introduction
Adrenal glands are located on top of the kidneys. They secrete several types of hormones that help in different metabolic processes of the body. They work hand in hand with insulin to regulate the level of blood sugar, control the fight or flight response, secrete male hormones and regulate the amount of electrolytes in the body. Although adrenal gland disorders are very slow to develop, they can lead to serious complications. This is the reason why once the disease is diagnosed; health providers consider it an emergency situation.
Diagnosis
The diagnosis for adrenal gland disorder involves the demonstration of the specific hormone in the blood and urine, the appearance of signs and symptoms and the use of imaging techniques. Adrenal gland scans are very popular ways to visualize the organ. This is requested when tumor is suspected. Patients undergo CT scan or MRI procedures to see patterns of lesions.
Symptoms
The symptoms of adrenal gland disorders are related either to the overproduction or insufficiency of hormones. Because of the different functions of the glands, the problem leads to a variety of symptoms. The symptoms often depend on the type of hormone involved. For you to understand the problem better, it will be good to discuss the symptoms together with the involved type of adrenal gland disorders.
Types of Disorders
Adrenal gland disorders come in different types. The gland produces different types of hormones. The adrenal medulla secretes adrenaline while the adrenal cortex secretes mineralocorticoids, glucocorticoids and sex hormones.
Cushing’s Syndrome
Cushing’s syndrome is one of the most common types of adrenal gland disorders. It refers to the over secretion of corticosteroid hormone. The excess amount of corticosteroid leads to different symptoms like the classic “buffalo hump”, moon face, obesity, sexual dysfunction, hypertension, easy fatigability, excessive growth of body hair and diabetes. It often affects adults between 20 to 50 years old. The over production may be due to a tumor in the pituitary or adrenal gland and excessive or prolonged use of steroids. The illness is diagnosed based on the observable physical symptoms of the adrenal gland disorder and the blood tests that show high amount of hormone.
Pheochromocytoma
Pheochromocytoma is another adrenal gland disorder. It results from the tumor affecting the adrenal medulla. As a result of the tumor, the amount of epinephrine and norepinephrine becomes abnormal. Symptoms of pheochromocytoma include high blood pressure, excessive perspiration, anxiety, tremor, palpitations, fatigue, unexplained weight loss, nausea, headache and abdominal pains. This type of adrenal gland disorder is very rare. The diagnosis is often made only after an unresolved hypertension. After ruling out other causes of high blood pressure, doctors request for a blood or urine test. If left untreated, the illness leads to stroke, heart attack and kidney damage.
Hyperaldosteronism
Aldosterone is the hormone that regulates the level of electrolytes in the body. In hyperaldosteronism, a type of adrenal gland disorders, the cells secrete too much aldosterone. As a result, the body is not able to control the level of potassium and sodium in the blood. These two hormones are crucial in the heart’s function and in the contraction of muscles. Too low potassium is observed in the blood while sodium is increased. Symptoms of hyperaldosteronism include constipation, frequency of urination and thirst, headache, mood swings, hypertension and weakness. In some patients, there are no observable symptoms and it may remain undiagnosed for a long time.
Addison’s Disease
As opposed to the Cushing’s syndrome, Addison’s disease is due to the failure of the adrenal cortex to produce the hormone cortisol. This type of adrenal gland disorders is due to an autoimmune disease that slowly destroys the cells of the adrenal glands. Cortisol is responsible for the regulation of blood glucose, suppression of the immune system and fat and protein metabolism. When it is secreted in very low amount, patients suffer from darkening of the skin, unexplained weight loss, decreased appetite, low blood pressure and stomach pains. The illness is manageable if diagnosed early. Doctors recommend hormone replacement therapy to reduce the symptoms of the adrenal gland disorders.
Pituitary Tumors
The pituitary gland is also called as the master gland because of the many glands that depend on its function. It is responsible for the variety of hormones in the body. In very rare cases, the cells of the master gland proliferate and form tumor. The disorder leads to visual disturbance, disruption in the hormone balance, infertility, growth failure and changes in the blood pressure. Although there are several treatment options to remove the tumor, surgery is still the preferred method. Doctors carefully remove the mass of cells so as not to damage the main gland.
Treatment Options for Adrenal gland disorders
Mild Cases
Mild cases of adrenal gland disorders do not necessitate emergency treatment. For hypertension and diabetes, medications to control the two conditions are important. For other symptoms, your doctor may prescribe drugs to reduce your discomforts.
Severe Cases
Severe cases refer to the presence of tumor in the adrenal glands. Surgery and radiation therapy are required to stop the uncontrollable growth. Hormone therapy may also be administered in cases of deficiency. With proper diagnosis and your compliance, adrenal gland disorders show a good prognosis.
Complications
The complications of untreated adrenal gland disorders are quite alarming. They affect other major organs like the heart and brain. One of the biggest concerns is the electrolyte imbalance which leads to myocardial infarction, stroke and kidney failure.
With the new information in mind, you will have a better understanding about the severity of adrenal gland disorders. Although there are no exact ways on how to prevent them, early diagnosis of the illness can do a lot in saving your life.