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VERIFIED CONTENTConsultation: Grzegorz Luboiński, MD, PhD, oncologist, Oncology Center, Institute of Maria Skłodowskiej-Curie in Warsaw

The adrenal glands are essential for life - they secrete important hormones into the bloodstream. They perform important functions for the body. Diseases of the adrenal glands disrupt the body's water and electrolyte balance. The most common are Addison's disease, Cushing's syndrome, an adrenal tumor, and hyperaldosteronism. Check what their symptoms are.

The adrenal glandsare paired endocrine glands. They perform important functions - their role is to produce hormones necessary for the proper functioning of the body. The adrenal glands are known as the survival organs. This means that without them man cannot survive.

Adrenal glands - structure

The adrenal glands , as the name suggests, are located above the kidneys. The base of the adrenal gland rests on the kidney and is concave. Both adrenal glands are different in shape. The right one looks like a pyramid, the left one is a crescent moon. Each of them consists of two parts - the core and the surrounding cortex.

  • The cortex makes up 80-90% of the mass of the entire adrenal gland. It is the outer part of the adrenal glands. It consists of three layers: glomerular, streaked and mesh.
  • The core of the adrenal gland consists of epithelial lumps and trabeculae that form a network. Its eyes contain sinus capillaries and veins.

Adrenaline and norepinephrine are secreted by the core, the rest of the hormones are secreted by the adrenal cortex.

Adrenal glands - hormones and their functions

The main task of the adrenal glands is to produce hormones such as:

  • aldosteron
  • cortisone
  • adrenalina
  • noradrenalina
  • dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)

The first hormone regulates the water, sodium and potassium balance, affects the functioning of the kidneys and the circulatory system.

Second - it stimulates the liver to convert fats and proteins into glucose, i.e. regulates carbohydrate metabolism, inhibits inflammatory processes because it prevents the formation of specific white blood cells that form antibodies. Cortisone is also anti-stress, but its excess weakens the immune system.

On the other hand, adrenaline and norepinephrine, called the hormones of fear, fight and flight, accelerate the heart rate, preparethe body to extreme activities, but also slows down the work of the intestines.

Dehydroepiandrosterone accelerates the metabolism of fats and reduces appetite, increases immunity, protects against osteoporosis, firms the skin, has a positive effect on the mood and sex drive.

Diseases of the adrenal glands

The adrenal glands are essential for life - they secrete important hormones into the bloodstream. Therefore, when they start to get sick, the functioning of the entire body is disturbed. Diseases of the adrenal glands disrupt the body's water and electrolyte balance, reduce resistance to stress and infections.

Common symptoms that indicate abnormal adrenal function may also be an increase in blood sugar, increased blood pressure and heart problems (especially after exercise).

Common diseases that can affect the adrenal glands include Addison's disease, Cushing's syndrome, pheochromocytoma, and hyperaldosteronism.

Hyperaldosteronism

It is the result of an excessive secretion of aldosterone. Under its influence, the kidneys excrete less water and sodium, and more potassium. The disease affects people aged 30-50. They are more often women. The disease is favored by circulatory failure, liver cirrhosis, oral contraceptives, diuretics, which accelerate the excretion of potassium. The reason for the faster secretion of aldosterone may also be untreated arterial hypertension, kidney diseases, pheochromocytoma.

Symptoms of the disease are: muscle weakness, fatigue, numbness in arms, hands, legs and feet, increased thirst, need to urinate at night, transient paralysis and muscle spasms, visual disturbances, headaches and high blood pressure hypertension diastolic.

Patients are given drugs that stop aldosterone secretion and lower blood pressure. If the disease is caused by a tumor, it should be removed.

The treatment is supplemented by a diet low in sodium and high in potassium. High in potassium are dried apricots and plums, raisins, citrus fruits, whole grain flour products. Every day you should weigh yourself to control your weight gain.

If he weighs 1.5 kg in a day, he should see a doctor quickly, because his body retains too much water.

Addison's disease

Addison's diseaseis the progressive destruction of the adrenal glands. The disease can occur at any age, and it is common in both men and women. Its cause is not fully understood, but doctors speculate that it is an autoimmune disease. Damage to the adrenal glands can occur as a result of tuberculosis, diseases of the pituitary gland or cancer.Adrenal insufficiency may become apparent when you stop taking steroids.

Symptoms that grow rather slowly result from too low levels of hormones produced in the adrenal cortex. These are: weakness and fatigue, lack of appetite, weight loss, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, excessive s alt appetite, drop in blood pressure, especially after standing up, darkening of the skin (like a tan) on exposed parts of the body , darkening of scars and freckles, hair loss, constant feeling of cold and frequent changes of mood.

Addison's disease is treated for life. Doctors advise patients to wear a bracelet with information about the diagnosed disease as well as the dose and type of medication taken. This is important because at the time of the so-called An adrenal crisis can be helped quickly with an injection of hydrocortisone. The treatment involves steroid drugs, which must not be discontinued (or the dose reduced) without consulting a doctor.

Women with Addison's disease can have children. On a daily basis, patients should avoid colds, get vaccinated against influenza and pneumonia (pneumococcal vaccines). It is also important that the diet contains a lot of protein and carbohydrates as well as sodium and potassium. Regular exercise promotes maintaining good condition.

Cushing's syndrome and disease

This is an overactive adrenal cortex. It is caused by an excess of corticosteroids. If the cause of the disease is adrenal disease, then this is Cushing's syndrome, and if the pituitary gland, which controls the adrenal glands, it is Cushing's disease. The disease can be caused by chronic steroid use.

The symptom is obesity with fat accumulation on the body and neck, pink stretch marks on the skin, poured face with swollen eyelids, bright red blush on the cheeks, excessive hair in women, seborrhea and acne, hypertension, muscle weakness, clear changes mood, menstrual disorders, bone pain and low resistance to infections.

The therapy uses drugs that inhibit the production of adrenal cortex hormones, lower blood pressure, and calcium preparations. Drugs should be taken constantly. Sometimes, if there is a tumor in the adrenal gland, it will need to be removed.

Patients are recommended a low-calorie diet with limited carbohydrates, but high in potassium and protein. Due to bone weakness, patients should avoid situations that lead to injury. It is worth wearing a bracelet with information about the disease, type and dose of medications taken.

Pheochromocytoma

It is a creature made of adrenal medulla cells. In over 90 percent. cases is mild and does not metastasize. It usually develops in people aged 30-50years. The cause of the disease is unknown, although some cases are of genetic origin (family history of neoplasms of endocrine organs, such as the thyroid gland). The disease appears when there is an increased secretion of adrenaline and noradrenaline.

Then there are paroxysmal palpitations after exercise, hypersensitivity to cold, nervousness, internal tremors, anxiety, constant feeling of hunger, weakness. You may also experience drenching sweats, sudden pressure surges with severe headache, and chest pain.

Patients take drugs that block hormones and lower high blood pressure. Surgical treatment consists in removing the tumor. Before the surgery, avoid situations that may raise blood pressure (exercise, stress) and follow a diet with plenty of s alt, which retains water in the body, which increases the volume of blood circulating in the vessels.

Adrenal glands - research

The diagnosis of adrenal gland diseasesis mainly about examining the level of adrenal hormones. Their level can be determined on the basis of blood and urine tests. From these tests, the concentration of cortisol, androgens and aldosterone can be determined.

Otheradrenal testsare imaging tests. They allow to exclude or diagnose adrenal gland tumors. The most frequently performed examination is ultrasound of the abdominal cavity. Ultrasound examination will only work for slim people and children. An alternative to this examination can be tomography, magnetic resonance or scintigraphy.

  • Adrenal insufficiency: causes, symptoms, treatment
  • Adrenal crisis (acute adrenal insufficiency): causes, symptoms and treatment
  • HIPOALDOSTERONISM indicates ADHERAL CORTIC FAILURE
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