Disorders of the Adrenal Gland

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By nclexnursing

Disorders of the adrenal gland are the two tiny organs known as your adrenal glands are located above each kidney. You can’t survive and be healthy without the several hormones that your adrenal glands produce. Hormones are molecules that circulate in your blood and regulate how various body parts function. The hormones cortisol, aldosterone, adrenaline, and noradrenaline are produced by the adrenal glands. Additionally, they produce hormones your body requires to create sex hormones (estrogen and testosterone). All of these hormones perform a variety of crucial tasks, such as:

Regulating blood sugar levels and converting food into energy

Water and salt balance

Maintaining a normal blood pressure

Taking care of disease and stress (your “fight or flight” response)

When and how quickly a child’s sexual development takes place

Assisting with pregnancy

What are diseases of the adrenal glands?

Your body produces an excessive amount or an insufficient amount of one or more hormones when you have an adrenal gland problem. The signs and symptoms vary depending on the sort of issue you have and how much it alters your body’s hormone levels. Adrenal gland problems can in a variety of forms, including:

Addison Disease a disorder where there is insufficient cortisol production by the adrenal glands.

Cushing syndromes a syndrome brought on by the body producing too much cortisol, frequently as a result of taking steroids.

Aldosterone producing adenoma

Hereditary paraganglioma pheochromocytoma

Adrenal gland cancer

Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia

What causes problems of the adrenal glands?

Depending on the kind of condition you have, there are various causes of adrenal gland disorders. Some causes include:

Medications, including steroids.

An issue with a different gland, such the pituitary gland

The hormones that the pituitary gland secretes have an impact on how the adrenal glands function. altered genes (mutations). The adrenal glands may produce an excess or insufficient amount of one or more hormones as a result of these alterations.

Infections

The root source of the issue is frequently unclear.

How are diseases of the adrenal glands identified?

Depending on your symptoms and medical history, doctors may perform a variety of tests to look for adrenal diseases. You could, for instance, undergo testing on your blood, urine, or saliva (spit).

What are the remedies for diseases of the adrenal glands?

Treatments for various illnesses of the adrenal glands vary. They consist of both drugs and operations. Sometimes, radiation therapy is used to treat cancers. Certain diseases of the adrenal glands can be treated. Treatments for other diseases can control your symptoms.