Overview
The adrenal glands sit above the kidneys and help control many body functions through hormone production. Different adrenal disorders include adrenal insufficiency, Cushing syndrome, primary aldosteronism, pheochromocytoma, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, and adrenal tumors. Because these hormones affect many organs, adrenal problems can lead to a wide range of symptoms.
Key Symptoms
Symptoms depend on which hormone is affected. Low adrenal hormone levels may cause severe tiredness, weakness, weight loss, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, low blood pressure, salt craving, and darkening of the skin in some people. High hormone levels may cause weight gain around the trunk, high blood pressure, muscle weakness, easy bruising, high blood sugar, headaches, sweating, palpitations, or low potassium.
Causes and Risk Factors
Adrenal disorders can result from autoimmune disease, inherited conditions, infections, bleeding into the adrenal glands, tumors, or side effects related to long-term steroid medicine use and sudden withdrawal. Some conditions start in the adrenal glands themselves, while others happen because the pituitary gland or certain medicines affect hormone signals. A family history can raise risk for some inherited endocrine syndromes.
Who Is Affected
Adrenal disorders can affect children or adults, depending on the condition. Some are rare, while others, such as steroid-related adrenal suppression, may be more common in people who use glucocorticoid medicines for asthma, autoimmune disease, skin conditions, or after organ transplant. Pregnancy, severe infection, surgery, or major illness can make underlying adrenal problems more dangerous.
Diagnosis and Tests
Diagnosis usually starts with a medical history, symptom review, blood pressure check, and blood tests. Depending on the suspected condition, a clinician may order urine testing, stimulation or suppression hormone tests, electrolyte testing, and imaging such as CT or MRI. Because hormone levels change during the day and can be affected by medicines, testing often needs careful timing and specialist guidance.
Treatment Categories
Treatment depends on the exact disorder and may include hormone replacement, surgery, treatment to block excess hormone effects, or treatment of the underlying cause such as infection or a tumor. People with adrenal insufficiency may need long-term hormone replacement and special planning for illness, injury, or surgery. Follow-up is important because treatment often needs monitoring with repeat symptoms review and lab testing.
Living With It
Living with an adrenal disorder often means regular medical follow-up and learning how the condition affects daily life. Some people are advised by their clinician to carry a medical alert card or bracelet and a written emergency plan. Keeping a list of medicines and knowing which symptoms need urgent help can be an important part of self-management.
When to Seek Medical Care
Arrange medical care if you have ongoing unexplained fatigue, weakness, repeated dizziness, fainting, unexplained weight change, hard-to-control blood pressure, new darkening of the skin, or repeated episodes of sweating and pounding heartbeat. Seek assessment promptly if symptoms begin after changing or stopping steroid medicines, or if you have an adrenal growth found on imaging. New symptoms in children, including poor growth or early puberty changes, also need medical evaluation.
When It May Be an Emergency
Get urgent medical help now for severe vomiting or diarrhea with weakness, confusion, fainting, severe dehydration, very low blood pressure, severe abdominal pain, chest pain, trouble breathing, seizure, or loss of consciousness. Sudden severe headache, pounding heartbeat, sweating, and dangerously high blood pressure can also signal an adrenal emergency. These symptoms can happen with adrenal crisis or a sudden hormone surge and should not be ignored.