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Adrenal Gland Disorders
Reviewed by Medicinsk Expert•Last updated: 2026-10-22•Endocrine System

Adrenal Gland Disorders

Adrenal gland disorders occur when these vital organs produce too much or too little of the hormones necessary for regulating metabolism, blood pressure, and stress responses.

What are adrenal glands?

Your adrenal glands are two small organs located on top of each kidney. They produce essential hormones—including cortisol, aldosterone, adrenaline, and noradrenaline—as well as precursors for sex hormones like estrogen and testosterone. These hormones are responsible for:

  • Turning food into energy and managing blood sugar levels
  • Balancing salt and water
  • Maintaining normal blood pressure
  • Managing the "fight or flight" response to stress and illness
  • Regulating sexual development in children
  • Supporting pregnancy

Types of Adrenal Gland Disorders

Symptoms vary based on the specific hormone imbalance. Common disorders include:

  • Addison's Disease: A condition where the adrenal glands do not produce enough cortisol.
  • Cushing's Syndrome: Caused by an excess of cortisol, frequently resulting from long-term use of steroid medications.
  • Aldosterone-producing adenoma: A benign tumor that causes an overproduction of aldosterone, potentially leading to severe high blood pressure.
  • Hereditary paraganglioma-pheochromocytoma: An inherited condition involving tumors that produce adrenaline and other hormones; some may become cancerous.
  • Adrenal gland cancer: Includes conditions such as adrenocortical carcinoma and neuroblastoma.
  • Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH): A group of inherited disorders where the glands fail to produce sufficient cortisol. Newborns in the U.S. are screened for this condition.

Causes

The origins of these disorders are varied and often include:

  • Use of medications, such as steroids.
  • Dysfunction in other glands, particularly the pituitary gland, which regulates adrenal activity.
  • Genetic mutations that affect hormone production.
  • Infections.

In many instances, the underlying cause remains unclear.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Healthcare providers diagnose these conditions through blood, urine, or saliva tests to measure hormone levels. Imaging studies, such as x-rays, CT scans, or MRI scans, may be used to identify tumors.

Treatments are tailored to the specific disorder and may include medications, surgery, or radiation therapy. While some conditions can be cured, others require long-term management of symptoms.

Frequently Asked Questions

Some adrenal disorders, such as Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH) and hereditary paraganglioma-pheochromocytoma, are genetic. If you are diagnosed with one of these conditions, genetic counseling is recommended. Family members, particularly siblings and children, may benefit from genetic testing or screening for specific hormone imbalances to detect the condition early, especially if they exhibit symptoms like high blood pressure or unusual growth patterns.
drenal crisis is a life-threatening emergency that occurs when the body does not have enough cortisol to handle stress, such as during severe illness, surgery, or trauma. Symptoms include sudden severe weakness, low blood pressure, confusion, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Unlike the gradual fatigue and weight loss seen in chronic adrenal insufficiency, an adrenal crisis requires immediate medical attention and intravenous steroids to prevent shock and death.
Diagnosis typically involves a combination of blood and urine tests. For cortisol issues, doctors often perform an ACTH stimulation test to see if your adrenal glands respond to a synthetic hormone. They may also measure morning cortisol levels and ACTH levels to determine if the problem originates in the adrenal glands or the pituitary gland. For aldosterone issues, a plasma aldosterone-to-renin ratio is commonly used to screen for conditions like Conn's syndrome.
If you have adrenal insufficiency, your body cannot produce enough cortisol to handle stress. You must be educated on "stress dosing," which involves taking extra oral steroids during times of physical stress, such as illness, fever, or major life events. It is crucial to carry a medical alert ID and an emergency injection kit if prescribed, and to inform all healthcare providers about your condition before any medical procedures.
Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine

MedlinePlus brings together authoritative health information from the National Library of Medicine (NLM), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and other government agencies and health-related organizations.

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