What is Adrenal Disease?
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Your adrenal glands sit on top of your kidneys. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMM), ʺadrenal glands secrete hormones which help regulate metabolism and supplement other glands.ʺ The UMM website also stated ʺadrenal glands produce hormones such as estrogen, progesterone, steroids, cortisol, and cortisone, and chemicals such as adrenalin (epinephrine), norepinephrine, and dopamine. When the glands produce more or less hormones than required by the body, disease conditions may occur.ʺ
Three different types of hormones are released by the adrenal glands. The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development website stated ʺthese hormones control many important functions in the body.ʺ
These include:
• Maintaining pregnancy
• Regulating the balance of salt and water
• Maintaining metabolic processes, such as managing blood sugar levels and regulating inflammation
• Initiating and controlling sexual maturation during childhood and puberty
• Controlling the "fight or flight" response to stress
The website also stated, ʺthe adrenal glands are also an important source of sex steroids, such as estrogen and testosterone.ʺ
Adrenal disease or adrenal disorders include:
• Addison’s disease which is chronic is when your body does not secrete cortisol and aldosterone
• Cushing’s syndrome which is when your body produces too much cortisol
• Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) which is when your body does not produce enough cortisol and is often accompanied by other hormone imbalances
• Hyperaldosteronism which is when your body produces too much aldosterone
• Pituitary tumors which occur when a tumor grows on the pituitary gland, preventing the production and release of hormones from the adrenals.
We value and respect the experiences of all of our HERWriters, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.
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