Adrenal Disorders
Conditions
- Addison’s Disease/Hypoadrenalism
Adrenal insufficiency is common in Western culture due to the high amount of psychological stress, environmental toxins, and poor nutrition, all of which deplete adrenal reserves. Other lifestyle factors in adrenal insufficiency development include inadequate amount of sleep, eating infrequently, and lack of exercise. Adrenal insufficiency can be thought of as an acute or chronic impairment of adrenal function, as opposed to the failure of the gland seen in Addison’s disease.
- Cushing’s Disease/HypercortisolismHypercortisolism and Cushing’s disease can be seen to exist as a continuum. Cortisol is normally released in response to any stress, such as physical, psychological, infection or trauma stress. Since cortisol levels are usually not reduced until the stressor is removed, many people are suffering from a chronic form of low level Cushing’s that we can call hypercortisolism.
- Conn’s Disease/Hyperaldosteronism
Primary aldosteronism (Conn’s disease) is a term to describe adrenal disorders in which excessive aldosterone is produced by the zona glomerulosa of the adrenals. Secondary hyperaldosteronism is due to increased aldosterone produced due to stimuli acting on the adrenals, such as excess renin, found in such disorders as renal artery stenosis.
Diagnostics
As Hans Selye observed, “the physician, in dealing with GAS, may be faced with a patient with no clear-cut diagnostic pattern, but just vague feelings of ill health.” Fortunately, there are now more tools available to help with assessment of adrenal dysfunction, an important first step to choosing from among treatment options. Patient history, physical signs, and symptoms can be the most useful methods of diagnosis.
Medical History
Patient questionnaires are available that aid in history taking.
