Adrenal Disorder Specialist

What is an adrenal disorder?

An adrenal disorder affects the adrenal glands, the small glands that sit on top of each of your kidneys and produce vital sex hormones and cortisol for managing stress.

Dysfunction in the adrenal glands occurs when your body produces too much cortisol (Addison’s disease) or too little cortisol (Cushing’s syndrome).

What causes adrenal disorders?

Some people are born with a dysfunctional adrenal syndrome and their body can’t make enough cortisol or other hormones. Other common causes of adrenal disorders include:

• Infections
• Genetic mutations
• Use of certain medicines

You could also develop an adrenal disorder if your pituitary gland, which regulates the adrenal gland, is dysfunctional.

What are the symptoms of adrenal gland disorders?

In Cushing’s syndrome, your body can’t make enough cortisol and you could experience issues like:

• Chronic acne
• Muscle weakness
• High blood pressure
• Irritability and/or depression

Cushing’s syndrome can also cause obesity in the upper part of your body while your arms and legs begin to thin out. Women may have new hair growth on their face or body and experience irregular periods. Men may notice a decrease in their sex drive or struggle with fertility.

In Addison’ disease, too much cortisol causes weight loss and chronic fatigue. You might also have low blood pressure, dark skin patches, and experience dizziness when standing up.

Pituitary tumors can also affect the adrenal glands, producing a variety of symptoms that depend on where the tumor is situated.

How are adrenal disorders treated?

Once our endocrinologist determines your symptoms relate to an adrenal gland disorder through saliva or blood testing, they can create a treatment plan focused on rebalancing your adrenal system.

Initially, you might need to take medications to slow down the production of excess hormones or to stimulate the body to produce more hormones. Hormone replacement therapy might also be useful in rebalancing your levels of hormones.

If you have tumors or other gland defects, our endocrinologist could recommend surgery to remove the tumor or the damaged adrenal or pituitary glands. Following surgery for gland removal, you’ll need to start hormone replacement therapy to prevent symptoms associated with adrenal dysfunction.

If you have symptoms of an adrenal disorder and need an accurate diagnosis, schedule an appointment at Brighton Beach Medical Group today by calling the office.