Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
Medically reviewed and verified by Kate Burke, MD, MHA
Two organs that sit on top of your kidneys, the adrenal glands might be small but they play a big role in keeping our bodies running smoothly. Each of them produces hormones essential to keeping you alive and healthy. They also play a few other key roles in how your body functions. Let’s dive into what these glands do, why they are important, and how they help keep us healthy.
The Adrenal Glands
You have two adrenal glands, and they sit on top of your kidneys. The kidneys are under your ribcage on either side of your spine. The adrenal glands are small and triangle-shaped and are part of the endocrine system, which is a group of glands that make and release hormones. These hormones are like tiny messengers that help different parts of the body communicate and work together.
These hormones travel through the bloodstream, telling organs and tissues what to do and when to do it. The adrenal glands produce hormones that help control several vital functions in your body. These include:
- Metabolism: This is how your body changes the food you eat into energy. It also helps with managing blood sugar levels and balancing salt and water levels in the blood.
- Immune System: Helps protect your body from getting sick and how you respond to illnesses.
- Blood Pressure: Keeps your blood pressure at a normal level.
- Response to Stress: Helps your body handle stress, or your "fight or flight" response.
- Development of Sexual Characteristics: Plays a role in developing male and female traits. Hormones determine when and how fast a child develops sexually.
Parts of the Glands
Each adrenal gland has two parts, and each part makes different hormones. The cortex is the outer region of the adrenal gland, and the largest part. It is made up of three layers, each of which produces a different hormone. The outermost layer makes aldosterone. Aldosterone helps control blood pressure by managing the balance of sodium and potassium in the blood. The middle layer makes cortisol, a glucocorticoid, which helps control the use of fats, proteins, and carbohydrates. It also manages stress and reduces inflammation. The innermost layer is where sex hormones are produced. Male hormones are turned into female hormones (estrogens) in the ovaries and male hormones (androgens) in the testes.
The medulla is the inner part of the adrenal gland. It is responsible for producing adrenaline and noradrenaline. These are known as the "fight or flight" hormones. These help increase heart rate and blood flow during stress. They also impact blood pressure, heart rate, and how much you sweat.
Knowing what’s going on inside the body can help explain congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) symptoms.
Watch now: Why don’t I feel good?
There’s a range of CAH signs and symptoms.
People with CAH make too little cortisol and aldosterone, while producing too many androgens. These hormone imbalances affect the body’s ability to function properly. Learn more about the range of CAH signs and symptoms and how steroids help treat both cortisol deficiency and androgen overproduction.
Learn more about these key hormones at: whatthecah.com.
Problems with Adrenal Glands
Sometimes, the adrenal glands don't work properly, which can cause health issues. Here are a few conditions that can arise when there is damage to the glands or they do not develop properly.
- Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH): This is a genetic condition affecting hormone production. CAH comes in two types, classic and nonclassic. Both of them are caused by imbalances in hormone levels and can lead to a number of different symptoms.
- Addison’s Disease: This condition is where the glands don't produce enough cortisol or aldosterone. Also known as adrenal insufficiency, Addison's can progress slowly and be hard to diagnose. Stress, such as an injury or illness, can then make symptoms suddenly worsen.
- Cushing Syndrome: This condition happens when the glands produce too much cortisol. This excess of the hormone can cause weight gain, high blood pressure, or bone loss. If treated properly, many people recover after a few weeks.
Symptoms to Look For
Symptoms can vary, but there are some common signs that something might be wrong with your adrenal glands to watch for.
- Unexplained weight loss or gain
- Fatigue or weakness
- High blood pressure
- Frequent infections or illnesses
- Skin that bruises easily
- Muscle pain or spasms
If you notice any concerning symptoms or think you might have an adrenal gland issue, it’s important to talk to your doctor! They can run tests to check hormone levels and see if your adrenal glands are working properly.
The adrenal glands might be small, but they have a huge impact on our overall health! By understanding what they do and how they work, we can better appreciate their importance and take steps to ensure they stay healthy. If you have any concerns, reach out to your healthcare provider for advice and support.
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