Adrenal Gland

I have a question for anyone that can help. I have been posting about my problem with passing out since Nov. and today I got a call from my EP telling me that my blood work came back and that my adrenal gland is damaged. I have an appt. set up on Friday for a biopsy and with and Endocrinologist. The EP said that the adrenal gland regulates your blood pressure and this is why Im passing out. Im kind of freaking out because he didn't sound to happy about the results he found. Anyone else have an adrenal problem on top of their heart problems? Can the adrenal gland be causing the rate drops Im having too? He shook me up so much I forgot to ask him anything.
Saphire416

2 Comments

Info on adrenal glands

by Stepford_Wife - 2008-03-26 12:03:01

Hi Saphire416.

From what I've been able research, the adrenal glands play a part in regulating blood pressure.
The following explains more, and might be a tool to use for questions you may have for the Endocrinologist.
I found this by Googling adrenal glands.
I'll be thinking about you, good luck, keep us posted.

~ Dominique ~

The adrenal glands

There are two adrenal glands. One sits on the top of each kidney. The adrenal glands produce a number of vital hormones essential for survival.

There are two parts of the adrenal glands. The inner part is known as the medulla, and the outer part of the gland is called the cortex.

Position of the adrenal glands
Position of the adrenal glands

When a tumour develops in the adrenal glands, it often causes too much of a particular hormone to be produced. The type of hormone overproduced depends on the part of the adrenal gland that is affected by the tumour.

Some endocrine tumours may not cause an overproduction of hormones and do not cause any obvious symptoms. These are known as non-functioning tumours.

The adrenal cortex

The adrenal cortex produces different types of hormones. These are known collectively as steroids. They regulate different mechanisms within the body. The different types of steroids are:

* Glucocorticoids regulate the way that the body uses carbohydrate, protein, and fat. They also affect the levels of glucose in the blood.
* Mineralocorticoids control the balance of sodium (salt) and water in the body, which maintains the amount of blood in the heart and circulatory system, and regulates blood pressure.
* Sex hormones Although the male hormones (androgens) and female hormones (oestrogen and progesterone) are mainly produced by the testes and ovaries respectively, the adrenal cortex also produces small amounts of androgens in both men and women.

The adrenal medulla

The adrenal medulla produces the hormones adrenaline (epinephrine) and nor-adrenaline (norepinephrine). These hormones make the heart beat faster and cause sweating, an increased blood supply to vital organs, slowing of digestion and dilatation of the pupils of the eye. These effects are important in helping the body to react to emergency situations. Adrenaline and nor-adrenaline are sometimes called the hormones of 'fight or flight'.

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Types of adrenal tumours

Tumours of the adrenal gland can develop in either the cortex or the medulla.

Benign tumours of the cortex are called adrenal cortical adenomas. Malignant tumours are called adrenal cortical carcinomas.

The most common type of tumour in the medulla is called a phaeochromocytoma (pronounced fee-oh-cromo-sigh-toma). A small number of phaeochromocytomas start outside the medulla part of the adrenal gland and are known as extra‑adrenal phaeochromocytomas.

Usually, only one adrenal gland is affected. Rarely, tumours may occur in both adrenal glands; these are known as bilateral adrenal tumours.

Adrenal Gland

by Pacing2 - 2008-03-26 12:03:07

I ain't Frank (as you can see) but I think the word Bella is thinking of is pheochromocytoma, which is the name of a tumor that can form on the medulla (center) of the adrenal gland. For a bunch of information on the adrenal gland and low blood pressure go Google and look under "function of adrenal glands" and "what causes low blood pressure."

Pacing2

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