The adrenal glands, located at the top of each kidney, are responsible for releasing various hormones. Adrenal disorders occur when the adrenal glands produce too much or too little of these hormones.
- Obesity of the upper body, round face and neck, and thinner arms and legs
- Skin problems, such as acne or reddish-blue stripes on the stomach or forearm
- High bloodpressure
- Muscle and bone weakness
- Moodiness, irritability or depression
- High blood sugars
- Slow growth rates in children
- Women may also have increased hair growth on their face and body and experience menstrual irregularities.
- Men may become less fertile and have a reduced or absent sex drive.
- Shorter than average final height
- Early signs of puberty (in children)
- Acne
- Irregular periods and possible problems getting pregnant (in women)
- Excess facial hair (in women)
Symptoms of the severe form of CAH, which is diagnosed in children, can include 1 :
- Dehydration
- Low bloodpressure
- Low blood sugar
- Problems keeping enough salt in the body
- Altered development of the external genitalia in girls, which is noticed at birth and may require surgery to correct
- Shorter than average final height
- Early signs of puberty
- Irregular periods and possible problems getting pregnant (in women)
- Excess facial hair (in women)
- Benign testicular tumors and infertility (in men)
The symptoms of functioning pituitary tumors depend on the specific hormone that the tumor is overproducing. 2
Too much prolactin can cause:
- Headache
- Some loss of vision
- Less frequent or no periods or periods with a very light flow
- Difficulty conceiving
- Impotence in men
- Less sex drive
- The flow of breast milk in a woman who is not pregnant or breastfeeding
Too much adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) can cause:
- Headache
- Some loss of vision
- Weight gain is reflected in the face, neck and trunk of the body, but thin arms and legs
- A lump of fat in the neck
- Thin skin that may contain purple or pink stretch marks on the chest or abdomen
- Bruising easily
- Growth of fine hair on the face, upper back or arms
- Bones that break easily
- Anxiety, irritability, depression
- Growth retardation with weight gain in children
- Irregular periods
Too much growth hormone can cause:
- Headache
- Some loss of vision
- In adults, bone growth on the face, hands and feet
- In children, overgrowth of the whole body
- Tingling or numbness in the hands and fingers
- Snoring or pauses in breathing during sleep
- Joint pain
- Sweating more than usual
- Extreme dislike or concern for one or more parts of the body
Too much thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) can cause:
- Irregular heartbeat
- Vibrations
- Difficulty sleeping
- Frequent bowel movements
- To sweat
Non-functioning tumors press on or damage the pituitary gland and prevent it from secreting enough hormones. If there is too little of a particular hormone, the gland or organ that normally controls it will not function properly. Symptoms of inoperative pituitary tumors are 2 :
- Headache
- Some loss of vision
- Loss of body hair
- In women, fewer periods or no periods at all, or no milk from the breasts
- In men, loss of facial hair, breast tissue growth and impotence
- Less sex drive in women and men
- In children, growth and sexual development delayed
Other common symptoms of pituitary tumors include:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Confusion
- Dizziness
- Seizure
- Runny or dripping nose
Most people with pheochromocytoma have high blood pressure (hypertension) because the tumor causes the adrenal gland to make too much adrenaline or noradrenaline. Other symptoms can be 3 :
- Rapid heartbeat
- Headache
- To sweat
- Episodes of high or low blood pressure
- Anxiety or panic attack
- Shaking (trembling) of the hands
- Pale skin
- Blurry sight
- Weight loss
- Constipation
- Stomach ache
- High blood sugar
- Psychiatric disorders
