Hormones of the adrenal gland

The adrenal glands are two small, hormone-producing organs (so-called endocrine organs), which owe their name to their location next to the right or left kidney. There, various messenger substances with different functions for the body are produced and released into the blood. An important type of hormone is the so-called mineral corticoids.

The most important representative is aldosterone. It is mainly active in the kidney and plays a major role in regulating the salt balance there. It leads to a reduced release of sodium via the urine and in return to an increased excretion of potassium.

Since water follows sodium, the aldosterone effect saves correspondingly more water in the body. A lack of mineral corticoids, for example in adrenal gland disease such as Addison’s disease, leads to high potassium and low sodium levels and low blood pressure. The consequences can include circulatory collapse and cardiac arrhythmia.

Hormone replacement therapy must then be administered, for example with tablets. In the adrenal glands, the so-called glucocorticoids are formed, among other things (other names: corticosteroids, cortisone derivatives). These hormones have an effect on almost all cells and organs of the body and increase the willingness and ability to perform.

For example, they raise the blood sugar level by stimulating sugar production in the liver. They also have an anti-inflammatory effect, which is exploited in the therapy of many diseases. For example, artificially produced glucocorticoids are used in the treatment of asthma, skin diseases or chronic inflammatory intestinal diseases.

These are usually cortisone or chemical modifications of this hormone (for example prednisolone or budesonide). If the body is exposed to too large an amount of glucocorticoids, negative effects may occur, such as osteoporosis (loss of bone substance), high blood pressure and fat accumulation on the head and trunk.Too high hormone levels can occur when the body produces too many glucocorticoids, as in Cushing’s disease. More often, however, an oversupply is caused by treatment with cortisone or similar substances over a longer period of time. If necessary, however, the side effects are accepted if the benefits of the treatment outweigh the side effects. In the case of short-term corstisone therapy, no side effects are to be feared as a rule.