Aldosterone causes an increase in salt and water reabsorption into the bloodstream from the kidney thereby increasing the blood volume, restoring salt levels and blood pressure. The symptoms include high blood pressure, low blood levels of potassium and an abnormal increase in blood volume. Low aldosterone levels are found in a rare condition called Addison's disease.
In Addison's disease, there is a general loss of adrenal function resulting in low blood pressure, lethargy and an increase in potassium levels in the blood see the article on Addison's disease for further information. About Contact Events News. Search Search. You and Your Hormones. Your ministry of health also offers health resources in your province or territory. Here are some tips for managing your medications.
Donate now. What is this medication? Canadian brand names are in brackets. What does it do? Lower your blood pressure.
Can relieve shortness of breath. Reduce swelling and bloating. Make you pee more often. How do I take it? If you take an aldosterone antagonist: Your kidneys will make more urine. So you will need to use the bathroom more often.
To avoid getting up at night, try taking your medication at least six hours before bedtime. This test involves placing a tube in a vein in your groin and threading it up to the adrenal veins. Though essential for determining the appropriate treatment, this test carries the risk of bleeding or a blood clot in the vein.
Treatment for primary aldosteronism depends on the underlying cause. The basic goal is get your aldosterone levels back to normal or to block the effect of high aldosterone to prevent complications. Surgical removal of the gland. Surgical removal of the adrenal gland with the tumor adrenalectomy is usually recommended.
Surgical removal may bring blood pressure, potassium and aldosterone levels back to normal. Your doctor will follow you closely after surgery and progressively adjust or eliminate your high blood pressure medications. Risks of surgery include bleeding and infection. Adrenal hormone replacement isn't necessary because the other adrenal gland can make enough of all the hormones your body needs. A combination of medications and lifestyle modifications can effectively treat primary aldosteronism caused by overactivity of both adrenal glands.
Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists block the action of aldosterone in your body. Your doctor may first prescribe spironolactone Aldactone. This medication helps correct high blood pressure and low potassium, but may cause other problems. In addition to blocking aldosterone receptors, spironolactone may inhibit the action of other hormones. Side effects can include male breast enlargement gynecomastia and menstrual irregularities in women.
A newer, more-expensive mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist called eplerenone Inspra eliminates the sex hormone side effects associated with spironolactone. Your doctor may recommend eplerenone if you have serious side effects with spironolactone. Preparing for the holidays? The hormone aldosterone helps the body manage water and sodium. Too much of it is an overlooked cause of high blood pressure.
Although we often talk about high blood pressure as if it were a disease, it really isn't. It is a symptom of trouble somewhere in the body. High blood pressure usually accompanies excess weight, declining kidney function, and arteriosclerosis, the narrowing and stiffening of blood vessels. One often overlooked cause of high blood pressure is a malfunction of the adrenal glands.
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