 [ Symptoms ] what is the adrenal gland [ Disease ] the adrenal glands are a pair of organs that sit on top of each kidney the adrenal glands produce numerous hormones responsible for our response to stress and the balance of salt and water in our bodies cortisol aldosterone epinephrine adrenaline norepinephrine and certain sex hormones are released by the adrenal glands tumors in the adrenal glands can secrete excess hormones causing cushing is syndrome too much cortisol conn is syndrome too much aldosterone or extremely high blood pressure pheochromocytomas abnormally low function of the adrenal glands is called adrenal insufficiency which can have many different causes incidental harmless adrenal gland tumors are frequently discovered in healthy people on imaging tests obtained for other reasons