aldosterone does what
The adrenals’ inner medulla produces epinephrine and norepinephrine (adrenaline). The adrenals also contain an outer cortex, which produces hormones such as cortisol, aldosterone, testosterone, DHEA, DHEAS, androstenedione and estrogens.Cortisol and aldosterone are two of the most important hormones the body makes. Aldosterone is the salt-retaining hormone and is a mineralocorticoid. Excesses of aldosterone leads to high blood pressure and low potassium. Deficiencies of aldosterone are much less appreciated than deficiencies of cortisol, and lead to low blood pressure and high pulse, especially on standing, the desire to eat salt (salt-craving), dizziness or lightheadedness on standing, and palpitations. Aldosterone plays an important role in cardiovascular health and can be a cause of endocrine hypertension. Find out what aldosterone is and what it does from the experts at Hormone Health Network today. *Cause of Primary Aldosterone *Caused by an adrenal cortex tumor *Characterized by high aldosterone and low renin levels *Renin levels are low due to negative feedback-Adrenal cortex producing high levels of aldosterone has an inhibitory effect on the kidney's production of renin Aldosterone is produced in the cortex of the adrenal glands, which are located above the kidneys. Understanding this hormone will help you understand your body better, and help you take measures to ensure optimal health. Aldosterone affects the body's ability to regulate blood pressure. It sends the signal to organs, like the kidney and colon, that can increase the amount of sodium the body sends into the bloodstream or the amount of potassium released in the urine. Cortisol and aldosterone are two of the most important hormones the body makes. Excesses or deficiencies of these hormones result in important clinical problems. Cortisol, a glucocorticoid, is the stress hormone and is involved in weight control, infection fighting, quality of skin and bones, and heart function. The connection between low aldosterone levels and fatigue is as follows: with low aldosterone, the kidney loses salt, leading to low blood volume. This coupled with the idea that the leg veins don’t constrict properly, leads to lower blood volume to the brain and fatigue and other symptoms. When the adrenal is not making aldosterone, renin, a kidney hormone, increases. Excesses of cortisol and aldosterone may occur independently, that is a patient may have only excess aldosterone, only excess cortisol, or excesses of both. Similarly, deficiencies of cortisol and aldosterone deficiencies may be independent. -Characterized by high aldosterone and low renin-Renin levels are low due to negative feedback-Caused by adrenal cortex tumor *Secondary aldosteronism-Characterized by high aldosterone and high renin-Caused by high renin production in the kidney The aldosterone defect can either be an isolated problem, or part of Addison’s disease (often early Addison’s disease), in which both cortisol and aldosterone production are diminished. The remaining patients (about one-sixth) had both high renin and high aldosterone.
Aldosterone plays an important role in cardiovascular health and can be a cause of endocrine hypertension.