Enlarged Adrenal Gland

Many people who are diagnosed with adrenal problems often wonder about what does an enlarged adrenal gland mean. Before we explore the symptoms, causes and treatment of this condition, we need to understand what the adrenal glands are and what they do exactly. Also known as suprarenal glands, there are two adrenal glands in the body, each situated above one of the kidneys.

These are glands that are part of the endocrine system by nature and secrete a variety of hormones that are necessary for carrying out normal bodily functions. These glands are triangular shaped, and are divided into two regions - the adrenal cortex (the outer region) and the adrenal medulla (the inner region). Adrenal glands secrete hormones that are required by the body to deal with stress levels, and they also work in tandem with the pituitary glands and the hypothalamus to control metabolism, blood pressure and other characteristics in the body.

Adrenal Gland Disorders

There are a number of disorders that affect the gland and may end up causing an enlarged adrenal gland as well, and these mostly stem from adrenal insufficiency in the human body. Any imbalances that are created as a result of a lack of hormones cause different reactions in the body, and this particular symptom is seen as a sign of many different ailments.

Here are some common adrenal gland disorders in the body.

• Addison's Disease: This is also known as primary adrenal insufficiency, and it occurs when the adrenal gland cannot produce enough cortisol or aldosterone. The resultant imbalances in the body causes enlarged adrenal glands to occur.
• Amyloidosis: This is a very common cause of enlarged adrenal glands, and is seen in many people. This occurs when the bone marrow cells in the body are unable to break down the antibodies cells which they produce. By depositing proteins in various parts of the body, this disorder eventually leads to enlarged adrenal glands as well.
• Chronic Infections: There are some diseases like pneumonia and bronchitis that cause the adrenal glands to be overworked, and this results in their enlargement and swelling.
• Cushing's Syndrome: When there is a high amount of Cortisole in the body, it can lead to a condition known as Cushing's Disease. This is one of many hormonal disorders that is related to type 2 diabetes, and it can also lead to a non-cancerous tumor on the adrenal glands, thus causing them to swell.
• Phaeochromocytoma: This is a cancerous tumor that occurs in the adrenal gland due to some cells that overproduce some hormones and chemicals. The tumor begins inside the adrenal glands, thus leading to enlarged adrenal gland symptoms.

Symptoms

These were some common disorders that can affect people at any time, and it is really not possible to prevent them from occurring. Recognizing the adrenal gland disorders symptoms early will help though, as this can lead to a quick diagnosis, followed by prompt treatment. The sooner you act to treat such a condition, the better it will be for you.

An enlarged adrenal gland can be found with an MRI scan, or a CT scan, or an ultrasound or an MIBG scan. There are some other symptoms that accompany these disorders, and here are some common symptoms that one can be on the lookout for.

• Adrenal Adenoma
• Adrenal Carcinoma
• Adrenogenital Syndrome
• Increased Adrenalin Level
• Increased Noradrenalin Level
• High Adrenal Autoantibodies

All these symptoms will have to be diagnosed and treated by a trained medical specialist, because it will require a lot of tests to get to the bottom of it. Most of these symptoms can only be found out with proper testing.

Treatment

The treatment for this particular condition will be heavily dependent on the nature of the disorder and the symptoms that the patient is displaying. It would not be possible to enforce a fixed and common method of treatment for all these disorders and symptoms, simply because of their distinct and varied nature. Each case needs to be looked at separately, and the individual's personal and family medical history needs to be evaluated before deciding on a method of treatment.

Only your doctor can recommend a suitable mode of adrenal insufficiency treatment or adrenal fatigue treatment for your condition, and this will be decided upon, after conducting a wide range of tests. You must reveal all the information that your doctor will ask you, as this will certainly help him determine the nature of your problem.

Enlarged adrenal glands are not a good thing for the functioning of a human body, as it can lead to a number of imbalances and complications. One must act quickly to treat this condition, before it gets too late to do so.