Table of Contents
- 1 What happens when aldosterone levels are high?
- 2 What are the symptoms of low aldosterone?
- 3 Why is an aldosterone test ordered?
- 4 What are the signs of adrenal gland problems?
- 5 What are the signs of adrenal gland problems in females?
- 6 Where do you feel adrenal pain?
- 7 How long does an aldosterone test take?
- 8 How do you fix aldosterone?
- 9 How do you test for aldosterone levels?
- 10 What results from increased levels of aldosterone?
What happens when aldosterone levels are high?
Usually, aldosterone balances sodium and potassium in your blood. But too much of this hormone can cause you to lose potassium and retain sodium. That imbalance can cause your body to hold too much water, increasing your blood volume and blood pressure.
What are the symptoms of low aldosterone?
Symptoms
- Extreme fatigue.
- Weight loss and decreased appetite.
- Darkening of your skin (hyperpigmentation)
- Low blood pressure, even fainting.
- Salt craving.
- Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
- Nausea, diarrhea or vomiting (gastrointestinal symptoms)
- Abdominal pain.
Why is an aldosterone test ordered?
If you’re having trouble with your blood pressure, your doctor might order an aldosterone test to help them figure out what’s going on. When you get this test, a lab tech takes a small sample of your blood to measure how much of the hormone aldosterone is in your system.
How do you prepare for an aldosterone test?
Preparing for aldosterone testing
- change the amount of sodium you eat (sodium restriction diet)
- avoid strenuous exercise.
- avoid eating licorice (licorice can mimic aldosterone properties)
What diseases cause high aldosterone levels?
Hyperaldosteronism can be caused by a tumor (usually a noncancerous adenoma) in the adrenal gland (a condition called Conn syndrome or primary hyperaldosteronism), although sometimes both glands are involved and are overactive.
What are the signs of adrenal gland problems?
What are the symptoms of adrenal gland disorders?
- Upper body obesity, round face and neck, and thinning arms and legs.
- Skin problems, such as acne or reddish-blue streaks on the abdomen or underarm area.
- High blood pressure.
- Muscle and bone weakness.
- Moodiness, irritability, or depression.
- High blood sugars.
What are the signs of adrenal gland problems in females?
Where do you feel adrenal pain?
Fewer than 30\% of adrenocortical cancers are confined to the adrenal gland at the time of diagnosis. The most common symptom reported by patients with adrenocortical cancer is pain in the back or side (called the flank).
How long does it take for aldosterone test results?
Results are usually available in 2 to 5 days.
How long do aldosterone tests take?
This usually takes less than five minutes. The amount of ALD in your blood can change depending on whether you are standing up or lying down. So you may get tested while you are in each of these positions.
How long does an aldosterone test take?
How do you fix aldosterone?
Medication. Your doctor might prescribe a mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist, such as spironolactone. This type of medication blocks the effects of aldosterone on your body, such as high blood pressure and low blood potassium. You may still need to take additional medications to help manage your blood pressure.
How do you test for aldosterone levels?
The aldosterone blood test measures the level of the hormone aldosterone in blood. Aldosterone can also be measured using a urine test. A blood sample is needed. Your health care provider may ask you to stop taking certain medicines a few days before the test so that they don’t affect the test results.
What causes high aldosterone levels?
However, individuals can have too-high or too-low amounts of aldosterone, and both of these can impact aldosterone function. Individuals with high levels of aldosterone have a condition known as hyperaldosteronism, and this is typically caused by small, benign tumors on the adrenal glands.
What are the normal levels of aldosterone?
Reference ranges: Plasma aldosterone, supine position and normal sodium diet: 2-9 ng/dl (55 – 250 pmol/L) Plasma aldosterone, upright position (standing / seated for at least 2 hr) and normal sodium diet: 2 – 5x supine value.
What results from increased levels of aldosterone?
The high aldosterone level increases reabsorption of sodium (salt) and loss of potassium by the kidneys, often resulting in an electrolyte imbalance. Signs and symptoms include high blood pressure, headache, and muscle weakness, especially if potassium levels are very low.