Body under pressure: How do hormones from an adrenal tumor affect your health?

Introduction:
Do you have long-term high blood pressure, but no common treatment works? Are you worried about unexpected weight gain, fatigue or mood swings? Maybe it's not just stress or genetics behind it, but an adrenal tumor that silently produces hormones and upsets your body's balance.

When the gland stops listening

The adrenal glands are two small glands sitting above the kidneys -- but their influence on the body is enormous. They produce vital hormones such as cortisol, adrenaline, noradrenaline and aldosterone. If a tumor forms in the adrenal gland, it may begin to secrete these hormones in excess — often unnoticed, but with a major health impact.

According to Prof. Karel Pacák:

“Patients with hormone-active tumours can wander around the office for years with unclear symptoms — until a detailed hormonal profile and the expert eye of a specialist team reveal the real cause. “

The Three Most Common Hormonally Active Tumors

1. Pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma
   They produce excess catecholamines (adrenaline, norepinephrine). Typical symptoms:
   • Attacks of high pressure
   • Heart palpitations
   • Sweating
   • Headaches
     Sometimes symptoms appear only occasionally -- and then disappear.
2. Cushing's syndrome
   Tumor secretes cortisol, stress hormone. Speeches:
   • Weight gain, especially in the torso area
   • Muscle weakness
   • Thin skin and bruises
   • Psychological changes (irritability, depression)
3. Primary hyperaldosteronism (Conn syndrome)
   Excess aldosterone leads to sodium retention and excretion of potassium.
   • High blood pressure (often resistant to conventional treatment)
   • Fatigue
   • Muscle spasms
   • Excessive urination

Diagnostics? Accurate, but not simple

To detect a hormonally active tumor, you need:

• Laboratory examination of hormones in the blood and urine (e.g. metanephrins, cortisol, aldosterone, renin)
• Imaging examination — CT/MR of adrenal glands or PET/MIBG for pheochromocytoma
• Suppression and stimulation tests — e.g. dexamethasone test for suspected Cushing

“It is not enough just to know that the tumor is present. It is necessary to understand what he is doing — and we can only find out this by careful diagnosis,” says Prof. Papa.

Treatment? Ideally surgical

• Surgical removal is the method of choice if the tumor is localized and the patient is otherwise in good condition.
• In pheochromocytoma, there is necessary preoperative preparation using alpha-receptor blockers to prevent a crisis during surgery.
• In some cases (e.g. advanced Cushing's syndrome) it is indicated medicamentous treatment or combination with radiotherapy.

Why is it important to detect hormonally active tumors in time?

Because they can do silent but serious damage — to the heart, blood vessels, bones and metabolism. In addition, some of them, such as pheochromocytomas and carcinomas, can be genetically determined This is also a threat to the patient's relatives.

Summary

Hormonally active adrenal tumors are not common, but when they do occur, it is key to detect and treat them. They are often behind otherwise unexplained health problems -- and a good diagnosis can save not only health, but also life.

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