Adrenocorticotropic

What Are the Causes of High Adrenal Gland Output?

The adrenal glands, two small triangle-shaped glands, reside just above each kidney. The adrenal glands consist of two sections: the outer portion known as the adrenal cortex, and the inner portion known as the adrenal medulla. The adrenal cortex...

Causes of Hormonal Imbalances

Hormones are chemical substances made in endocrine glands and released into the bloodstream. They affect the body in different ways and need to be present in the right amounts to prevent health related problems. Some endocrine glands in the body...

Cushing's Disease & Cholesterol

People with symptoms of Cushing's disease are tested to see if a tumor in the pituitary gland is releasing a high amount of the adrenocorticotropic hormone, for this type of tumor causes the disease. The hormone stimulates the adrenal glands to...

Caffeine's Effect on the Pituitary

Caffeine is a potent stimulator of the central nervous system and very popular; approximately 90 percent of people worldwide consume at least one of several different sources of caffeine, according to Brown University Health Education. The...

Adrenal Insufficiency Treatment

The endocrine system produces hormones---chemicals produced in one part of the body to regulate another part of the body. Hormones regulate nearly all cellular functions. The adrenal glands, a pair of glands located above each kidney, work within...

Causes of Adrenal Gland Malfunctioning

The adrenal glands make and release more than one hormone. The two adrenal glands in the body are each located above the kidneys. They produce hormones like cortisol, epinephrine, norepinephrine, aldosterone and male sex hormones collectively...

Diseases With High Cortisol Levels

Diseases associated with a high cortisol level, or hypercortisolism, typically come to the attention of patients and their doctors because of the distinctive signs and symptoms associated with excess cortisol. Patients with hypercortisolism...

Nighttime Cortisol Supplements for Kids With Height Problems

Cortisol is a hormone produced by your adrenal glands, which lie on top of your kidneys. It is regulated by adrenocorticotropic hormone from your pituitary gland. When the adrenal glands cannot work properly and cortisol levels do not reach...

Electrolyte Imbalances & Addison's Disease

Addison's disease, or primary adrenal insufficiency, is the inadequate production and release of hormones from the adrenal glands. The adrenal glands are found on top of both kidneys and are responsible for the production of epinephrine,...

3 Ways to Prevent Ectopic Cushing Syndrome

Since the causes of ectopic cushing syndrome may not be preventable, the best approach to prevention is to identify the tumors that result from this condition as quickly as possible. In general, cushing syndromes are the result of glutocorticoid...

3 Ways to Identify Ectopic Cushing Syndrome

Ectopic cushing syndrome, which is the result of tumors that secrete an excess of hormones near the adrenal gland, can be easily treated through surgery. It's important to identify the symptoms of ectopic cushing syndrome before the tumors have a...

Epilepsy Medications for Infants

Seizure activity in infants may be indicative of underlying conditions. Treatment varies according to the type of seizure and the underlying causes. The University of Maryland Medicine lists possible causes as congenital defects, fever, trauma...

Cortisol & Glucose Metabolism

Cortisol is an important hormone that is involved in many important biological processes within the human body including regulation of glucose levels. Diseases and medications that affect cortisol levels can significantly alter blood glucose...

Fatty Liver Associated With Cushing's Syndrome

Cushing's syndrome results from prolonged elevations in glucocorticoids in the body. Glucocorticoids are steroid hormones that affect the metabolism of glucose. A person with Cushing's syndrome has a chronic elevation of glucose in the blood that...

How to Treat Adrenal Insufficiency With Diet

Your adrenal glands are located above your kidneys. When they are damaged and don't produce enough cortisol and aldosterone, you may have a primary adrenal insufficiency disease called Addison's disease. Secondary adrenal insufficiency happens...

What Are the Causes of False High Cholesterol Tests?

High cholesterol is a major risk factor for coronary heart disease, heart attack and stroke, according to the American Heart Association. An accurate cholesterol test is important for identifying risk level. Eating or drinking before the blood...

What Is DHEA Sulphate?

DHEA sulphate, or DHEA-S, is a slightly more active form of the sex hormone DHEA, with the addition of a sulfate molecule containing one oxygen and four sulfur atoms. DHEA-S is converted back and forth from DHEA to DHEA-S by steroid sulfatase, or...

What Are the Causes of High Cortisol?

Corticosteroid hormones are normally secreted by the adrenal glands and play an important role in regulating our body's metabolism. Cortisol, also known as hydrocortisone, is the primary glucocorticoid hormone. Corticosteroids are commonly used...

Symptoms of Cushings Disease

Cushing's disease is caused by an adenoma, which is a benign tumor, on the pituitary gland. An excessive secretion of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) is caused by the pituitary tumor. ACTH signals the adrenal gland to produce high amounts of...

Causes of Elevated Cortisol Levels

Cortisol, also known as "the stress hormone," is a hormone produced by the adrenal glands, usually released in times of stress. Cortisol helps regulate many bodily functions and processes, including regulating blood pressure, cardiovascular...

Addison's Disease: Electrolyte and Acid-Base Balance

Addison's disease, also known as chronic adrenal insufficiency, is a condition in which the adrenal glands do not produce enough hormones. These hormones include cortisol, corticosterone, aldosterone and some steroids. Aldosterone, cortisol and...

ACTH Pituitary Tumor

The pituitary gland is a pea-sized endocrine gland located in the brain. It releases a number of hormones that are needed for many functions that go on in the body. Pituitary hormones are essential for growth, development, reproduction and proper...

Adrenal Cortex Diseases

There is one adrenal gland on top of each kidney. The gland is made of two parts. The adrenal medulla is the inner part of the gland. The adrenal cortex is the outer part. It makes up 90 percent of the gland and has three areas which are referred...

Cortisol Functions

Cortisol is a hormone that is manufactured and released by the adrenal glands located on the top of each kidney. The release of the hormone is controlled by another hormone, adrenocorticotropic hormone from the pituitary gland. Cortisol has...

The Effects of Radiation on Endocrine Glands

The endocrine system controls and regulates the complex functions of the human body. Complex bodily functions are controlled by special chemicals called hormones which are secreted by glands. The glands which comprise the endocrine system include...

What Are the Treatments for Pituitary Tumors in Women?

The pituitary gland lies behind the nose deep within the brain and secretes hormones that regulate other hormone-producing glands such as the testes, adrenals, breasts, ovaries, thyroid and kidneys. Pituitary tumors can occur in both males and...

5 Things You Need to Know About Pituitary Gland Tumor

The pituitary gland is located in the brain, just behind the nose. Although the pituitary gland is no bigger than a kidney bean, the hormones it releases and controls have far-reaching effects throughout the body. The pituitary gland makes...

What Causes Elevated Levels of Cortisol?

Cortisol, or hydrocortisone, is a hormone produced in the adrenal glands, glands that sit atop the kidneys. One of the main roles of cortisol is regulating the stress response, and it is secreted when the body is under stress. Centers within the...

Signs and Symptoms of Adrenal Insufficiency

The adrenal glands produce several hormones that influence the body's water and salt balance and the metabolism of sugar, proteins and fat. Adrenal insufficiency is a condition wherein the adrenal glands fail to produce sufficient levels of the...