Adrenal Disorder Specialist


Adrenal gland disorders can affect your entire body as it has an important function in maintaining energy levels, blood pressure, sexual maturation. The disorders pertaining to the adrenal glands are often erroneously diagnosed. This means that it takes an endocrine experts like Jongoh Kim, MD and Libu Varughese, MD at Endocrine Diabetes Plus Clinic in Houston, Texas to help diagnosis and treat. Treatment are tailored to your needs after performing the right diagnostic tests, and determining the true cause of your symptoms. Please call the offices in Houston, Texas or Memorial City, Texas to schedule a prompt appointment or use the online booking feature.
Adrenal Disorder Q & A
What hormones are produced by the adrenal glands?
The adrenal glands are very important in that it releases several hormones crucial for health and wellbeing.
Cortisol
Cortisol regulates your overall metabolism. It has an effect on inflammation, blood pressure, blood glucose, sleep-wake cycle, etc. It is one of the stress hormones that are produced in larger amounts during stressful states.
Aldosterone
Aldosterone’s primary role is in regulating blood pressure, sodium, and potassium levels.
DHEA and androgenic steroids
The adrenal gland also produces weak male hormones that are later converted to estrogen in the ovaries and to androgens in the testes.
Epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinephrine
This is the hormone commonly called adrenaline. This prepares your body for fright, flight, and fight. It works by increasing heart rate, glucose levels. It also boosts blood flow to muscles and brain.
What is adrenal insufficiency?
Adrenal Insufficiency is the state where your adrenal gland is unable to produce its hormones, which can cause devastating consequences. Addison’s disease is the same but due to an autoimmune disorder. This is also dramatically different by Adrenal fatigue, which is not established by the endocrine society.
When you do not have enough cortisol, then you can develop the following symptoms:
- Excessive fatigue
- low appetite
- nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
- abdominal pain
- muscle or joint pain
- depressed mood
- sexual dysfunction in women
- loss of body hair
Those with primary adrenal insufficiency such as Addison’s, will experience a salt craving, dehydration, drop in blood pressure, and darkening of the skin.