Addison’s disease is an autoimmune condition that damages the adrenal glands, and they no longer produce enough cortisol. It is also known as primary adrenal insufficiency. Cortisol is important in managing our stress response, maintaining blood pressure, and in energy metabolism.

Symptoms of Addison’s disease include muscle and joint pain, low blood pressure, hypoglycemia, and dark skin patches.

Adrenal Crisis is an emergency condition caused by stress on the body where the symptoms of Addison’s disease become much worse. Symptoms include sudden severe pain in the back, abdomen, and legs, nausea and vomiting, low blood pressure, and fainting. Adrenal crisis requires an injection of glucocorticoids and treatment in a hospital. If you have Addison’s disease you should wear a medica alert bracelet.

Cushing’s syndrome is a condition where there is too much cortisol in the body. Cortisol is important in managing our stress response, maintaining blood pressure, and in energy metabolism. Cushing’s syndrome can be caused by excess cortisol from either internal or external sources. It is more common for patients to have excess cortisol from an external source such as cortisol-like medications. This type of Cushing’s is temporary and will go away when the medication is stopped. Patients may also develop Cushing’s disease when the adrenal glands produce too much cortisol. This can be caused by a tumor on the adrenal or pituitary gland.

Symptoms of Cushing’s include abdominal obesity, a round face, high blood pressure, high blood sugar levels, thinning skin and stretch marks, and muscle weakness.

Hyperparathyroidism is a condition where too much parathyroid hormone is produced. Parathyroid hormone is made by four small glands in the neck beside your thyroid. Parathyroid hormone is responsible for managing calcium levels in your blood. Excess parathyroid hormone causes high calcium levels in the blood and can lead to osteoporosis and kidney stones. Hyperparathyroidism is most often caused by growth of one of the parathyroid glands.

Hypoparathyroidism is a condition where too little parathyroid hormone is produced. This results in low levels of calcium in the body. Common symptoms of hypoparathyroidism include tingling in the fingers and toes, muscle aches, twitching, and fatigue

Hyperprolactinemia is a condition where the pituitary gland releases too much prolactin. One common cause of this is a small tumor on the pituitary gland called a prolactinoma. These tumors are most often benign (non-cancerous). Other causes include the use of certain medications, chest wall injuries, or hypothyroidism. 

Symptoms of hyperprolactinemia are different in men and women. In women, it can cause absent or irregular menstrual periods, and breastmilk production when not pregnant or nursing. In med, it can cause erectile dysfunction, breast tissue enlargement (gynecomastia), and muscle weakness. 

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common syndrome among girls and women of reproductive age where they make higher than normal levels of male hormones called androgens.

This imbalance of hormones causes the development of cysts on the ovaries as well as other symptoms such as excess hair growth, acne, and irregular menstrual cycles.

Acromegaly is a rare condition caused by too much growth hormone. Growth hormone is released by the pituitary gland and circulated around the body. In children, it stimulates growth and development. In adults, it affects energy levels, bone health, and muscle strength. Acromegaly is usually caused by a tumor on the pituitary gland.

People with acromegaly have distinct physical features including large hands and feet, thick lips, widely spaced teeth, and coarse facial features.

Hypopituitarism is a rare condition where the pituitary gland does not make one or more of the hormones it is responsible for. Symptoms will vary depending on which hormone you are missing. Hypopituitarism is often caused by a tumor in the pituitary gland but there are many other possible causes. If you have hypopituitarism you will likely need to take medication for the rest of your life.