If there is an adrenal tumor, its removal is imperative. ACTH is the pituitary hormone that stimulates the adrenal gland to produce certain hormones. Because withdrawal from medications for asthma and arthritis may be necessary to treat this condition, alternative therapies for these other problems may be helpful. This disorder can be prevented by avoiding long-term steroid use. This disorder, marked by overproduction of aldosterone, is usually caused by small hormone-producing tumors.
Aldosterone is a steroid hormone produced by the adrenal cortex.
Since aldosterone is the most powerful of the salt-retaining hormones, its excess leads to high blood pressure and a depletion of potassium, which is essential for proper muscle function and maintaining the body's biochemical balance. Symptoms of hyperaldosteronism, in addition to high blood pressure, include muscle weakness and cramps and sometimes excessive urination at night. A high blood serum level of aldosterone confirms diagnosis.