Doesn't taking a lot of medicine lower your blood pressure? Let's talk about this Hyperaldosteronism!

A common health problem that many of us have is high blood pressure , or “ pressure ” as we all know it. Sometimes, this can be controlled by taking the medicine prescribed by the doctor. But for some people, even after using not one, not two, but three or four types of medicine, this pressure cannot be controlled and they are under a lot of pressure. So if you also have high blood pressure that is difficult to control, the cause may be a condition called Hyperaldosteronism , which we have not heard much about. Let’s talk about this simply today.

Okay, so what is Hyperaldosteronism?

Simply put, Hyperaldosteronism is the excessive production of a hormone called aldosterone by the adrenal glands in our body.

Think about it, the adrenal glands are two small glands that sit like a cap on top of our kidneys . The hormone aldosterone produced by these glands is very important. It helps maintain the correct amount of fluid, sodium ( salt ) and potassium in our bodies. That is, this hormone helps the body retain the sodium and water it needs and excrete the excess potassium in the urine .

So, if for some reason this aldosterone hormone is secreted in excess, we call it Hyperaldosteronism. What happens then is that the body retains too much sodium and water, and the potassium level drops dangerously low. The main result of this is high blood pressure, which is very difficult to control .

Why does this situation occur?

Hyperaldosteronism can be divided into two main types depending on the causes.

1. Primary Hyperaldosteronism

The problem lies with the adrenal gland itself. That is, the adrenal gland itself produces too much of the aldosterone hormone without any control. There are several reasons for this.

2. Secondary Hyperaldosteronism (Secondary Hyperaldosteronism)

There is nothing wrong with the adrenal gland in this. However, due to another medical condition in the body, the adrenal gland is stimulated and produces more aldosterone. This happens by activating the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system in our body.

What are the symptoms of this?

In addition to the symptoms of high blood pressure, symptoms of low potassium levels in the body can also be seen. Sometimes this condition can be present without any symptoms.

How do I find out if this is available?

If you have high blood pressure that is difficult to control, your doctor may suspect this condition and run several tests.

• Blood tests: Your blood levels of potassium, aldosterone, and renin are checked. In primary hyperaldosteronism, potassium is low and aldosterone is high. In secondary hyperaldosteronism, renin levels are also high.
• Urine tests: Urine collected over 24 hours is tested for potassium levels.
• Saline infusion test: Sodium tablets are given for 3 days or saline is given into a vein for 4 hours, and then aldosterone levels are checked in the blood or urine.
• Imaging tests: A test such as a CT scan can be used to check for tumors or enlargement of the adrenal glands.
• Adrenal vein sampling: This test is done if the scans are inconclusive. This involves taking blood samples from the veins of both adrenal glands to determine whether the problem is in one gland or both. This is often done before surgery.
• Genetic testing: If someone under the age of 20 develops this condition or if someone in the family has had this disease, they may be referred for genetic testing.

How is it treated?

Treatment methods depend on the cause and type of this condition.

• Surgery: If the problem is a tumor on one adrenal gland, your doctor will often recommend laparoscopic surgery to remove the gland. This involves a few small incisions, which can help you recover faster and reduce your hospital stay.
• Medication: If there is a problem with both adrenal glands (bilateral hyperplasia), surgery is not an option. Instead, medications that block the action of the hormone aldosterone (e.g., spironolactone, eplerenone) are given. Although these do not cure the disease, they can control its effects.
• Other treatments: In secondary hyperaldosteronism, the underlying condition (e.g., heart disease, renal artery stenosis) is treated.
• Lifestyle changes: Regardless of which treatment you receive, it is essential to make some lifestyle changes to control high blood pressure.
• Avoiding alcohol
• Quitting smoking
• Exercising regularly
• Controlling body weight
• Reducing salt (sodium) intake in the diet

What are the risks if left untreated?

If hyperaldosteronism is not treated properly, long-term high blood pressure and low potassium levels can lead to serious complications.

• High blood pressure can cause: Heart attack, stroke, heart failure, kidney disease, and even premature death.
• Low potassium levels can cause conditions such as: muscle weakness, paralysis, constipation, problems with insulin function, and diabetes.

So, if you have symptoms like high blood pressure that's hard to control, excessive thirst, frequent urination, or muscle weakness, be sure to see your doctor and talk about it. Don't panic, this is a condition that can be diagnosed and treated.

Hyperaldosteronism, high blood pressure, adrenal glands, aldosterone, low potassium, pressure, Conn's syndrome