How to check the adrenal glands, what tests to take?

The adrenal glands are part of the endocrine system. Their task is to develop hormones important for the full work of the body: adrenaline, norepinephrine, corticosteroids and androgens.

Content

They affect our activity, emotional state, on the work of the circulatory and immune systems, metabolistic processes, not to mention primary and secondary sexual characteristics.

How to check the adrenal glands, what tests to take?

When checking the state of the adrenal glands, Ultrasound of the abdominal cavity, as well as CT and MRI. They are quite informative methods, but there are a number of contraindications that make them inaccessible to some categories of patients (in particular, with a large weight, pregnant women, children, people with pacemakers, etc.).

How to check the adrenal glands? The examination complex includes the following tests:

General blood analysis.
A blood test for the content of hormones such as testosterone, cortisol, progesterone, aldosterone, Androstension, ACTH.
Analysis of urine for the content of hormones cortisol, normetanefrine, metaanefrine.
Analysis of saliva for the content of cortisol.

Read more about the value of hormone content indicators

Aldosterone (hormone of the adrenal cortex) is important for maintaining blood pressure. Normally, the level of aldosterone in the blood is 35-350 pg/ml. If it is in excess, then the muscle tone is reduced, the heart rhythm is disturbed and, of course, the pressure rises. A blood test for its content is recommended for hypertension, adenoma or insufficiency of the adrenal glands, in the case of orthostatic hypotension.

In order to prepare for this analysis, which is done within two days, it is necessary to begin to adhere to a low -carbon diet in two weeks, avoid stress, postpone sports, so as not to provoke an excess of the hormone.
You should also agree with the doctor to take drugs affecting the exchange of sodium and potassium ions.

Dehydrepiapiantrone sulfate Participates in the production of estrogen and testosterone and is a steroid androgenic hormone, which synthesizes adrenal cortex. Its usual content is 810-8991 nmol/l for women and 3591-11907 nmol/l-for men. Women an overabundance of DEA-S threaten a miscarriage. Analysis for this hormone is prescribed in the case of adrenogenital syndrome, with a delay in puberty, problems during pregnancy, as well as with tumors.

As before other analyzes, before you donate blood on DEA-S, you should take care of stress and sports, smoke less.
Blood is donated on an empty stomach in the morning, if later the time is prescribed, you should not eat 6 hours before blood donation.
Hormonal drugs should also not be taken before the analysis, and in any case it is necessary to inform the doctor about their administration. Then after 1-2 days you will get the result reflecting the real picture of the state of your adrenal glands.

The cortisol is common - Another hormone that helps in protection against stress, starvation and in the regulation of metabolic processes. It is prescribed for suspicions of diseases associated with a change or anomalies of the hormonal background, with osteoporosis and abnormal skin pigmentation, as well as in the presence of muscle weakness and premature sexual development. Normal indicators of the content of cortisol are considered: up to 16 years-83-580 nmol/L, over 16 years old-138-635 nmol/l. An increase in these values \u200b\u200bis not pathological only during pregnancy.
Analyzes for dopamine, adrenaline and norepinephrine will be informative In blood and urine. An example of such an analysis in the Helix laboratory by this link.

Before the analysis, you should not smoke and transfer physical stresses, as well as exclude the use of hormonal drugs. The analysis is prepared up to two days.

The content of hormones in the blood allows us to identify what is not so in the work of the adrenal glands. The fact is that each part of the adrenal glands produces a certain hormone, and the indicators determined during the tests give an idea of \u200b\u200bexactly where the problem is hidden.

Articles about health on the site: