Healthdirect Free Australian health advice you can count on.

Medical problem? Call 1800 022 222. If you need urgent medical help, call triple zero immediately

healthdirect Australia is a free service where you can talk to a nurse or doctor who can help you know what to do.

beginning of content

Adrenal glands

4-minute read

Key facts

  • Your adrenal glands sit on top of your kidneys.
  • Your adrenal glands make many hormones, including cortisol, aldosterone and adrenaline.
  • Some conditions affecting the adrenals glands include Cushing’s syndrome and Addison’s disease — these are uncommon.

What are the adrenal glands?

Your adrenal glands are 2 triangle-shaped endocrine glands that sit on top of your kidneys. They form part of your body’s hormonal system.

Illustration of the endocrine glands.
The endocrine (hormone) system.

What do my adrenal glands do?

Your adrenal glands make hormones that are involved in:

  • controlling your blood pressure
  • your metabolism
  • your body’s response to stress

What hormones do my adrenal glands make?

Your adrenal glands makes many hormones, including:

Adrenaline is involved in your body’s stress (or ‘fight or flight’) response. It:

  • makes your heart beat faster
  • sends more blood to your muscles
  • causes other changes in your body that prepare it for fight or flight

Cortisol does many things, including:

  • influencing your metabolism (how your body uses energy)
  • changing your blood sugar levels
  • lowering inflammation
  • helping to control your blood pressure and heart rate

Aldosterone also plays a part in controlling blood pressure and helps keep your salt and water levels balanced.

The adrenal glands also make a hormone called dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and small amounts of testosterone.

What medical conditions are related to my adrenal glands?

Adrenal gland disorders are rare.

Some conditions that can affect the adrenal glands are:

  • Cushing syndrome
  • Addison’s disease
  • Congenital adrenal hyperplasia
  • Conn syndrome

Cushing syndrome

Cushing syndrome is when your body has too much cortisol. This causes a range of symptoms, such as:

  • weight gain
  • a puffy or rounded face
  • thin skin
  • bruising
  • high blood sugar levels or diabetes

Cushing syndrome is usually caused by taking corticosteroid medicine for a long time. It can sometimes be caused by a tumour in your adrenal gland.

Addison’s disease

Addison’s disease is a rare condition where your adrenal glands don’t make enough cortisol and aldosterone. It’s also called primary adrenal insufficiency.

Symptoms of Addison’s disease are:

  • poor appetite
  • salt cravings
  • darkening of your skin
  • weight loss
  • tiredness
  • muscle pain and/or weakness
  • nausea and vomiting
  • diarrhoea
  • feeling lightheaded
  • irregular menstruation (periods)

Congenital adrenal hyperplasia

Congenital adrenal hyperplasia is an inherited condition that is usually found in babies and children.

Conn syndrome

Conn syndrome is the most common cause of 'primary aldosteronism' — where there is too much of the hormone aldosterone. In Conn syndrome, the excess aldosterone is made by a benign (non-cancerous) tumour in one of the adrenal glands.

The main treatment for Conn syndrome is surgery to remove your affected adrenal gland.

Resources and support

Hormones Australia offers support and resources about the adrenal glands and conditions that affect them.

To learn more about Addison’s disease and adrenal insufficiency, visit the Australian Addison’s Disease Association.

You can also call the healthdirect helpline on 1800 022 222 (known as NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria). A registered nurse is available to speak with 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Learn more here about the development and quality assurance of healthdirect content.

Last reviewed: March 2023


Back To Top

Need more information?

These trusted information partners have more on this topic.

Top results

Adrenal Gland - Hormones Australia

The two adrenal glands sit above the kidneys and produce hormones that control the stress response, blood pressure, blood sugar levels, salt water balance and more.

Read more on Hormones Australia website

The Adrenal Glands | Queensland Health

What do your adrenal glands do? Find out in this episode of My Amazing Body.

Read more on Queensland Health website

Adrenal Insufficiency - Hormones Australia

Adrenal insufficiency occurs when the adrenal glands do not produce enough hormone. The treatment depends on the cause,which is determined through testing.

Read more on Hormones Australia website

Cortisol | Pathology Tests Explained

Cortisol is a steroid hormone, produced by the adrenal gland, in response to the pituitary hormone ACTH. Cortisol is essential for survival. It increases in

Read more on Pathology Tests Explained website

Synacthen test | Pathology Tests Explained

Synacthen is a manufactured drug that acts like adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) by stimulating the adrenal gland to produce more cortisol. By measuring t

Read more on Pathology Tests Explained website

Adrenal insufficiency | Pathology Tests Explained

Adrenal insufficiency is a disorder characterised by underactive adrenal glands and an insufficient production of the hormones cortisol and,

Read more on Pathology Tests Explained website

17-Hydroxyprogesterone | Pathology Tests Explained

17-OHP is steroid hormone produced by the adrenal gland as part of the process of making the important hormone cortisol. Several enzymes are required for thi

Read more on Pathology Tests Explained website

Pheos and Paras - NeuroEndocrine Cancer Australia

The adrenal glands in humans lie atop the kidneys and receive hormonal and nervous system messages and responds by secreting hormones

Read more on NeuroEndocrine Cancer Australia website

Adrenocorticotrophic Hormone - Australian Pituitary Foundation

Adrenocorticotrophic Hormone (ACTH) Understanding the adrenocorticotrophic hormone ACTH is secreted by pituitary cells called corticotrophs

Read more on Australian Pituitary Foundation website

Hormones – cortisol and corticosteroids - Better Health Channel

Cortisol helps to maintain blood pressure, immune function and the body's anti-inflammatory processes.

Read more on Better Health Channel website

Healthdirect 24hr 7 days a week hotline

24 hour health advice you can count on

1800 022 222

Government Accredited with over 140 information partners

We are a government-funded service, providing quality, approved health information and advice

Australian Government, health department logo ACT Government logo New South Wales government, health department logo Northen Territory Government logo Queensland Government logo Government of South Australia, health department logo Tasmanian government logo Victorian government logo Government of Western Australia, health department logo

Healthdirect Australia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to the Traditional Owners and to Elders both past and present.