Primary aldosteronism (Conn’s syndrome) occurs due to overproduction of the hormone aldosterone, which regulates sodium and potassium levels in your blood. Healthcare providers treat this condition with medications and lifestyle changes to manage blood pressure. Some cases require surgery. Most people have an excellent outlook with treatment.
Primary aldosteronism, also known as Conn’s syndrome, is a condition that occurs when your adrenal glands make too much aldosterone. Aldosterone is a steroid hormone that helps regulate sodium and potassium in your blood.
High blood pressure (hypertension) and low blood potassium levels (hypokalemia) are the defining features of primary aldosteronism. People with the condition may have other symptoms, too, like headaches, muscle cramps or excessive thirst.
Untreated primary aldosteronism can lead to serious complications like heart attack and kidney failure. But prompt treatment can manage the condition successfully.
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Primary aldosteronism used to be a rare disorder. But today, 5% to 10% of adults with high blood pressure have it. It’s more common in women and people assigned female at birth (AFAB). Most people with this condition get a diagnosis in their 30s or 40s.
People with primary aldosteronism usually develop high blood pressure and low potassium levels. Left unchecked, high blood pressure raises your risk for complications, including heart attack and stroke, while low potassium can cause heart rhythm irregularities (arrhythmia).
Other primary aldosteronism symptoms may include:
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Primary aldosteronism happens when your adrenal glands produce too much aldosterone. This hormone helps regulate your body’s balance of water, sodium (salt), blood volume and blood pressure.
Issues that can cause an overproduction of aldosterone include:
Primary aldosteronism occurs when there’s an issue with your adrenal glands themselves. But sometimes, underlying conditions can cause excess aldosterone production. When this happens, providers call it secondary aldosteronism. Conditions related to secondary aldosteronism include:
Anyone can develop primary aldosteronism. But it’s more common in people with:
If you don’t treat primary aldosteronism, your blood pressure may increase to dangerous levels. It also disrupts the balance of electrolytes in your body. (Electrolytes are minerals that help balance the amount of water in your body.)
Electrolyte imbalances and prolonged high blood pressure increase your risk for serious complications like:
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Healthcare providers use blood tests to diagnose primary aldosteronism. These tests measure:
It might take several blood tests to get an accurate diagnosis. This is because many blood pressure medications can interfere with blood test results. To counteract this, your provider might switch up your medication occasionally to ensure accuracy.
Your healthcare provider may recommend further testing to rule out adrenal gland tumors. These tests may include:
Primary aldosteronism treatment typically involves medication and/or surgery.
If both adrenal glands produce excess aldosterone, healthcare providers typically treat it with medications like spironolactone (Aldactone®) or eplerenone (Inspra®), which block the effects of aldosterone.
If only one adrenal gland makes excess aldosterone, removing that gland (adrenalectomy) is an alternative to medication. In these cases, healthcare providers may suggest surgery.
Even after surgery, you might need medication until your blood pressure returns to normal. Your healthcare provider can tell you what to expect in your situation.
Currently, there’s no way to prevent this condition. Monitoring your blood pressure frequently can help spot issues.
You may be able to reduce your risk for primary aldosteronism by:
Underlying hypertension (high blood pressure) — a hallmark of this condition — increases your risk for stroke, heart failure, kidney disease and other conditions. People with primary aldosteronism usually notice reduced symptoms with treatment. Serious long-term effects typically only occur in those with untreated primary aldosteronism.
The outlook for primary aldosteronism is excellent with appropriate treatment. That’s why it’s important to schedule a visit with a provider as soon as you notice symptoms.
Left untreated, primary aldosteronism can lead to life-threatening complications like stroke, heart attack and kidney failure.
If you develop symptoms like fatigue, excessive thirst or frequent urination, call a healthcare provider. They’ll need to run tests to determine a diagnosis.
Additionally, if you have consistently high blood pressure or low potassium, ask your provider if you should have testing for primary aldosteronism or related conditions.
If you’ve received a primary aldosteronism diagnosis, here are some questions you may want to ask your healthcare provider:
Lots of people need medication to manage high blood pressure. But if you start to notice that you’re always tired or thirsty, or you’re peeing more than you used to, it could be more than hypertension. If this sounds familiar, it’s time to talk to your healthcare provider. They can run tests to find out if there’s something else going on. Primary aldosteronism can cause a wide range of worrisome symptoms. But it’s curable with treatment.
Last reviewed on 07/22/2024.
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