Contents
Primary aldosteronism is the most common form of hormone-induced hypertension. According to various sources, it concerns 6-13 percent. general population of patients with arterial hypertension. It also occurs in one in five people with resistant hypertension. This disorder is characterized by excessive secretion of aldosterone, which is a hormone produced by the cortex of the adrenal glands. The adrenal glands are essential to life. Therefore, when they start to get sick, the functioning of the entire body is disturbed.
Primary aldosteronism is a form of arterial hypertension with a heterogeneous pathogenesis – differences are observed in the nature of changes in the adrenal glands, the clinical picture and different genetic conditions. Depending on the profile of hormonal changes and the treatment method, several forms are distinguished:
– bilateral adrenal hyperplasia,
– adenoma of the adrenal cortex,
– familial hyperaldosteronism type I,
– familial hyperaldosteronism type II,
– type III familial hyperaldosteronism,
– aldosterone-producing adrenal gland cancer
– ectopic production of aldosterone (by the tumor tissue).
Currently, it is believed that bilateral adrenal hyperplasia is the most common form of primary aldosteronism, occurring in more than half of patients.
How to recognize?
Wondering if primary aldosteronism affects you? If:
– you suffer from resistant hypertension, which means that you are taking 3 antihypertensive drugs, and yet your blood pressure values are> 140/90 mmHg?
– do you feel that your muscles are weak, do you feel sluggish and numb?
– you suffer from polyuria (polyuria), i.e. you pass more than 3 liters of urine a day?
– you have increased thirst (polydipsia), do you consume large amounts of fluids?
– you experience unusual sensations in the form of tingling, numbness, feeling of running currents, vibrations or even burning (paresthesia, mistaken feeling)?
– are you having muscle cramps?
– you feel tired, numbness in your arms, hands, legs and feet?
– do you have visual disturbances?
– do you often have a headache?
– you feel tingling and muscle cramps in various parts of the body (tetany, severe potassium deficiency symptoms)?
– Are your close relatives diagnosed with primary hyperaldosteronism or hypertension, and cerebrovascular accidents at an early age (<40 years)?
If you answered yes to the above questions, be sure to inform your doctor. This could mean that you have primary hyperaldesteronism. Remember that aldosterone secreted in excess also causes necrosis, fibrosis and proliferation of myocytes, myocardial hypertrophy, remodeling and fibrosis of the vessels and impairs the function of the vascular endothelium. In addition, especially with an increased sodium intake in the diet, it leads to damage to arterioles and the development of nephropathy. Therefore, it is worth carrying out tests for this disease as soon as possible, because if left untreated, it can have a very large impact on the functioning and formation of organic changes both in the kidneys and the entire circulatory system.
How to heal?
Treatment of primary aldosteronism is based on the administration of drugs that inhibit aldosterone secretion and lower blood pressure. The treatment is complemented by a diet that should be low in sodium. For this reason, it is recommended to limit the consumption of table salt, replace it with pepper or other spices, and avoid preserved and processed foods, as well as sticks, peanuts and crisps. Patients with primary aldosteronism should also avoid eating cold cuts, smoked fish, cheese, ready-made, canned products, especially their pickles, soups and powdered sauces. The diet should be rich in potassium, the best sources of which are: dried apricots and raisins, citrus fruits and whole grain flour products.