What is hyperaldosteronism?

Hyperaldosteronism is a condition in which one or both of your  adrenal glands  produce too much aldosterone. Aldosterone is a  hormone  that helps regulate your  blood pressure  by controlling the levels of potassium and sodium in your blood.

Your adrenal glands are part of your  endocrine system . They make hormones your body needs to carry out daily functions. You have two adrenal glands — one above each  kidney .

There are two main types of hyperaldosteronism:

  • Primary hyperaldosteronism (Conn's syndrome) : An issue within your adrenal glands causes them to release too much aldosterone.
  • Secondary hyperaldosteronism : An issue somewhere else in your body causes your adrenal glands to make too much aldosterone.

Hyperaldosteronism causes  high blood pressure (hypertension)  and low potassium levels in your blood.

Who does hyperaldosteronism affect?

Hyperaldosteronism mostly affects people 30 to 50 years old. It more often affects people assigned female at birth than people assigned male at birth.

How common is hyperaldosteronism?

It's difficult for researchers to estimate how common hyperaldosteronism is. Some studies suggest that 5% to 10% of people with high blood pressure have primary hyperaldosteronism. Experts estimate that as many as 25% of people who have medication-resistant high blood pressure may have hyperaldosteronism.

SYMPTOMS AND CAUSES

What are the signs and symptoms of hyperaldosteronism?

The symptoms of hyperaldosteronism can vary based on the severity of the condition. Some people with mild cases of hyperaldosteronism have no symptoms (are asymptomatic).

The most common symptom of hyperaldosteronism is high blood pressure (hypertension), especially medication-resistant hypertension.

If you experience other symptoms, they'll probably be caused by having moderate to severe high blood pressure and/or low potassium levels ( hypokalemia ).

Symptoms of high blood pressure include:

Symptoms of low potassium include: