On the other end of the spectrum we have Cushing’s Syndrome, in which cortisol is overproduced. Sufferers are also susceptible to adrenal crises in which the adrenal glands cannot produce enough cortisol to respond to physiological stress this can be fatal. This can result in low blood pressure, loss of sodium in urine leading to salt cravings, hypoglycemia or low blood sugar, and dizziness upon standing, among other symptoms. To see what effect imbalances might have, let’s take a look at conditions that can affect them.Īdrenal insufficiency, or Addison’s disease, is a condition of deficient production of glucocorticoids. Now keeping the adrenal glands in good health is important to maintaining the right levels of these hormones. Knowing where the adrenal gland is located is vital to knowing how to maintain optimal adrenal health. The rush of energy and the on-your-toes feeling is a function of these hormones priming your body for immediate action to ensure survival. The catecholamines, norepinephrine and adrenaline (for which the adrenal glands are most well known for), are much more powerful stress response hormones and are famous for the fight-or-flight response to moments of extreme stress. These effects help the body maintain homeostasis and stay in balance when stress threatens to destabilize the body. It helps raise blood sugar, fights inflammation, and constricts blood vessels, among other functions. In normal day-to-day activities, cortisol is the dominant hormone that keeps the body in balance. When either physical or mental stress is experienced, cortisol, norepinephrine, and epinephrine are released depending on the degree of the stress. The adrenal glands are the stress control center for the body. Where is the adrenal gland is not as essential as knowing what the function of the adrenal glands are. These hormones have different functions throughout the body but notably, most of them are stress response hormones. The outer layer is called the adrenal cortex, which produces the glucocorticoids, and the inner portion is called the adrenal medulla, which produces catecholamines such as norepinephrine and epinephrine. The glands are made up of two distinct layers. Also known as the suprarenal glands, these two organs are responsible for the production of a variety of hormones, notably cortisol, aldosterone, norepinephrine, and epinephrine (also called adrenaline). So, where is the adrenal gland? The adrenal glands are two walnut-sized endocrine organs that sit on top of your kidneys. When discussing the adrenals, it is helpful to know exactly where is the adrenal gland located.

The adrenal glands are located