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he secret behind high blood pressure: Have you heard of "Conn's syndrome"?
When we talk about high blood pressure, perhaps the factors that come to mind most often are overeating and lack of exercise. However, a lesser-known condition that may be the root cause of high blood pressure is primary aldosteronism (PA), particularly one form of it, Conn's syndrome. This rare endocrine disease is often overlooked, yet it affects the health of many patients.
Conn's syndrome is usually caused by an adenoma that produces excessive amounts of aldosterone and can pose serious health risks.
Conn's syndrome causes and symptoms
Conn's syndrome is caused by adenoma, which is generally not malignant. It mainly increases the secretion of aldosterone, leading to increased sodium reabsorption and accelerated potassium excretion in the patient's body. This hormone imbalance often causes high blood pressure and can cause patients to experience symptoms such as fatigue, low potassium, and muscle weakness. Many patients may be asymptomatic in the early stages until the disease progresses.
Many patients even experience a combination of fatigue, potassium deficiency, and high blood pressure, which can cause blurred vision, confusion, and headaches.
As the disease progresses, patients may begin to experience muscle cramps, pain in the back and kidneys, and even nocturia. If this high-risk condition is not treated promptly, it will lead to cardiovascular diseases such as stroke or myocardial infarction.
Diagnosis and screening
The diagnosis of primary aldosteronism relies on early screening. It is important to measure the aldosterone-renin ratio in patients with a history of hypertension, particularly those whose blood pressure cannot be controlled on more than three antihypertensive medications. An increase in this ratio may indicate the presence of primary aldosteronism.
Currently, the Endocrine Society recommends screening for hypertension to ensure early detection and treatment.
Treatment methods
Treatment of Conn's syndrome depends mainly on the cause. For patients with a single adenoma, surgical removal of the adenoma may be the key to cure. In cases of bilateral glandular hyperplasia, the use of aldosterone antagonists, such as spironolactone or eplerenone, is usually an effective treatment option. Although these drugs are effective, they also have side effects. Male patients may experience breast development, while female patients may have problems such as irregular menstruation.
Even with proper treatment, people with unmonitored high blood pressure may be at increased risk for stroke, heart disease and kidney failure.
Epidemiology and social concerns
According to the latest research, the prevalence of primary aldosteronism may be as high as 12.7% to 29.8%. However, many cases remain undiagnosed due to low numbers of people following screening guidelines. This attracted the attention of experts and led to the establishment of the patient-centered Primary Aldosteronism Foundation, which aims to increase public awareness, promote research, and support patients and medical professionals.
ConclusionConn's syndrome may not be the most common cause of high blood pressure, but for some patients, it is a major health risk that affects their quality of life. As the medical community's understanding of the disease deepens, we hope that more neglected causes of hypertension will receive attention and recognition in the future. You might as well ask yourself, do you understand this disease that may be closely related to your health?
