Adrenal gland symptoms Assessment Questionnaire

Questions Your Doctor May Ask - and Why!

During a consultation, your doctor will use various techniques to assess the symptom: Adrenal gland symptoms. These will include a physical examination and possibly diagnostic tests. (Note: A physical exam is always done, diagnostic tests may or may not be performed depending on the suspected condition) Your doctor will ask several questions when assessing your condition. It is important to openly share any pertinent information to help your doctor make an accurate diagnosis.

It is also very important to bring an up-to-date list of all of your all medical conditions, medications including dosages, and names of numbers of any specialist you see.

Create your printable checklist by answering questions that your doctor may ask below:

Privacy Statement
No private information is transferred over the internet. Do not use the "Browser back button", as this may cause data loss.

Previous history of high blood pressure?
Why: may indicate an adrenal cause e.g. Cushing's syndrome, phaeochromocytoma, Conn's Syndrome.
Previous history of Grave's disease, Hashimoto's disease, Type 1 Diabetes, pernicious anemia, low parathyroid function or ovarian failure?
Why: Can be associated with Addison's disease.
Has there been previous surgery on adrenal glands?
Why: may make the gland hypofunctioning.
Have you ever taken or are you currently taking corticosteroid medication?
Why: Can cause Cushing's Syndrome if taken for long periods of time.
Alcohol history?
Why: Alcohol excess can cause Cushing's syndrome.
Is there a family history of Multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome
Why: which can include tumors of the adrenal gland.
Have you experienced any recent weight gain, or loss?
Why: Weight gain is an important symptom of Cushing Disease/Cushing Syndrome. Unfortunately weight loss can sometimes be seen in Cushing Syndrome secondary to some types of cancer, such as lung cancer or carcinoid tumors.
Have you noticed any change of your skin?
Why: Increased pigmentation (hyperpigmentation) can be a symptom of Cushing Disease, whilst "stretch marks" (striae) and "thin skin" can be signs of either Cushing Disease or Cushing Syndrome. A form of acne and increased reddish-coloration on the face (acne plethora) can also occur.
Have you had any menstrual changes or irregularity recently?
Why: These can be a sign of Cushing Disease/Cushing Syndrome.
Have you noticed any increase in your body hair?
Why: This can be a sign of hirsutism which can occur in Cushing Disease/Cushing Syndrome.
Have you experienced any erectile dysfunction or impotence?
Why: These can be signs of Cushing Disease/Cushing Syndrome.
How have you been feeling in yourself lately?
Why: Depression and psychosis can occur with Cushing Disease/Cushing Syndrome.
Have you noticed any decreased strength or muscle weakness?
Why: Muscle weakness may be a sign of Cushing Disease/Cushing Syndrome.
Have you had an increased tendency to bruise, or has it been taking longer for any wounds to heal?
Why: Both a propensity to bruise and impaired wound healing can occur in Cushing Disease/Cushing Syndrome.
Do you take any medications?
Why: Steroid medications can cause you to have symptoms of Cushing Syndrome.
Have you had any difficulty with your eyesight?
Why: Cushing Disease/Cushing Syndrome can be caused by a pituitary gland tumor, which may impair your ability to see or to move your eye/s.
Have you had any bone fractures or increased back pain recently?
Why: osteoporosis can occur in Cushing Disease/Cushing Syndrome.
Have you been drinking more fluid than usual (polydipsia), and/or passing urine more than usual (polyuria)?
Why: Cushing Disease/Cushing Syndrome can cause you to want to drink more fluid, as well as pass more urine. This is the result of an increased blood glucose level (hyperglycemia).
Have you ever had high blood pressure (hypertension) before?
Why: Your blood pressure can increase with Cushing Disease/Cushing Syndrome and it is important for your Health Professional to know if you have ever been diagnosed with it before or are taking any antihypertensive medications.
Have you had any infections or illnesses recently? With Cushing Disease/Cushing Syndrome you may experience an increased susceptibility to infections
Have you experienced any abdominal pain which is related to hunger and eating?
Why: peptic ulcer disease may occur in those with Cushing Disease/Cushing Syndrome.
Do you drink alcohol, and have you drunk much lately?
Why: Long term consumption of large amounts of alcohol can cause Cushing Disease/Cushing Syndrome.
Has anyone in your family ever had Cushing Disease or Cushing Syndrome? There are some inheritable syndromes, such as Carney's Syndrome where Cushing Disease/Cushing Syndrome occurs
Have you had any joint pains (Arthralgia), aches or pains?
Why: These can all be experienced in Addison's disease/Hypoadrenalism.
Have you experienced any constipation recently?
Why: This can be an additional sign of Addison's disease/hypoadrenalism.
Have you experienced any dizziness, particularly when you stand up (Postural Hypotension)?
Why: Apart from being an important problem in itself (dizziness may cause you to fall over and sustain other injuries), dizziness on standing may be a feature of Addison's disease/Hypoadrenalism.
Have you noticed any patches of skin which are much lighter than your usual skin color?
Why: Vitiligo is the loss of pigment in some patches of skin such that they appear much lighter than your skin otherwise is, and this can be seen in Addison's disease/Hypoadrenalism.
Have you recently experienced any Chest Tightness, Palpitations or Faints?
Why: These can all be signs with Pheochromocytoma.
Have you noticed yourself sweating or flushing more than usual?
Why: A noticeable increase in bodily sweating or flushing may be experienced in Pheochromocytoma.
Have you experienced many headaches recently, and if so can you tell me about them?
Why: An increased frequency and intensity of headaches can be seen with Pheochromocytoma, and they may be linked to other symptoms such as sweating and palpitations.
Have you recently felt like drinking more (polydipsia), passing urine more ($polyuria) or had cramps and weakness?
Why: Along with a chronically raised blood pressure (hypertension) that is difficult to treat, these can all be signs of Hyperaldosteronism (Conn's Syndrome).
Have you been more aggressive or angry lately?
Why: Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia is a syndrome which may increase the amount of androgens and male-type hormones which your adrenal gland produces. This increase in male-type hormones can increase aggression levels. Some types of this condition can result in genetically female children being born looking (and acting) like a male (intersex), whilst others types may become obvious later in life via a female developing male-type features or hirsutism.
Have you ever had criminal charges, been to jail, or had genetic testing?
Why: Some men who may have an additional "male" chromosome (Y-Chromosome). This has been linked to an increased likelihood of violent/aggressive crime. No other diseases or health problems have been conclusively linked to this genetic condition as yet.
Has there been any appetite or weight change?
Why: Loss of appetite with weight loss in Adrenal insufficiency; increased appetite and weight gain with Cushing's syndrome; weight loss with phaechromocytoma.
Has there been any diarrhea?
Why: can occur in Adrenal insufficiency.
Have you been more lethargic lately?
Why: lethargy can occur with Adrenal insufficiency or with adrenal cancer.
Have you noticed any increased pigmentation of the skin?
Why: Can occur with Addison's disease, Cushing's syndrome or Adrenal cancer.
Have you noticed any vitiligo (localized depigmentation of the skin)?
Why: Can occur with Addison's disease.
Have you had any abdominal pain?
Why: Can occur with adrenocortical insufficiency.
Have you had any change with your menstrual periods?
Why: Adrenocortical insufficiency and Cushing's syndrome can cause infrequent periods.
Have you noticed any other Cushing-like symptoms?
Why: E.g. thin skin, abdominal stretch marks, easy bruising, round face, fluid retention, increased infections, poor wound healing, and excessive hairiness (see Cushing-like symptoms).
Have you experienced any periods of "crisis"?
Why: i.e. feelings of fear, headache, palpitations, sweating, nausea, pallor - may indicate Phaechromocytoma.
Have you experienced any symptoms of virilism?
Why: e.g. lack of menstrual periods , enlargement of the clitoris, deepening of voice , hair loss around temples and excessive hairiness - may indicate androgen secreting adrenal tumor.

Conditions listing medical symptoms: Adrenal gland symptoms:

The following list of conditions have 'Adrenal gland symptoms' or similar listed as a symptom in our database. This computer-generated list may be inaccurate or incomplete. Always seek prompt professional medical advice about the cause of any symptom.

Select from the following alphabetical view of conditions which include a symptom of Adrenal gland symptoms or choose View All.

View All A B C D H I L M N O P S T V W #

Conditions listing medical complications: Adrenal gland symptoms:

The following list of medical conditions have 'Adrenal gland symptoms' or similar listed as a medical complication in our database.

» Next page: Types of Adrenal gland symptoms

Medical Tools & Articles:

Tools & Services:

Medical Articles:

Forums & Message Boards

Ask or answer a question at the Boards:

Next: Misdiagnosis of Adrenal gland symptoms

homepage | back to top

Search Specialists by State and City