What Is Hyperaldosteronism?

Written by WebMD Editorial Contributor
Medically Reviewed by Shruthi N, MD on August 13, 2025
5 min read

‌Hyperaldosteronism is a condition in which your adrenal gland makes too much of the hormone aldosterone.

Aldosterone is a steroid hormone made in the outer part of your adrenal glands. This hormone helps your body maintain the right levels of fluid and sodium and get rid of the extra potassium.

‌‌Too much aldosterone is called hyperaldosteronism. This extra aldosterone causes high blood pressure and low potassium levels. Sometimes it can look like moderate to severe high blood pressure and go undiagnosed for a long time.

‌There are two types of hyperaldosteronism.

Primary hyperaldosteronism. This is caused when the adrenal gland makes too much aldosterone. There are several reasons for this, and the most common one is an adenoma — a noncancerous tumor on a gland. Other causes include the following:‌

  • ‌Bilateral adrenal hyperplasia or growth on each adrenal gland
  • A tumor outside the adrenal glands that release aldosterone
  • ‌A cancerous tumor that releases aldosterone
  • A genetic disease called familial hyperaldosteronism type 1

‌This condition is also called Conn’s syndrome.

Secondary hyperaldosteronism. This type is caused by another problem in the body that results in too much aldosterone. This isn’t due to a problem with the adrenal gland. Causes of secondary hyperaldosteronism can include the following:‌

  • A tumor that makes renin
  • ‌Heart failure
  • ‌Pregnancy
  • ‌Chronic liver disease
  • Renal artery stenosis or narrowing of kidney arteries
  • ‌Loss of fluids
  • ‌Shock

‌‌These health conditions can activate the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, which leads to excess aldosterone in your body.

Whom does hyperaldosteronism affect?

Hyperaldosteronism is usually diagnosed in people aged 30-50 years. It typically affects women more than men.

‌The most common sign of hyperaldosteronism is high blood pressure. It is usually hard to control and treat and doesn’t respond to medicine. Sometimes people with hyperaldosteronism take four or more types of blood pressure pills, which don’t seem to help.

High blood pressure can cause other symptoms, including the following:‌

  • Headaches
  • ‌Dizziness
  • ‌Blurry vision
  • ‌Heart problems

‌Hyperaldosteronism can also cause low potassium levels. Not enough potassium can cause problems, especially with your muscles. Symptoms include the following:‌

  • Numbness
  • Tingling
  • ‌Temporary paralysis
  • ‌Weak muscles
  • ‌Cramps

‌Because aldosterone manages your fluids and electrolytes, you might also experience the following:‌

  • ‌Peeing more often
  • ‌Waking up often to pee
  • ‌Being very thirsty
  • ‌Feeling weak and dizzy

‌Some people who have hyperaldosteronism don’t have any symptoms.

‌Your doctor will do several tests to check for hyperaldosteronism, especially if you have high blood pressure that isn’t getting better with lots of medications.‌

Blood tests. Your doctor will do blood tests to check your potassium, aldosterone, and renin levels. Low potassium and high aldosterone can mean primary hyperaldosteronism, while high renin levels can mean secondary hyperaldosteronism.

Urine tests. These tests are done over 24 hours to check if there is too much potassium in your pee. However, some doctors feel these tests aren’t the best way to diagnose hyperaldosteronism.

Saline infusion. Your doctor will give you a sodium tablet over three days and then test the amount of aldosterone in your urine. This can also be done with intravenous saline over four hours followed by a urine test.

Imaging tests. Tests like CT scans are used to diagnose primary hyperaldosteronism. Your doctor will use these to look for tumors and growths that can cause adrenal problems.

Adrenal vein sampling. Your doctor may use this test if the imaging tests aren’t very clear. This is usually done to find out if the problem affects one or both adrenal glands. It is also done before surgery.

‌Genetic testing. These tests look at your genes. If you are younger than 20 years and have a family history of hyperaldosteronism, your doctor might order genetic testing.

‌Treatments for hyperaldosteronism vary depending on the type and cause.

Surgery. Your doctor will usually recommend a laparoscopic surgery for tumors or growths that are only on one adrenal gland. Having a laparoscopic surgery means a shorter hospital stay and quicker recovery.‌

‌Medications. If there are growths on both adrenal glands, your doctor will give you diuretic medications like eplerenone or spironolactone. You may also receive aldosterone-blocking medications. These don’t fix the problem but help manage the effects.

‌Other conditions. For secondary hyperaldosteronism, your doctor will treat the underlying health problem. This is usually done with medications.

Lifestyle changes. You might also have to make some lifestyle changes, especially if you have high blood pressure. These changes include the following:‌

  • Avoiding alcohol
  • ‌Stopping smoking
  • ‌Exercising
  • ‌Losing weight
  • ‌Having a low-sodium diet

‌High blood pressure is a symptom of hyperaldosteronism. If you have trouble controlling your high blood pressure, it can lead to the following serious problems:‌

  • Heart attack
  • Stroke
  • Heart failure
  • Heart disease
  • Kidney disease
  • Peripheral artery disease
  • Vascular dementia
  • Aortic aneurysm
  • Early death

‌Hyperaldosteronism also causes low potassium levels, which can lead to the following:‌

  • Paralysis
  • Weakness
  • ‌Excessive peeing
  • ‌Constipation
  • Insulin problems
  • Diabetes

‌If you have ongoing high blood pressure that’s hard to control, extreme thirst, or excessive peeing, make sure to talk to your doctor to rule out hyperaldosteronism.

Hyperaldosteronism is when your adrenal gland makes too much of the hormone aldosterone. This hormone helps your body maintain the right levels of fluid and sodium. It also gets rid of extra potassium.

‌‌But too much causes high blood pressure and low potassium levels. It sometimes looks like moderate to severe high blood pressure and can go undiagnosed for a long time. Risks of uncontrolled high blood pressure include stroke, heart issues (attack, failure, or disease), and kidney disease.

There are several ways to check for hyperaldosteronism, such as blood, urine, and imaging tests. Treatment options include lifestyle changes, medication, or surgery.

Is hyperaldosteronism an autoimmune disease?​

Hyperaldosteronism is not an autoimmune disease, but some research suggests there may be a link between the two.

What is the diet for hyperaldosteronism?

Limiting sodium is most important when you have hyperaldosteronism. The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension plan prioritizes fruits and vegetables and is low in saturated fat, total fat, and cholesterol. It’s recommended to keep sodium levels between 1,500 and 2,300 milligrams per day.

How common is hyperaldosteronism?

Experts once considered primary hyperaldosteronism a rare condition, but some now believe that it may be the cause of high blood pressure in 0.5%-14% of patients.

Can hyperaldosteronism be prevented?

There’s no way to stop hyperaldosteronism from happening in most cases.