Article Writing Homework Help

You will prepare and submit a term paper on Aldosteronism. Your paper should be a minimum of 1250 words in length. Generally prognosis for treatment is positive but complications such as persistent high blood pressure may occur. Aldosterone is “a hormone produced by the outer portion (cortex) of the adrenal gland.” (“Aldosterone”) Aldosterone balances sodium and potassium levels in the blood. If excess aldosterone is produced in the body it may result in low potassium levels, under acidity of the body (alkalosis), muscle weakness, excessive thirst and urination, and high blood pressure. (“Aldosteronism, APMA)When physicians diagnose patients with low sodium levels and high blood pressure they may have them undergo additional testing to find out if they have Aldosteronism because of aldosterone’s normal function of increasing sodium and fluid in the bloodstream and to increase potassium excretion in the kidney. Blood tests or urine tests can be used to measure high levels of aldosterone. A special blood test known as the plasma rennin activity can be used to determine whether a patient has Primary Aldosteronism or Secondary Aldosteronism.