Some people are born unable to make enough cortisol. In Cushing's syndrome, there's too much cortisol, while with Addison's disease, there is too little. With adrenal gland disorders, your glands make too much or not enough hormones.

This disorder is know as primary adrenal insufficiency and is usually an autoimmune condition in which a patient’s immune system uses its antibodies to attack and destroy its own adrenal glands. When this happens, it is known as an adrenal gland disorder. Some less common causes of primary adrenal insufficiency include: …

Sometimes, the adrenal glands produce too much or not enough of their hormones. According to the theory, if you have long-term stress (like the death of a family member or a serious illness), your adrenal glands burn out from prolonged production of cortisol.

Perched atop each of your kidneys, your adrenal glands produce hormones that help regulate your metabolism, immune system, blood pressure and other essential functions. Causes of adrenal gland disorders include