Fluid balance Adrenal glands

Aldosterone

Written by the VitaWhat editorial team · Medically reviewed by Steve Davis · Last reviewed 19 July 2026 · Editorial policy

Controls salt and water balance and blood pressure.

What it does

Makes the kidneys retain sodium and water and excrete potassium
Raises blood pressure

Too much

Excess (Conn\'s syndrome) causes high blood pressure and low potassium

Too little

Deficiency (part of Addison\'s) causes low blood pressure and salt craving

Keeping it balanced: A balanced sodium/potassium intake supports healthy blood pressure.

Sources & references

Think a hormone may be out of balance?

The symptoms of hormonal excess and deficiency are non-specific — tiredness, weight change, low mood and poor sleep have many everyday causes. No hormone problem can be self-diagnosed from a symptom list.

Diagnosis needs blood tests interpreted alongside your history, sometimes repeated at set times of day because many hormones vary hour to hour. Speak to a GP if symptoms are persistent; seek urgent care for severe symptoms such as confusion, fainting, chest pain or extreme thirst with frequent urination.

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