Some people are born unable to make enough cortisol. 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.

When this happens, it is known as an adrenal gland disorder. Perched atop each of your kidneys, your adrenal glands produce hormones that help regulate your metabolism, immune system, blood pressure and other essential functions.

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. Some less common causes of primary adrenal insufficiency include: … Causes of adrenal gland disorders include Sometimes, the adrenal glands produce too much or not enough of their hormones. 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.