Final answer:
True, during periods of stress, corticosteroid levels may need to be adjusted if the adrenal glands cannot keep up with the production demands. Both adrenal glands produce steroid hormones, and giving more ACTH to someone with Cushing's syndrome is not beneficial as it would increase the overproduction of cortisol.
Step-by-step explanation:
True, the statement indicates that during times of stress, the amounts of corticosteroids, such as cortisol, might need to be adjusted due to the adrenal gland's potential inability to produce increased amounts of steroid. This situation arises particularly in chronic stress where the body has been subjected to the stressor for an extended period of time, creating a high demand for cortisol that the adrenal glands may not be able to meet. Cortisol and other corticosteroid hormone levels must be regulated properly as they are critical for the body's response to stress, affecting metabolism and the immune system.
When it comes to adrenal gland functionality, both adrenal glands produce steroid hormones. The statement given in the question that only the left adrenal gland produces steroid hormones while the right produces non-steroid hormones is false. Both adrenal glands have a cortex that produces corticosteroids and a medulla that secretes catecholamines like epinephrine and norepinephrine in response to stress.
Giving someone with Cushing's syndrome more ACTH would not be helpful because this condition is characterized by the hypersecretion of glucocorticoids due to an ACTH-producing tumour or excessive production by the adrenal glands. Increasing ACTH would exacerbate the condition by stimulating more cortisol production. Lastly, cortisol production is typically regulated by a feedback mechanism where high levels of cortisol will normally reduce the secretion of CRH (Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone).