The main cause of Addison's disease is an autoimmune response that occurs when the immune system attacks healthy tissues without any reason. When the immune system attacks the adrenal glands, they may fail to produce enough hormones such as cortisol and aldosterone.
Other reasons for adrenal gland failure may include:
- Tuberculosis
- Infection of the adrenal glands
- Bleeding in the adrenal glands
- Adrenal gland tumors
What causes Addison's disease?
Addison's disease is primarily caused by adrenal gland damage, which results in insufficient cortisol and aldosterone production.
The adrenal glands are composed of two parts:
- Medulla. The interior part that produces adrenaline hormones
- Cortex.The outer portion that produces corticosteroids, such as:
- Glucocorticoids
- Mineralocorticoids
- Androgens
Other reasons for adrenal gland failure may include:
- Tuberculosis
- Infection of the adrenal glands
- Bleeding in the adrenal glands
- Adrenal gland tumors
What is Addison’s disease?
Addison's disease is a rare disorder that occurs when the adrenal gland does not produce sufficient hormones. Adrenal glands are small triangular-shaped endocrine glands present on the top of kidneys, which produce certain hormones that regulate the body's most important functions. The hormones include cortisol, aldosterone, and adrenaline.
Cortisol is an essential hormone that helps regulate stress during injury, surgery, or illness. Cortisol also helps regulate blood pressure, heart function, and blood sugar levels.
Aldosterone is a hormone that regulates sodium and potassium in your blood. This hormone regulates blood volume and pressure and controls the amount of fluid removed through the urine by the kidneys.
In Addison's condition, the adrenal gland produces little or very little aldosterone. Addison's disease occurs in both men and women across all age groups.
What are the symptoms of Addison's disease?
Few signs and symptoms of Addison's disease appear suddenly when there is an acute adrenal failure or Addison's crisis which can be life-threatening.
Addison's disease may exhibit the following symptoms:
- Severe fatigue
- Loss of appetite
- Unusual weight loss
- Hyperpigmentation
- Low blood pressure
- Low blood sugar levels
- Craving for salt
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Abdominal pain
- Irritability
- Muscle pain or joint pain
- Loss of body hair
- Depression or other unusual behavior
- Sexual dysfunction in women
The following are the signs and symptoms of acute adrenal failure:
- Weakness
- Confusion
- Severe pain in lower back and legs
- Severe abdominal pain
- Vomiting and diarrhea that leads to dehydration
- Loss of consciousness
What are the ways to diagnose Addison's disease?
Addison's disease can be diagnosed through the following tests:
- Blood tests: Are done to test the levels of sodium, potassium, cortisol, and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH).
- ACTH-stimulating test: This test measures how adrenal glands respond after giving a shot of artificial ACTH.
- Insulin-induced hypoglycemia test: This test is done when the doctor suspects adrenalin insufficiency. This test will check your blood sugar and cortisol after a dose of insulin injection. In healthy people, the blood glucose level decreases, whereas the cortisol level increases.
- Imaging tests: Few imaging tests, such as CT scans and MRI, are also done to check the adrenal glands and pituitary glands for adrenal insufficiency.
How to treat Addison's disease
Mostly, the treatment of Addison's disease is done using hormone replacement therapy:
- Hydrocortisone, prednisone, or methylprednisolone are given in place of the cortisol
- Fludrocortisone acetate
Other treatment recommendations include:
- Always carry a glucocorticoid injection
- Keep extra medications handy
- Stay in contact with your doctor
- Get your health checkups done regularly
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/addisons-disease/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20350296
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15095-addisons-disease
https://medlineplus.gov/addisondisease.html
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