Addison’s disease is a disease that happens when adrenal glands are not able to produce sufficient hormones. The adrenal glands are little hormone secreting organs that lie on top of each kidney. They have the outer portion known as cortex and the inner portion known as the medulla. The cortex produces three types of hormones.
1. Cortisol or glucorticoid hormones that maintain glucose or sugar levels, suppress immune response and make the body respond better to stress
2. Mineralocorticoid hormones like aldosterone that regulate sexual balance
3. Androgen(male sex hormone) and estrogen(female sex hormone) that affect sexual development and sex drive.

Addison’s disease is caused when the adrenal cortex is damaged. The damage makes the cortex produce less hormones.
This damage is due to the following reasons:
• The immune system erroneously attacking the gland leading to autoimmune disease
• Infections like fungal infections, tuberculosis and
• Hemorrhage, blood loss
• Tumors
• Usage of anticoagulants or blood thinning drugs
Risk factors for Addison’s disease includes chronic thyroiditis, pernicious anemia, hypopituitarism, grave’s disease, testicular dysfunction, vitilgo, type 1 diabetes etc. Addison’s disease can also be caused due to genetic risk factors.

Symptoms of Addison’s disease

• Changes in blood pressure or heart rate
• Paleness and Extreme weakness
• Fatigue
• Loss of appetite
• Chronic diarrhea
• Skin darkening
• Unnaturally dark color in some places
• Mouth lesions on the inside of the cheek
• Nausea and vomiting
• Salt craving
• Slow, sluggish movement
• Weight loss inspite of having proper food

Addison’s disease treatment

Addison’s disease treatment can be done with replacement corticosteroids that will control the disease symptoms. However you have to take medicine all your life. People have to take a combination of glucocorticoids (cortisone or hydrocortisone) and mineralocorticoids (fludrocortisone).
You should not skip the medication because it can result in serious problems. Your doctor may increase the dosage of Addison’s disease medication for the following three reasons:
1. Increased infection
2. Stress
3. Injury
During a severe form of adrenal deficiency, adrenal crisis, your healthcare provider will inject hydrocortisone immediately. Additional treatment for low blood pressure is also rendered.
People with Addison’s disease are also taught to give themselves an emergency injection of hydrocortisone in certain stress-prone situations. It is essential that you carry with yourself an ID card that shows the kind of mediation and dosage that you need in case of an emergency situation. Your health care provider may ask to don a Medic-Alert tag alerting health care professionals that you need help during emergency. There is a hormone replacement therapy in place that can help Addison’s disease people lead normal lives.

Also Read:

• Symptoms and Natural Treatment For Thyroid Disease
• Eczema Herpeticum (Skin Disease) – Symptoms & Treatment
• Graves Disease – Symptoms and Natural Remedies
• Chagas Disease Symptoms and Chagas Treatment
• Symptoms and Prevention for Chronic Kidney Disease

by Dr John on 19. Apr, 2010 in Diseases and Conditions