Addison's disease
Addisons disease (also known as primary adrenal insufficiency or hypoadrenalism) is a rare disorder of the adrenal glands.
The adrenal glands are two small glands that sit on top of the kidneys. They produce two essential hormones: cortisol and aldosterone .
In Addison's disease, the adrenal gland is damaged, and not enough cortisol and aldosterone are produced.
About 8,400 people in the UK have Addison's disease. It can affect people of any age, although it's most common between the ages of 30 and 50.It's also more common in women thanmen.
Early-stage symptoms of Addisons disease are similar to other more common health conditions, such as Depression or flu .
You may experience:
Over time, theseproblems may become more severe and you may experience further symptoms, such as dizziness, fainting , cramps and exhaustion. You may also develop small areas of darkened skin, or darkened lips or gums.
Although these symptoms arent always caused by Addisons disease, you should see your GP, so they can be investigated.
It's not clear why this happens, but it's responsible for 70-90% of cases in the UK.
Other potential causes include conditions that can damage the adrenal glands, such as tuberculosis (TB) , although this is uncommon in the UK.
You'll need to take the medication for the rest of your life.
With treatment, symptoms of Addison's disease can largely be controlled. Most people with the condition live a normal lifespan andare able tolive an active life, with few limitations.
However,many people with Addison's disease also find they must learn to managebouts of fatigue and there may be associated health conditions, such as diabetes or an underactive thyroid .
People with Addison's disease must be constantly aware of the risk of a sudden worsening of symptoms, called an adrenal crisis. Thiscan happen when the levels of cortisolin your body fallsignificantly.
An adrenal crisis is a medical emergency. If left untreated, it can be fatal. If you or someone you know has Addisons disease and is experiencing severe symptoms, dial 999 for an ambulance.
This helps scientists look for better ways to prevent and treat this condition. You can opt out of the register at any time.
Addison's disease is a rare disease that occurs due to the abnormal function of the adrenal glands. The adrenal glands are endocrine glands situated above the kidneys (one for each). They are responsible for the production of the hormone aldosterone and cortisol. When the levels of the secretion of these hormones is lowered, the disease occurs.
Symptoms include a general feeling of illness, nausea, anorexia, weight loss, frequent urination, muscular weakness. In advanced stages, other symptoms may arise such as a stomach ache, lack of motivation, vomiting, depression etc. In rare cases, the disease may begin with very severe symptoms, and in this case, an adrenal crisis is occuring.
Addison's disease occurs when your adrenal cortex is damaged, reducing the levels of hormones it produces. Adrenal disease occurs when the cortex of the adrenal glands suffers damage. Due to this the production of hormones is reduced. In the majority of cases, this condition occurs due to a malfunction of the immune system.
The diagnosis of Addison's is made under hospital conditions. The patient is carefully examined for hyperpigmentation marks (brown marks) in the palm of the hand, elbow, lips and gums. The patient may exhibit orthostatic hypertenstion (a lowering of the arterial pressure when the patient stands up immediately from lying down).
In cases when tuberculosis is the cause of the disease, then the tuberculosis has to be treated in order to recover from the condition. If the cause is autoimmune, then the patient must receive substitutive therapy for the rest of their lives.