Addison

Addison’s Disease

Addison's disease is a disorder that occurs when your body produces insufficient amounts of certain hormones produced by your adrenal glands. In Addison's disease, your adrenal glands produce too little cortisol and often insufficient levels of aldosterone as well.

Also called adrenal insufficiency, Addison's disease occurs in all age groups and affects both sexes. Addison's disease can be life-threatening.

Treatment for Addison's disease involves taking hormones to replace the insufficient amounts being made by your adrenal glands, in order to mimic the beneficial effects produced by your naturally made hormones.

Symptoms

Addison's disease symptoms usually develop slowly, often over several months, and may include:

* Muscle weakness and fatigue

* Weight loss and decreased appetite

* Darkening of your skin (hyperpigmentation)

* Low blood pressure, even fainting

* Salt craving

* Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)

* Nausea, diarrhea or vomiting

* Muscle or joint pains

* Irritability

* Depression

* Body hair loss or sexual dysfunction in women

Acute adrenal failure (addisonian crisis)

Sometimes, however, the signs and symptoms of Addison's disease may appear suddenly. In acute adrenal failure (addisonian crisis), the signs and symptoms may also include:

* Pain in your lower back, abdomen or legs

* Severe vomiting and diarrhea, leading to dehydration

* Low blood pressure

* Loss of consciousness

* High potassium (hyperkalemia)

Causes

Addison's disease results when your adrenal glands are damaged, producing insufficient amounts of the hormone cortisol and often aldosterone as well. These glands are located just above your kidneys. As part of your endocrine system, they produce hormones that give instructions to virtually every organ and tissue in your body.

Your adrenal glands are composed of two sections. The interior (medulla) produces adrenaline-like hormones. The outer layer (cortex) produces a group of...