Addison's Disease
Addisons disease is a disorder that occurs when your body fails to produce enough hormones (cortisol and aldosterone) in your adrenal gland. These hormones helps the body respond to stress and helps maintain blood pressure as well as water and salt balance in your body. Fatigue, weight loss, low blood pressure and hyperpigmentation are symptoms of the disease. Addisons disease affects all ages, both men and women. The disease can become life-threatening. The disease is treated with hormone replacement therapy.
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- Q How is Addison's disease related to tuberculosis (TB)?
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Tuberculosis (TB), an infection that can destroy the adrenal glands, accounts for less than 20 percent of cases of Addison's disease in developed countries. When adrenal insufficiency was first identified by Dr. Thomas Addison in 1849, TB was the most... Full Answer
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- Q How can someone with Addison's disease be prepared for an emergency?
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People with Addison's disease should always carry a medical alert card, tag, or bracelet so that medical staff have all the necessary information in case of an emergency. Information on the card or tag should include the person's name, phone number,... Full Answer
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- Q How do illnesses affect someone with Addison's disease?
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Common illnesses may have a stronger effect on people with Addison's disease, since their bodies lack the natural stress response hormones that normally help the body fight illness. Because of this, people with Addison's disease should increase their... Full Answer
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- Q What do I need to know about caring for someone with Addison's disease?
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Caring for someone with Addison's disease mostly requires simply keeping a watchful eye. Make sure that the person with Addison's disease is taking the correct doses of medication at the correct time of day. Also, be on the lookout for signs of an... Full Answer
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- Q What is an Addisonian crisis?
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An Addisonian crisis, also called acute adrenal insufficiency, is a medical emergency that happens if Addison's disease is left untreated. The crisis involves a sudden worsening of symptoms and is usually brought on by some kind of illness, accident, or... Full Answer
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- Q How common is Addison's disease?
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Addison's disease affects about one to four in every 100,000 people. It affects an equal number of men and women, and can affect people of all ages. Addison's disease, also called primary adrenal insufficiency, is much less common than secondary adrenal... Full Answer
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- Q Does Addison's disease run in families?
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Addison's disease itself doesn't run in families because it is not a genetically inherited disease. However, in some cases, the underlying cause for Addison's disease may be genetic. If both parents have endocrine disorders, it is likely that their child... Full Answer
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- Q How is Addison's disease different from other adrenal disorders?
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There are two main types of adrenal disorders: primary and secondary. Addison's disease is also known as primary adrenal insufficiency. It is caused when the adrenal glands are damaged and, as a result, can't produce enough of certain hormones. This is... Full Answer
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- Q Is a salt craving a sign of Addison's disease?
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Craving salt can be a sign of an adrenal insufficiency like Addison's disease. Salt cravings usually happen because the body's blood sugar level falls extremely low-this is called hypoglycemia, and it's a common result of Addison's disease. Of course,... Full Answer
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- Q What are the symptoms of Addison's disease?
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The first symptoms of Addison's disease are usually fatigue and a feeling of weakness or dizziness when standing up after sitting for a while. People may also develop dark patches of skin that look like a sun tan but can form anywhere on the body, not... Full Answer
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