Addison's disease, also called primary adrenal insufficiency, is a hormonal disorder in which the adrenal glands are underactive, which leads to a shortage of certain hormones. The lack of these hormones affects many aspects of the body, especially the ability to control blood pressure and react to stress. It also changes the body's balance of water, sodium, and potassium. Because of these physical effects, Addison's disease causes a person to feel weak or dizzy when standing up after sitting for a long time. It can also lead to severe dehydration and a weakened immune system. The disease can be tough to diagnose because it can be caused by a variety of conditions that damage the adrenal glands, including cancers, infections, and autoimmune reactions.
Addison's Disease
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Reston Hospital Center answeredStress has a pretty significant effect on people with Addison's disease. Addison's disease causes a shortage of cortisol, which is a hormone responsible for helping the body cope with stress. So when people with Addison's disease experience stressful events-such as illness, injury, surgery, or psychological stress-they could go into Addisonian crisis. This means that they could have symptoms like severe muscle pain, vomiting, very low blood pressure, and even loss of consciousness or shock. If people with Addison's know they're putting their bodies through stress, whether it's psychological or emotional, they should talk to their doctors about adjusting medication levels to help their bodies cope with the additional strain.
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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 other stressful event. During the crisis, blood pressure and blood sugar levels drop, and potassium levels in the blood are extremely high. Symptoms may include sudden pain in the legs, stomach, and lower back; severe vomiting and diarrhea; and loss of consciousness. An Addisonian crisis can be life-threatening if a person doesn't get immediate medical attention.
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Reston Hospital Center answeredThe 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 just where the skin is exposed to sunlight. Other symptoms include weight loss, nausea, loss of appetite, salt cravings, and dehydration. Sometimes, the symptoms are noticeable only when a person is under stress.
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Reston Hospital Center answeredIn patients suspected of having an Addisonian crisis, health professionals must immediately begin treatment with injections of salt, glucose-containing fluids, and glucocorticoid hormones. Although a reliable diagnosis may not be possible during crisis treatment, the measurement of blood adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and cortisol during the crisis -- before glucocorticoids are given -- is enough to make a preliminary diagnosis. Low blood sodium, low blood glucose, and high blood potassium are also usually present at the time of an adrenal crisis. Once the crisis is controlled, the ACTH stimulation test can be performed to obtain the specific diagnosis. More complex laboratory tests are sometimes used if the diagnosis remains unclear.
Once a diagnosis of Addison's disease is made, radiologic studies such as an X-ray or ultrasound of the abdomen may be taken to see if the adrenals have any signs of calcium deposits. Calcium deposits may indicate bleeding in the adrenal gland or TB, for which a tuberculin skin test also may be used. Blood tests can detect antibodies associated with autoimmune Addison's disease.
If secondary adrenal insufficiency is diagnosed, doctors may use different imaging tools to reveal the size and shape of the pituitary gland. The most common is a computed tomography (CT) scan, which produces a series of X-ray pictures giving cross-sectional images. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan may also be used to produce a 3-D image of this region. The function of the pituitary and its ability to produce other hormones are also assessed with blood tests.
This answer is based on source information from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.
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Reston Hospital Center answeredAddison's disease can actually be difficult to diagnose. Many times, the symptoms aren't too noticeable, and there isn't any one test that can confirm Addison's disease in every case. Instead, doctors will often do a combination of blood tests to measure the levels of sodium and potassium in the blood. They can also measure the levels of cortisol and corticotropin, which are two hormones affected by Addison's disease. If necessary, doctors may do other blood and urine tests to confirm the diagnosis.
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Reston Hospital Center answeredAddison's disease can affect people of all ages, but the most commonly affected age group is adults 30 to 50 years old. Though the disease affects most people similarly, there are a few differences between the way it affects adults and the way it affects children. The cause of Addison's disease is one of those major differences. Children are more likely to develop Addison's disease as a result of genetic problems like polyendocrine deficiency syndrome, as opposed to infections or other diseases. Also, children are more likely to experience certain symptoms, especially those related to hypoglycemia (low blood sugar levels), which usually include nervousness and hunger.
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Riverside Health System answeredThe symptoms of an Addisonian or "adrenal" crisis include:
Sudden, penetrating pain in the lower back, abdomen, or legs Severe vomiting and diarrhea Dehydration Low blood pressure (BP) Loss of consciousnessIf not treated, an Addisonian crisis can be fatal.
This answer is based on source information from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.
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Addison's disease can be caused by almost anything that damages or destroys the adrenal glands. Actually, the exact cause of the disease is unknown in about 70 percent of people with Addison's disease. In those cases, there is usually some kind of autoimmune reaction in which the body's immune system attacks the adrenal glands. In other cases, Addison's disease may be caused when the adrenal glands are damaged by cancers, infections, or other diseases. In children, the disease can be caused by genetic problems with the adrenal glands.
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Reston Hospital Center answered
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 common cause of the Addison's disease. As TB treatment improved, the incidence of adrenal insufficiency due to TB of the adrenal glands greatly decreased.
This answer is based on source information from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.