Youradrenal glandsare located on top of your kidneys.These glandsproduce many of the hormones that your body needs for normal functions.
Addison’s disease occurs when the adrenal cortex is damaged, and the adrenal glands don’t produce enough of the steroid hormones cortisol and aldosterone.
Cortisolregulates the body’s reaction to stressful situations.Aldosteronehelps with sodium and potassium regulation. The adrenal cortex also produces sex hormones (androgens).
People who have Addison’s disease may experience the following symptoms:
- muscle weakness
- fatigue and tiredness
- darkening in skin color
- weight loss or decreased appetite
- a decrease in heart rate or blood pressure
- low blood sugar levels
- fainting spells
- sores in the mouth
- cravings for salt
- nausea
- vomiting
People living with Addison’s disease may also experience neuropsychiatric symptoms, such as:
- irritability ordepression
- lack of energy
- sleep disturbances
If Addison’s disease goes untreated for too long, it can become anAddisonian crisis. Symptoms associated with an Addisonian crisis can
- agitation
- delirium
- visual and auditory hallucinations
An Addisonian crisis is a life-threatening medical emergency. Call 911 immediately if you or someone you know begins to experience:
- mental status changes, such as confusion, fear, or restlessness
- loss of consciousness
- highfever
- sudden pain in the lower back, belly, or legs
An untreated Addisonian crisis can lead to shock and death.
There are two major classifications for Addison’s disease: primary adrenal insufficiency and secondary adrenal insufficiency. In order to treat the disease, your doctor will need to find out which type is responsible for your condition.
Primary adrenal insufficiency
Primary adrenal insufficiency occurs when your adrenal glands are damaged so severely that they can no longer produce hormones. This type of Addison’s disease is most often caused when your immune system attacks your adrenal glands. This is called anautoimmune disease.
In an autoimmune disease, your body’s immune system mistakes any organ or area of the body for a virus, bacteria, or another outside invader.
Other causes of primary adrenal insufficiency include:
- prolonged administration ofglucocorticoids(e.g.prednisone)
- infections in your body
- cancerand abnormal growths (tumors)
- certain blood thinners used to control clotting in the blood
Secondary adrenal insufficiency
Secondary adrenal insufficiency occurs when thepituitary gland(located in your brain) can’t produceadrenocorticotropic hormone(ACTH). ACTH tells the adrenal glands when to release hormones.
It’s also possible to develop adrenal insufficiency if you do not take the corticosteroid medications your doctor prescribes.Corticosteroidshelp control chronic health conditions like asthma.
There are also many other causes of secondary adrenal insufficiency, including:
- tumors
- medications
- genetics
- traumatic brain injury
You may be at a higher risk for Addison’s disease if you:
- have cancer
- takeanticoagulants(blood thinners)
- have chronic infections liketuberculosis
- had surgery to remove any part of your adrenal gland
- 有一种自身免疫性疾病,像吗type 1 diabetesorGraves’ disease
Your doctor will ask you about your medical history and the symptoms you’ve been experiencing. They will do a physical examination, and they may order some lab tests to check your potassium and sodium levels.
Your doctor may also order imaging tests and measure your hormone levels.
Your treatment will depend on what’s causing your condition. Your doctor may prescribe medications that regulate your adrenal glands.
Following the treatment plan that your doctor creates for you is very important. Untreated Addison’s disease can lead to an Addisonian crisis.
如果你的条件已经不太久,and has progressed to a life-threatening condition called Addisonian crisis, your physician may prescribe medication to treat that first.
Addisonian crisis causes low blood pressure, high potassium in the blood, and low blood sugar levels.
Medications
You may need to take a combination of glucocorticoids medications (drugs that stop inflammation) to improve your health. These medications will be taken for the rest of your life and you cannot miss a dose.
Hormone replacements may be prescribed to replace hormones that your adrenal glands are not making.
Home care
Keep an emergency kit that contains your medications on hand at all times. Ask your doctor to write a prescription for an injectable corticosteroid for emergencies.
You may also want to keep a medical alert card in your wallet and a bracelet on your wrist to let others know about your condition.
Alternative therapies
It’s important to keep your stress level down if you Addison’s disease. Major life events, such as a death of a loved one or an injury, can raise your stress level and affect the way you respond to your medications. Talk to your doctor about alternative ways torelieve stress, such asyogaandmeditation.
Addison’s disease requires lifelong treatment. Treatments, such as hormone replacement medications, can help you manage your symptoms.
Following the treatment plan your doctor creates is an important step in helping you live a productive life.
Remember, always take your medications exactly as directed. Taking too little or too much medication can negatively affect your health.
Your treatment plan may need to be reevaluated and changed depending on your condition. For this reason, it’s important that you see your doctor regularly.