Addison's Disease
also known as Adrenal Insufficiency
What it is
impact on bodily functions
Cortisol and aldosterone are extremely important stress hormones. Cortisol mobilizes nutrients, allows the body to fight inflammation, stimulates the liver to produce glucose, and helps control the amount of water in the body. Because of its important role in these functions, homeostasis cannot be maintained without enough cortisol. Aldosterone also regulates water levels (and salt), thereby affecting blood volume and blood pressure. With insufficient amounts of these hormones, the body cannot handle stress.
Hypoglycemia occurs because the liver does not produce enough glucose, low blood pressure because of a lack of salt, low blood volume due to a lack of water, and hyperpigmentation of the skin which is caused by an excess of the hormone ACTH (adrenocorticotrophic hormone) binding to a receptor on the surface of dermal melanocytes.
Symptoms
Treatments
Oral corticosteroids can be taken. Hydrocortisone, prednisone or cortisone acetate can be used to replace cortisol. Fludrocortisone to replace aldosterone.
Lots of salt is also critical, especially in stressful times, or if the person with the disease is exercising.
Hyperpigmentation
President Kennedy
http://www.uofmhealth.org/news/archive/201311/reconceptualizing-jfks-chronic-low-back-pain
Salt Craving
Made by sydney natishin
Honors Biology pd 5/6
Mrs. Koons