Addison's Disease
Occurs when the adrenal glands don't produce enough hormones
Symptoms
Changes in blood pressure or heart rate
Chronic diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting, or loss of apetite resulting in weight loss
Darkening of the skin in some places, causing the skin to look patchy
Paleness
Extreme weakness, fatigue, and slow, sluggish movement
Mouth lesions on the inside of a cheek
Salt craving
Causes
- Results from damage to the adrenal cortex.
- Damage causes the cortex to produce less of its hormones.
- Damage may be caused by the immune system mistakenly attacking the gland, infections, hemorrhage, blood loss, tumors
Treatment
- Replacing corticosteroids will control the symptoms of this disease.
- Usually need to take drugs for life.
- People often receive a combination of glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids.
- Some people are taught to give themselves an emergency injection of hydrocortisone during stressful situations.
- Most people are able to lead normal lives.
Facts
- There are no guidelines for preventing Addison's Disease
- A chronic disease
- Involves endocrine system
- Not genetic