Addison’s Disease

Addison’s disease affects the adrenal glands, which are hat-shaped gland on the kidneys’ top and is very rarely found.

The inner medulla produces adrenaline, which is passed into the blood stream. The outer cortex is involved in the production of steroid hormone, cortisol, supplying glucose for blood. It also produces the aldosterone, which maintains the level of blood pressure. The female and male sex hormones, oestrogen and testosterone are also produced by the cortex. Adrenaline and cortisol helps the body in coping up with stress.

The persons suffering from Addison’s disease have a disrupted production on the hormones resulting in total chemical imbalance. In most cases cortex may be destroyed, leading to the absence of the hormones.

Symptoms

The symptoms due to dehydration are:

• severe fatigue,
• lowering of blood pressure,
• the increased frequency for the need to urinate
  And
• the brown discolouration of skin

Some other symptoms are:

• constipation,
• muscle pain,
• having cravings for salty foods,
• fainting
• irritability
• depression, and
• lack of appetite and weight loss.
• Women experiencing irregular periods
• Regular abdominal pain
• Vomitting

Causes

The major cause of Addison’s disease is the damage of the adrenal cortex. It is also caused due to a condition, medically termed, autoimmune system, where the tissues and organs of our own body are attacked by our immune system. In such cases the cortex becomes swollen and the shrinks. This is termed as primary adrenal insufficiency.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis for the disease is done by analysing the symptoms found in the person. The measurement of the levels of cortisol and aldosterone in his or her blood also helps in diagnosing the condition. One of the most common tests which is done to diagnose this condition is by taking the adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) injection. ACTH is the one which controls the quantity of corticosteroids which are released from the adrenal glands of the person into his or her blood. The ACTH injection will usually result in a sharp increase in production of the hormones. People who are suffering from Addison’s disease may display only very minor reaction when the ACTH injection is administered. There are cases where people show no reactions on the administering of the injection.

Blood tests which will help to measure sugar levels and sodium levels can also be used. High potassium levels and low sugar and salt levels indicate the presence of Addison’s disease.

Treatment

The basic cause of the Addison’s disease, like tuberculosis, is given treatment. In most case of Addison’s disease, the treatment involves using steroid replacement therapy which is prevalent throughout one’s life. The Steroid medication replaces the cortisol, the production of which is normally absent.

There are the oral corticosteroid tablets which replace the cortisol. In some cases the dose will be increased. This will enable the human body in coping with an accident, major stress like surgery, any other illness or even infections

Aldosterone, which regulates human blood pressure and level of sodium, can be replaced with the prescription of Fludrocortisone.

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