subject: All About Addison's Disease [print this page] All About Addison's Disease All About Addison's Disease
What Is Addison's Disease?
Addison's disease occurs when the adrenal glands are no longer capable of producing hormones. The adrenal glands are located about the kidneys and are the ones responsible for producing cortisol hormones, and to some extent, aldosterone. These hormones are essential to the organs in the body to be able to function well.
The cortisolhormones are called the stress coping hormones. When stress sets in due to illness, childbirth, injury or other physical disorders, the adrenal glands release cortisol hormones to aid in coping with stress. Aldosterone on the other hand stabilizes the blood pressure and keeps the salt the body needs.
Typically, a chain reaction of hormones dictate the adrenal glands to produce cortisol at increased levels to cope with stress. From the hypothalamus of the brain, the CRH or the corticotropin-releasing hormones are released, instructing the pituitary glands to produce another hormones called adrenocorticotropic hormone or ACTH. In turn, the ACTH directs the adrenal glands to produce cortisol. So when the adrenal glands are damaged and cannot produce cortisol, Addison's disease occurs.
Factos Causing Addison's Disease
Addison's disease can strike any age group. The occurrence Addison's disease happens when the hormone producing part of the adrenal glands are immobilized or damaged by the body's immune system. Usually, adrenal glands are predisposed to damage or injury by:- bacterial and fungal infections of vital body organs such as the lungs (tuberculosis), HIV (affecting the immune sytem)- when the person is subjected to surgery or radiation- cancer spreading to the adrenal glands- heavy medications such as the use of ketoconazole- profuse blood flowing into the adrenal glands due to the use of blood thinners- if the person abruptly stops intake of steroid medicinesWhat Are The Symptoms?People afflicted with Addison's disease manifest the following common symptoms:- Easily gets tired/heavily exhausted/fatigue.- Lethargic and Weak- Unexplainable weight lossOther symptoms associated with Addison's disease are:- Skin darkening beyond the normal- Extreme loss of appetite- Vomiting- Bloated stomach- Nausea and vomiting- Unsteady and dizziness- Excessive craving for saltA diabetic who suffers from Addison's disease may experience frequent and severe low blood sugar.The symptoms usually occur slowly and unnoticeable. They build up when the person is under heavy stress at a trauma, undergoes surgery, severely infected or when dehydrated. This stage is called adrenal crisis, wherein the adrenal glands are no longer capable of producing enough cortisol to fight stress. In some instances, the disease is already at a more advanced stage during adrenal crisis.During adrenal crisis, the symptoms are more severe such as the following:- vomiting and diarrhea- extreme pain in the stomach, lower back and lower limbs-hay fever- sudden fatigue and weakness are felt- uncontrollable restlessness or extremely lethargicIf these symptoms are highly manifested, treatment must be administered immediately. If not treated, a sudden and sharp decline in the blood pressure can cause shock, which can eventually lead to death.Diagnosing Addison's DiseaseIt would be very helpful to see a doctor for an evaluation and diagnosis of Addison's disease. The procedures that the doctor may conduct are:- Ask for your medical history and if you experience the symptoms associated with the disease. The doctor needs information related to genetics, illnesses or diseases in the past or - other infections you have had;- A physical exam will be done by the doctor - checking the color of your skin, blood pressure is below the normal, and dehydration.- He/She will also order laboratory tests specifically blood tests to check the potassium or sodium levels, cortisol and ACTH levels as well, which can be the prognosis of the disease.If after the lab tests, a concrete diagnosis isn't clear, an ACTH stimulation test will be requested by the doctor. The test will help determine your hormonal level in reacting to stress. The ensuing procedure is to give you an ACTH man-made form to determine if your adrenal glands are functioning well and producing enough cortisol. Additional tests will be given to get an exact impression or diagnosis as to whether or not you are suffering from Addison's disease or other health problems.Furthermore, an imaging test like MRI will be suggested once the problematic area has been identified. If your tests and symptoms strongly manifest Addison's disease, your doctor may begin treatment immediately, most likely before the lab results are out. However, should the results turn out to be negative from the disease, treatment may be discontinued.Treatment Of Addison's DiseaseA person has Addison's disease is required to take medicines for a lifetime. This is to substitute for the body's inability to make its own cortisol and aldosterone. However, he/she may be prescribed with only one type of medicine or in some cases, more. The dosage may need to be increased at times of illness or stress. In addition, the body salt intake will likewise be increased especially when the person perspires to replace lost salt. For those who are suffering adrenal crisis, hospital treatment is required.Management Coping And ManagingHow do you manage life with Addison's disease?Having Addison's disease can be traumatic and dreadful to many people. Thinking through it may be worse. Given the right attitude towards the disease and having the appropriate disease management system, one can still achieve a longer and healthy life. Basically, it is important to obtain treatment and strictly follow doctor's orders.Managing the disease can start at your own home by doing some things to help you:- Follow exactly the instructions of your doctor in relation to medicine intake.- Salt should not be restricted in your diet.- If you experience adrenal crisis, don't delay help. Always have your emergency medicine on hand, where ever you are. Know the right time and proper way of administering medicine. It would be good to write down doctor's instructions and medicine administration directions or have someone else whom you can teach to administer the medicine, in case you can't do it yourself.- It would be very advantageous to you if you wear a medical alert bracelet to make it easy for health professionals to know when to give you cortisol in case your are ill or injured and you are restricted from talking yourself.- Learn how to manage and deal with your illness or stress and be ready at all times to face it. Consult your doctor if you need to increase your medicine dosage in times of illness or stress. For severe signs of infection, see your doctor at once.http://www.articlesbase.com/diseases-and-conditions-articles/all-about-addisons-disease-3576206.html
