Addison's Disease & Symptoms

Symptoms of Addison's disease are caused by the failure of the adrenal glands. In many cases, individuals with this illness may not know they have it because of the slow progression of the ailment. Individuals suffering from Addison's disease experience a reduction in the production of the hormones cortisol and aldosterone. Addison's disease is also sometimes called hypocortisolism and may be life threatening.

Who Is Affected?

• According to the Mayo Clinic, Addison's disease symptoms often appear in both men and women between the ages of 30 and 50. There is no specific ethnic group that is affected more frequently than another. Probably one of the most famous people to have the disease was President John F. Kennedy, who was diagnosed as a young man and was affected during his presidency. Addison's disease may limit the body's ability to cope with stress and maintain normal blood pressure.

Causes

• Addison's disease may be the result of several different causes. According to the Mayo Clinic, Addison's disease can be caused by tuberculosis or bleeding into the adrenal glands. It may also be caused by other infections of the adrenal glands or an autoimmune response in which the body's immune system attacks and damages the adrenal glands--such as in the case of systemic lupus. Another cause of Addison's may be chronic use of corticosteroids for the treatment of asthma, inflammation or other illnesses followed by an abrupt stop in taking the medication.

Common Symptoms

• According to the Mayo Clinic, common Addison's disease symptoms include muscle weakness and fatigue, decreased appetite and weight loss, darkening of the skin (hyperpigmentation), low blood pressure or fainting and a craving for salt. Other symptoms can include nausea, diarrhea, vomiting and muscle and joint pain. In many cases, irritability and depression accompany symptoms and are a primary characteristic of an oncoming attack.

Addisonian Crisis Symptoms

• Addisonian crisis, also known as adrenal failure, may be provoked in untreated Addison's disease. Symptoms can include vomiting, lower back pain, low blood pressure and the presence of high levels of potassium. This can occur as a result of injury, stress or illness according to the Mayo Clinic. As with most disorders that result in dysfunction in the production of hormones, stress can be especially problematic because it raises blood pressure and causes an increase in stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol. Stress directly affects the body systems that produce these hormones, and in patients with Addison's disease, these body systems are already disordered and diseased.

Treatments

• Treatment of Addison's disease depends upon when the illness is diagnosed and the degree to which a crisis is occurring. According to the Mayo Clinic, if diagnosed early, treatment often involves medications that replace the missing corticosteroids that the adrenal glands are not producing. Common medications include Florinef and Cortef. Prednisone is another common medication that is used in the place of Cortef and replaces the cortisol levels in the blood that the adrenal glands would naturally produce. If a person is in the midst of an addisonian crisis, immediate medical intervention usually includes intravenous saline solution, hydrocortisone and dextrose (sugar).