Addison's disease: Symptoms, Causes and Treatment

Addison's disease: Symptoms, Causes and Treatment

In Addison's disease, or primary adrenal insufficiency, the adrenal glands are unable to produce the required amounts of the hormones cortisol and aldosterone. Hormones are chemically active substances produced by endocrine glands that are needed to ensure the normal functioning of the body.

Cortisol is also called a stress hormone - it is released in stressful situations, causing an influx of energy and preparing the body for a response. It regulates blood pressure and blood glucose levels and reduces inflammation. Prolonged cortisol deficiency can lead to fatigue, low blood pressure and weight loss.

Aldosterone, on the other hand, is a hormone that regulates water balance in the body and ensures the metabolism of sodium and potassium. Lack of it can lead to dehydration, thickening of the blood and loss of cardiac output.

The symptoms of Addison's disease are due to a lack of cortisol and aldosterone. For some people, a lack of these hormones can cause increased pigmentation of the skin, giving it a bronze tone, so this disease is sometimes called bronchial disease.

Addison's disease can be caused by tuberculosis and other serious infectious diseases, as well as rare genetic defects, but today its most common cause is autoimmunity - the body's immune system turning against the body's own cells, tissues and secretions. Autoimmune Addison's disease occurs when the body's immune reactions cause severe damage to the adrenal cortex, preventing it from functioning normally. Unfortunately, the reasons for autoimmunity are still unclear.

Addison's disease is relatively rare and most commonly affects people around the age of 30-50, but can occur at any age. People with other autoimmune diseases have a higher risk of developing autoimmune Addison's disease.

Symptoms

Particular features of Addison's disease are increased skin pigmentation, dark gums and skin around the scars, but these symptoms are not always observed. The other symptoms of the disease are relatively non-specific and usually manifest rather gradually, so an accurate diagnosis can only be made by medical examinations.

If you experience any of the following symptoms, be sure to see a doctor!

• Increased skin pigmentation;

• Darker gums and skin around the scars;

• Constant fatigue;

• Loss of appetite;

• Slimming;

• Low blood pressure;

• Hair loss;

• Gastrointestinal disorders;

• Dizziness;

• Muscle pain;

• Mood swings;

• Irregular menstrual cycle.

Causes

• Autoimmune disorders (the immune system "attacks" the body's own cells);

• Congenital adrenal damage;

• Tuberculosis;

• HIV;

• Severe and chronic infectious diseases;

• Tumors.

Treatment

The symptoms of the disease are basically treated. Patients with Addison's disease need to take medication to replace the missing hormones. The treatment regimen is adapted to each specific case of the disease: the cause of the disease, the severity, the individual characteristics of the patient.

Addison's disease cannot be completely cured, but the patient can live a full life by following the doctor's instructions and taking the necessary medication.