1. Home / 
  2. Health
  3.  / Addison’s Disease
Addison’s Disease

Addison’s Disease

Introduction to Addison’s disease

Addison’s disease is peculiar to the adrenal gland, a gland situated just above the kidney. The gland occurs in a pair and together they produce hormones and enzymes needed for specific body functions.  It is a two-layered organ. The two layers are the medulla and the cortex. The cortex is in turn subdivided into three zones:

  • glomerulosa,
  • fasciculata and
  • reticularis.

The fasciculata and reticularis zones produce two important steroid hormones namely androgens and cortisol. The glomerulosa specializes in secreting aldosterone.
Cortisol is a stress hormone. By being a stress hormone, it helps the body to adjust to stressful situations. Aldosterone is an electrolyte-controlling hormone. It is directly involved in the control of two important ions in the body’s extracellular fluid. These two ions are potassium and sodium.
Addison’s disease is an outcome of an insufficient amount of these two hormones – cortisol and androgen. It, therefore, means that damage to the adrenal cortex is damning the secretion of these two hormones.

Symptoms of Addison’s disease

Addison’s disease comes with the following symptoms:

Just like every student enrolled in a school is expected to keep advancing to another class with time, Addison’s disease when untreated can have a negative advancement. It will advance into what is called an Addisonian crisis. It is as life-threatening as touching a live wire.
If you or someone close to you should display any of the following symptoms, kindly reach out to the emergency line – 911.

The end of every untreated Addisonian crisis is shock and death.

Causes of Addison’s disease

Insufficiency of the adrenal gland! This could originate either from the gland itself or outside it. It will be called a primary insufficiency if it’s from the gland and a secondary insufficiency if it’s outside it. In primary insufficiency, the immune cells severely attack the cells of the adrenal gland for no just reason. In the process, the cells are damaged. Blood thinners, cancerous tumors, body infections, and prolonged use of glucocorticoids can also be other causes of primary insufficiency.
In secondary adrenal insufficiency, the problem is beyond the adrenal gland. It is the fault of the brain center responsible for the issuing of the command to the adrenal gland to release its hormones. That center is called the pituitary. The pituitary can’t issue a command to the adrenal gland to produce its hormones because the hormone, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), is lacking. It is lacking because the pituitary gland can’t produce it due to some damage that has been done to its tissues. Another reason why there might be a secondary insufficiency is when you fail to take prescribed corticosteroids especially if you are asthmatic.

Risk factors for Addison’s disease

You are at a huge risk if you:

  • are battling with any form of cancer
  • are taking any blood thinner (anticoagulants)
  • are having tuberculosis
  • adrenal gland surgery
  • Are having any autoimmune disease e.g. type 1 diabetes, Graves’ disease, etc.

Diagnosis of Addison’s disease

Series of questions about your health will be asked by your doctor. He is doing this so as to take your medical history. He will also ask questions about your symptoms. He will take a step further to carry out some tests on you to assess your blood sodium and potassium levels. He might insist on having a detailed view of your adrenal gland through any of the medical digital scans e.g. CT scan, MRI scan, etc.

Treatment for Addison’s disease

Having diagnosed what the actual problem is, your treatment will begin.
It is important to take all instructions given to you by the doctor regarding your treatment seriously. Don’t forget the Addisonian crisis can be an outcome of an untreated or poorly managed Addison’s disease. Addisonian crisis is characterized by hypotension, hypoglycemia, and hyper potassium blood levels.

Medications

You will need a combination of glucocorticoid medications to help stop inflammation.
You will also undergo hormone replacement therapy to replace the hormones not produced by your adrenal glands.

Home Care

You need at all times, an emergency kit by your side. Your doctor will give you an injectable corticosteroid in cases of emergencies. Personally, you might also want to keep handy, a medical alert card either as a bracelet or in your wallet. This will let others know your condition for possible help when the time arises.

Alternative Therapies

Keep it low, I mean, your stress level!
The death of a dearly loved one or even an injury can put a whole lot of stress on you. Stress on its own can have a negative impact on your medications. Meditation and yoga can be very helpful for stress relief.

Outlook

Permanent placement on medications! The good news is, hormone replacement medications, will help relieve symptoms a whole lot. You can still lead a productive life. Keep instructions regarding your medications. No skipping of any dose. Stick to the scheduled timing. Should you experience any complications in the course of taking prescribed medications, see your doctor immediately. He or she will evaluate you again and prescribe an alternative medication for you. Make it a point of duty to frequent your doctor’s office.

Recent posts