Addison's Disease

• What is Addison's disease?
• How does Addison's disease occur?
• What is cortisol?
• How is cortisol regulated?
• What is aldosterone?
• What causes Addison's disease?
• Primary adrenal insufficiency
• Polyendocrine deficiency syndrome
• Tuberculosis
• Other causes
• Secondary adrenal insufficiency
• What are the signs and symptoms of Addison's disease?
• How is Addison's disease diagnosed?
• How is Addison's disease treated?
• Surgery
• Pregnancy?
• Patient education
• For more information
• Patient Discussions: Addison's Disease - Symptoms At Onset Of Disease

Featured Addison's disease patient discussions on symptoms at the onset of your disease "At the onset of my Addison’s disease, I experienced confusion with an inability to use common sense. I had extreme tiredness, sleeping 15 to 20 hours each day, with muscle weakness, irrational mood swings, sores in my mouth and sensitive gums" "At the on-set of my Addison's Disease I felt like I was coming down with the flu. I had lost about 20 pounds without trying. Could not stand for very long periods of time - as I felt like I would pass out or faint. When I first went to the doctor he diagnosed me with depression. Within 3 days of the depression diagnosis I was in the hospital, I first had an Angiogram, and some various x-rays. After two days in the hospital I was diagnosed and in Addison’s crisis. Spent a total of 5 days in the hospital, however have been great since that was 3 years ago at the age of 41." "I am a male age 56. I have had this disease for 20 years. When I first was told I had Addison's, I was very sick could not keep anything down, I lost a lot of weight I could not stand up or I would pass out, I was told about four months before I had a rare thyroid disease and was being treated for that then I came down with Addison's after that. Everything seems to going fine I have just a few upsets a year. I lead a normal life" Read All Comments on Addison's Disease » Top Searched Addison's Disease Terms: symptoms, what is addison's disease, treatment, jaw pain, hypothyroidism, cushing's disease, cortisol, grave's disease, acromegaly Patient Discussions are not a substitute for professional medical advice, or treatment. See the disclaimer at the bottom of the comments page.

What is Addison's disease?

Addison's disease is an endocrine or hormonal disorder that occurs in all age groups and afflicts men and women equally. The disease is characterized by weight loss, muscle weakness, fatigue, low blood pressure, and sometimes darkening of the skin in both exposed and nonexposed parts of the body.

How does Addison's disease occur?

Addison's disease occurs when the adrenal glands do not produce enough of the hormone cortisol and, in some cases, the hormone aldosterone. The disease is also called adrenal insufficiency, or hypocortisolism.

What is cortisol?

Cortisol is normally produced by the adrenal glands, located just above the kidneys. It belongs to a class of hormones called glucocorticoids, which affect almost every organ and tissue in the body. Scientists think that cortisol has possibly hundreds of effects in the body. Cortisol's most important job is to help the body respond to stress. Among its other vital tasks, cortisol:

• helps maintain blood pressure and heart function
• helps slow the immune system's inflammation response
• helps balance the effects of insulin in breaking down sugar for energy
• helps regulate the metabolism of proteins, carbohydrates, and fats
• helps maintain proper arousal and sense of well-being

How is cortisol regulated?

Because cortisol is so vital to health, the amount of cortisol produced by the adrenals is precisely balanced. Like many other hormones, cortisol is regulated by the brain's hypothalamus and the pituitary gland, a bean-sized organ at the base of the brain. First, the hypothalamus sends "releasing hormones" to the pituitary gland. The pituitary responds by secreting hormones that regulate growth and thyroid and adrenal function, and sex hormones such as estrogen and testosterone. One of the pituitary's main functions is to secrete ACTH (adrenocorticotropin), a hormone that stimulates the adrenal glands. When the adrenals receive the pituitary's signal in the form of ACTH, they respond by producing cortisol. Completing the cycle, cortisol then signals the pituitary to lower secretion of ACTH.

Addison's Disease - Symptoms At Onset Of Disease

The MedicineNet physician editors ask:

The symptoms of addison's disease can vary greatly from patient to patient. What were your symptoms at the onset of your disease?

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