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Addison's Disease

Coutii Healthy - Addison's disease is damage to the adrenal gland so that it does not produce sufficient hormones to the body. The adrenal glands sit above the kidneys and consist of two parts: the outer layer (cortex) and the inner layer (medulla). Cortex in the adrenal gland function producing hormones, including cortisol and steroid aldosterone, which has an important function in maintaining the balance of salt and fluids of the body. In Addison's disease, the adrenal glands produce cortisol hormones are just a little bit as well as hormones aldosteron. If this condition is left without treatment, Addison's disease can harm the body.

Addison's disease - coutii healthy

The disease belongs to this rare man or woman may suffer from a wide range of ages, however more is found in women aged 30-50 years.

Symptoms Of Addison's Disease

Symptoms of Addison's disease is difficult to detect at first because the symptoms are similar to other health disorders. The early symptoms can be:


  • Fatigue and less vibrant.
  • Drowsiness.
  • The muscles become weak.
  • The mood is not good or easily upset.
  • Missing or decreased appetite, so that weight loss occurs.
  • Frequent urination.
  • Thirst increased.
  • The desire of eating salty foods.

Symptoms of Addison's disease may develop gradually within the next few months. These symptoms include:


  • Skin color became more black (hyperpigmentation).
  • Decreased blood sugar levels (hypoglycemia).
  • Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.
  • Pain in the stomach.
  • Low blood pressure.
  • Hair loss.
  • Depression.
  • Sexual dysfunction in women.
  • Menstrual cycle messed up or got no menstruation, as well as delay puberty in adolescent women.

Symptoms can appear even worse if Addison's disease is not resolved properly, so that triggered the crisis or acute adrenal failed Addison. Symptoms of Addison's crisis include:


  • Skin rash.
  • Pain in the back, abdomen, or legs.
  • Severe diarrhea and vomiting that triggers the dehydration.
  • High blood potassium levels (hiperkalemia) with low blood sodium levels (hiponatremia).
  • Very low blood pressure.
  • Sweating.
  • Heart beat becomes faster.
  • The skin becomes pale, cold, and wet,
  • Muscle weakness.
  • My breath became short and fast.
  • Decreased consciousness.

Addison's crisis is an emergency condition requiring immediate medical handling. This crisis can cause coma and permanent brain damage if belatedly overcome.

The Cause Of Addison's Disease


Addison's disease occurs when the cortex of the adrenal glands have been damaged, these conditions have an impact on the production of cortisol hormone disruption and aldosteron produced by the adrenal glands. The cortex produces steroid hormones which consists of glucocorticoid and androgen hormones, as well as mineralokortikoid. The following is the usefulness of these hormones:


  • Mineralokortikoid. One of them is aldosteron, serves to maintain the balance of sodium and potassium levels to keep the blood pressure to normal.
  • Androgens. This hormone diporduksi to sexual development in males, and influenced the development of muscle mass, libido, as well as comfort in men and women.
  • Glucocorticoid. A group of hormones glucocorticoids, including cortisol, affects the body's ability in changing food into energy, as well as play a role in the body's immune system to respond to inflammation and stress.

Based on the cause, there are two types of Addison's disease, adrenal insufficiency, namely primary and secondary adrenal insufisisiensi.


  • Insufiensi adrenal insufficiency or Addison's disease is primerprimer that results from damage to the cortex in the adrenal gland so that it does not produce adequate amounts of hormones. The most frequent cause of this condition is an autoimmune disease, in which the body's immune system considers the adrenal cortex as foreign objects and then destroyed. Other causes are:
    1. Infection in the adrenal glands, including tuberculosis.
    2. The spread of cancer to the adrenal glands.
    3. Amyloidosis, i.e. the buildup of protein produced bone marrow cells that damage the adrenal glands.
    4. Of post-operative adrenal gland (adrenalektomi).
    5. Adrenoleukodistrofi (ALD), a genetic disease which affects the adrenal glands and nerve cells in the brain.
    6. The side effects of treatment for Cushing's syndrome.


  • Secondary adrenal Insufiensi, is a condition that is caused by disorders of the pituitary gland or hypophysis, is usually the result of a tumor. The pituitary gland is under the functioning of the brain and regulates the production of hormones of the adrenal glands. In addition, secondary adrenal insufiensi can also be triggered by the discontinuation of corticosteroid therapy is suddenly in people with chronic diseases, such as asthma or arthritis.


If the above conditions are not dealt with quickly, it will trigger the onset of the crisis or acute adrenal failed Addison. This crisis can also be triggered by an injury, infection, disease, or severe dehydration. Some factors that can increase the risk of occurrence of Addison crisis are:


  • A history of suffering from Addison's disease.
  • Of post-operative adrenal glands.
  • Experiencing damage to the pituitary gland.
  • Not taking any medication for Addison's disease in
  • Dehydrated.
  • Experience physical trauma or stress.

 The Diagnosis Of Addison's Disease

After knowing the symptoms and complaints history experienced by the patient, the doctor will detect the Addison's disease by observing the condition of the skin, including skin hyperpigmentation marks on elbow area, hands, and lips. In addition, blood pressure will also be examined to find out whether the patient has low blood pressure (hypotension).

To ensure the diagnosis, the doctor may perform a series of ancillary tests such as:


  • Blood tests. This test is done to find out blood sugar levels, sodium, potassium, cortisol, the hormone, adrenocorticotropic and aldosteron (ACTH) which is a hormone that is produced the pituitary gland. Aldosteron hormone levels and low blood sugar and high ACTH hormone can be a sign of someone suffering from Addison's disease. Blood tests are also performed to find out the number of antibodies that could be the cause of the occurrence of autoimmune conditions on Addison's disease.
  • ACTH stimulation test. This test is done to find out the levels of the hormone cortisol in the blood before and after synthetic ACTH is injected. This test will show damage to the adrenal glands if after injection of synthetic ACTH, cortisol hormone levels are low.
  • Tests of thyroid hormone. In Addison's disease, thyroid gland work in producing the hormone will also be affected. The thyroid gland produces thyroid hormone, which played an important role in controlling the growth and metabolism of the body.
  • Imaging. Examination of imaging, such as CT scan or MRI, done to know the size of the adrenal gland that is not normal, as well as abnormalities in the pituitary gland or hypophysis, in order to find out the cause of adrenal insufficiency.
  • Insulin induced hypoglycemia test. This test is usually done when the suspected existence of secondary adrenal insufficiency is caused by disorders of the pituitary gland. Insulin induced hypoglycemia test done by checking blood sugar levels and hormone cortisol after insulin is injected. A healthy person should have a low blood sugar levels and increased cortisol after given insulin.

Addison's Disease Treatment

Addison's disease can be addressed through hormone therapy to replace the amount of steroid hormone is reduced and could not be produced on the body. Here is a selection of terapinya:


  • Corticosteroid tablets. A drug that is used to replace cortisol is prednison or hydrocortisone. While the fludrocortisone used to replace aldosteron.
  • Corticosteroid injection. Usually given to Addison's disease sufferers who experience symptoms of vomiting and could not drink of the corticosteroid tablets.

The hormone replacement drug generally above does not cause any side effects, unless granting the dose is too high. Side effects that may occur are osteoporosis, mood swings, and insomnia. While in the case of Addison's crisis, handling should be done is to give physicians an infusion solution via vascular vein. The given solution include sugar (dextrose) and salt (saline).

During the treatment, sufferers of Addison's disease need to checked myself regularly every 6 months or 1 year so doctors can monitor the progression of the condition, as well as adjust the dose of medication when needed.

Some steps that can be done by Addison's disease sufferers to avoid emergency situations is making sure drugs are available nearby. It is to minimize the risk of forgetting to take medication that sufferers can aggravate the condition. ...

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