Addison’s Disease
What is the life expectancy of Addison’s disease? All the information about its symptoms, causes, treatments, and prognosis.
Symptoms and Causes
Addison’s disease causes adrenal insufficiency, meaning the body produces a lower amount of certain hormones. As a result, affected individuals show a darker skin tone, anemia, and severe fatigue.
This type of insufficiency affects the adrenal glands, located at the top of the kidneys, specifically the cortex, which produces cortisol, aldosterone, and androgens or estrogens depending on gender. The underproduction of these substances negatively affects glucose control, immune system response, blood pressure, sexual development, and the balance of sodium and potassium.
It is common for this condition to progress slowly and not show symptoms until a stressful experience (an accident, injury, or illness) leads to a worsening. When experiencing an Addison’s crisis, which is a sudden manifestation of symptoms like weakness, abdominal pain, vomiting, hypotension, dehydration, or delirium, immediate treatment is required.
Although if not detected in time it poses a serious risk to life, when treated appropriately, the prognosis for Addison’s disease is favorable, and patients can lead a normal life.
Symptoms
Some of the main symptoms of Addison’s disease include:
- Hypoglycemia.
- Hypotension.
- Extreme fatigue.
- Darkened skin.
- Anemia.
- Depression.
- Irritability.
- Loss of appetite and, consequently, weight loss.
- Diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting.
- Abdominal pain.
Causes
The causes of Addison’s disease are varied. Depending on the affected organs, two different types are distinguished:
- Primary adrenal insufficiency: The adrenal cortex stops functioning properly as a result of an infection, bleeding, cancer, or tuberculosis.
- Secondary adrenal insufficiency: There is an alteration in the functioning of the pituitary gland, which is responsible for producing the adrenocorticotropic hormone that regulates the activity of the adrenal glands. It can be due to a condition or the sudden discontinuation of corticosteroid use rather than tapering off as recommended.
Risk Factors
Addison’s disease can affect all kinds of people, but the risk increases among those with other autoimmune disorders such as thyroiditis, hyperthyroidism, hypopituitarism, hypoparathyroidism, vitiligo, or type 1 diabetes.
Complications
The main complication of this condition is that symptoms may appear suddenly and lead to an Addison’s crisis. In some cases, those affected may also suffer from other autoimmune diseases.
Prevention
Addison’s disease cannot be prevented. Once diagnosed, it is advisable to attend regular check-ups or consult a doctor if fatigue increases or vomiting occurs, to avoid a crisis.
What doctor treats Addison’s disease?
Addison’s disease is diagnosed and treated by endocrinologists.
Diagnosis
In addition to studying the clinical history and symptoms, to diagnose Addison’s disease, tests such as the following are commonly used:
- Blood tests: To check levels of adrenocorticotropic hormone, cortisol, sodium, and potassium.
- Hormonal stimulation test: Cortisol levels are measured after an injection of adrenocorticotropic hormone to see how the adrenal glands respond.
- Hypoglycemia test: To determine if the disease is caused by a pituitary failure. This is done by monitoring blood glucose after an insulin injection.
Treatment
The treatment for Addison’s disease involves hormone replacement therapy. Typically, corticosteroids are used to replace cortisol or aldosterone. It is important not to skip any doses to ensure the body functions properly and avoid compromising health.
