Addison's Disease: Causes, Symptoms And Treatment

Addison's disease can be a common ailment in people. It happens when the adrenal glands are not producing a sufficient amount of steroid hormones. This kind of production can be found through medical imaging and blood tests. This disease has got this name from Thomas Addison, the famous doctor who found the malaria disease. The disease can be cured through provision of hormones like oral hydrocortisone to the patient.

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There can be many causes of this disease which include dysgeensis which means an inadequate formation of the gland and the production can't happen normally. Sometimes, steroidgenesis can also cause this disease which means inability of the adrenal glands to produce cortisol.

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This disease is caused due to the lack of this hormone only. Since the symptoms don't reveal themselves easily, this ailment can't be detected so easily however the patient may experience some symptoms like fatigue, fever and weight loss. Patients also suffer from low energy while standing up and hence don't find it easy to do so. Individuals also develop a desire for consuming salt foods because sodium gets washed out of the urine. So, salt which is rich sources of sodium can fulfill their desires. The patients also experience some tanning of the skin because the inability of the glands causes hyperpigmentauon which manifests as tanning.

Low blood pressure is caused when some tries to stand up. There can be many causes of this disease which include impaired steriodogeneis. It's because the adrenal gland needs cholesterol for producing steroid hormones. But, lack of cholesterol causes an impairment of steroid production. The lack of cholesterol to the adrenal gland can be caused by abetalipoproteinemia and Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome.

The disease can be treated by introducing cortisone in the body. So, the hormones can be introduced in the form of tablets. The regime as to be strictly followed and it can be there for a lifetime also. Sometimes, the injections of such cortisones can also be increased when the patient is pregnant or is suffering from a kind of trauma. In fact, such doses also need to be more when a person has become infected. It's important that the patients of this disease have the cortisone injections so that they can be cured if they become injured. They should also have some identification tag so that someone else can know that they have the disease if they become unconscious. So, the tag lets someone know that the patient needs a cortisone injection. This tag can also have the telephone number and name of the relative. The best forms of cure are needle, cortisol and syringe. Sometimes, during stress, patients need more medication and they should be aware of the process.

Sometimes, patients who suffer from this ailment also experience vomiting. They can't be administered tablets of oral hydrocortisone, so they have to take injections. Sometimes, attention by doctors is required when vomiting or diarrhea starts happening due to this ailment.

Addison's Disease: Causes, Symptoms And Treatment

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Addison's Disease in Dogs

Addison's disease is an uncommon disease where there is not enough of a production of stress hormone by the adrenal glands. This can be caused by a wide number of things like infections, tumors, or toxic drugs. But most commonly an autoimmune reaction in which the body tries to destroy the adrenal gland is at fault.

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While less stress hormone production might seem like a good think, a certain amount is needed for the body to function properly. Excessive stress hormone production leads to a condition known as Cushing's disease.

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Addison's disease can also be caused by trying to treat other diseases as well and this is an unwanted side effect affecting the adrenal glands. For example trying to treat Cushing's disease.

Some common symptoms of Addison's disease in dogs include muscle weakness, vomiting, and diarrhea, lethargy, and a very slow pulse. Also dogs that have this condition collapse sometimes as well.

Diagnosis is usually done with a simple blood test, called an ACTH stimulation test. Treatment usually involves giving intravenous fluids and corticosteroids as well. If it is a chronic condition sometimes giving daily cortisone can help correct the dog symptoms.

Treatment is almost always a lifelong ordeal and the dog's dosage level must must always be tailored to the symptoms that your dog is expressing.

Like any other disease, early diagnoses can lead to a better prognosis. If Addison's disease is caused as a side effect from another drug being given, the cure is simple, just stop giving the drug.

Addison's Disease in Dogs

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Addisons Disease Causes Symptoms Information With Treatment

Addison's disease (chronic adrenal insufficiency) is a rare and progressive disorder that affects between one and six in every 100,000 people. It occurs in all age groups and afflicts men and women equally. Addison's disease is caused by the inability of the adrenal glands to make sufficient amounts of regulating hormones. The adrenal cortex (the outer part) also produces important hormones, the corticosteroids.

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Classical Addison's disease results from a loss of both cortisol and aldosterone secretion due to the near total or total destruction of both adrenal glands. These glands form part of the endocrine system, which works with the nervous system and the immune system to help the body cope with different events and stresses. It helps maintain blood pressure and water and salt balance in the body by helping the kidney retain sodium and excrete potassium.

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When aldosterone production falls too low, the kidneys are not able to regulate salt and water balance, causing blood volume and blood pressure to drop. If ACTH is deficient, there will not be enough cortisol produced, although aldosterone may remain adequate. This is secondary adrenal insufficiency, which is distinctly different, but similar to Addison's disease, since both include a loss of cortisol secretion.

Causes of Addison's Disease

The common Causes of Addison's Disease:

The immune system mistakenly attacking the gland (autoimmune disease)

Use of blood-thinning drugs (anticoagulants)

Infections such as tuberculosis , HIV, or fungal infections.

Invasion of the adrenal glands by cancer cells from another part of the body.

Tumors.

Chronic infections, such as fungal infections.

Hemorrhage, blood loss.

The symptoms of Addison's disease are caused by the failure of the adrenal glands, seated above the kidneys, to produce enough of the hormone cortisol and, in some cases, the hormone aldosterone.

Symptoms of Addison's Disease

Some Symptoms of Addison's Disease:

Muscle weakness.

Depression

Irritability

Chronic fatigue that gradually worsens.

Weight loss and loss of appetite

Nausea , diarrhea , or vomiting

Dehydration.

Dysphagia (difficulty swallowing)

Polyuria

Increased number of eosinophils.

Restlessness

Treatment of Addison's Disease

Medications to replace the hormones cortisol and aldosterone. Hydrocortisone is often used because it can function like both of these hormones. If another medication is used instead of hydrocortisone (such as prednisolone, methylprednisolone, or dexamethasone), you also will need a medication that can function like aldosterone (usually fludrocortisone). You will need a higher dose of medication during childbirth; when you have an injury, surgery, or a serious infection; or during severe stress, such as the death of a loved one.

Increasing salt in the diet. Because people with adrenal failure tend to lose sodium, you will need extra salt (sodium chloride) in your diet, especially during hot and humid weather and vigorous exercise. However, because people with Addison's disease retain potassium, you need to avoid salt substitutes, which usually contain potassium chloride salts.

Regular medical checkups to monitor symptoms and blood pressure. Your health professional also may need to do lab tests to evaluate and monitor blood levels of potassium, sodium, and cortisol.

Addisons Disease Causes Symptoms Information With Treatment

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