Addison’s Disease
Thursday, February 26, 2004Addison’s disease is a condition that is caused by a deficiency in hormones produced by the adrenal gland. Dr. Ken Davis discusses this rare disease and its effects in today’s Sixty Second Housecall.
Addison's disease is a rare endocrine or hormonal disorder that affects about 1 in 100,000 people. It occurs in all age groups and afflicts men and women equally. Addison's disease occurs when the adrenal glands do not produce enough of the hormone cortisol, and in some cases, the hormone aldosterone.
Cortisol is normally produced by the adrenal glands, located just above the kidneys. 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. Aldosterone helps maintain blood pressure, water and salt balance in the body by helping the kidney retain sodium and excrete potassium.
Symptoms of the disease include weight loss, muscle weakness, fatigue, low blood pressure, and sometimes darkening of the skin in both exposed and non-exposed parts of the body. Addison's disease can cause irritability and depression.
Treatment of Addison's disease involves replacing, or substituting, the hormones that the adrenal glands are not making.
For more information on this and other health topics, join us online at wtva.com and click on Sixty Second Housecall. For North Mississippi Medical Center, I’m Dr. Ken Davis.