This is a serious, yet very uncommon, condition where your adrenal glands (that lay on top of your kidneys) are unable to produce enough of the two key hormones, which are aldosterone and cortisol.
Cortisol helps your body respond to stresses, which can include stress around injury, surgery, or illness. It also maintains blood glucose levels, heartand immune system function, as well as blood pressure.
Meanwhile, aldosterone helps balance potassium and sodium in your blood, which controls the amount of fluid your kidneys remove as urine. This ultimately affects blood pressure and blood volume.
Addison’s Disease – Symptoms
As the damage to your adrenal glands occurs slowly, symptoms progress gradually over time. The common ones include:
- Abnormal menstrual cycles.
- Abdominal pain.
- Dehydration.
- Diarrhea.
- Depression.
- A craving for “salty” foods.
- Dizziness or lightheadedness when you stand up.
- Low blood glucose andblood pressure.
- Nausea.
- Muscle weakness.
- Sensitivity to cold.
- Irritability.
- Loss of appetite.
- Dark skin patches, especially around joints, scars, and skin folds.
- Unexplained weight loss.
- Vomiting.
- Extreme fatigue.
During a time of illness, injury, and major stress, symptoms of Addison’s disease may come on quickly. This is referred to as an Addisonian crisis, and it’s considered a medical emergency. If not treated right away, it can be fatal. Symptoms of an Addisonian crisis are:
- Dehydration.
- Extreme weakness.
- Feeling afraid, confused, restless, and other mental issues.
- High fever.
- Feeling faint.
- Having issues staying awake, or even a total loss of consciousness.
- Severe diarrhea or vomiting.
- Sudden deep pain in the belly, legs, or lower back.