Addison’s Disease is a rare disorder where the adrenal glands, that’s located directly above the kidney, does not produce enough of the cortisol hormone. Addison’s disease can be separated into 2 sub conditions, primary adrenal insufficiency and secondary adrenal insufficiency. People with primary adrenal insufficiency suffer from both a lack of the aldosterone hormone and the cortisol hormone the adrenal glands produce. People with secondary adrenal insufficiency only suffers with a lack of cortisol. The disease is found in every age group and both sexes. Although the disease is not curable, there are treatments to help maintain the disorder. Addison’s disease is caused by the damaging of your adrenal glands. The adrenal gland is divided …show more content…
Men and women are affected by this disease equally and the disease has been found in all age groups. Luckily, treatment is available. Also, typical patients who are being treated with Addison’s disease don’t have to alter their lives too much. A typical Addison’s disease treatment involves hormone replacement due to your adrenal glands failing to produce the hormones you need. To replenish your cortisol levels, a doctor may give you corticosteroid shots if you can’t handle oral medications. You may be prescribed oral medicine called hydrocortisone to take once or twice a day to help your body go back to normal cortisol production, and to act like a synthetic glucocorticoid. If your body lacks aldosterone as well, you will receive more oral medication called fludrocortisone acetate to take once a day, and advised to increase salt intake. Normal patients suffering with secondary adrenal glands are not required to take fludrocortisone acetate, because their bodies are able to handle normal aldosterone production. If your case of Addison’s disease is severe, you may have to undergo surgery. Treatment, of course, is based off of the severity of each person’s disease. But, if you leave your Addison’s disease untreated, you may have an addisonian crisis which is caused by stress, infection, and injury/illnesses. This crisis results in low blood pressure and sugar, and high potassium levels. But, this can