When you have Addison’s disease, your body doesn’t make enough cortisol and aldosterone. These hormones are responsible for maintaining your blood pressure, blood sugar and potassium levels. They also help to keep your immune system healthy and balance the effects of insulin.
Your symptoms may vary from person to person, but some of the most common ones are fatigue, weight loss, muscle weakness, and low blood pressure. In rare cases, you might develop an adrenal crisis, a medical emergency that occurs when your body doesn’t make enough of the hormones it needs to function properly.
If you’re suffering from these symptoms, see a doctor. They can diagnose Addison’s disease and prescribe medication that will help to restore the levels of the hormones your body needs to function normally.
Symptoms of Addison’s can appear suddenly and are often mistaken for other medical problems. They are particularly common among people with other autoimmune diseases and can include nausea, vomiting and darkened skin.
The condition is usually diagnosed after a series of tests. Your doctor may test your blood for hormone and mineral levels and ask questions about your health and family history. They may also take a sample of your adrenal gland for testing.
You might have a physical examination and a blood test to check for levels of sodium, potassium and cortisol. Your doctor may also perform an x-ray, CT or MRI scan to look at your adrenal glands. You might be given contrast liquid to help the pictures show better.
Your doctor can also test your blood for a hormone called renin that is produced in your kidney. If you have this, your levels of aldosterone, the hormone that makes it easier for your body to hold onto salt and water, are lower than normal.
When your renin level drops too low, you can get an adrenal crisis (also known as an Addisonian crisis). This is a sudden decrease in the amount of cortisol your body is making.
This causes your blood pressure to drop, your sugar level to drop and your potassium level to rise. It can be very dangerous if it’s not treated quickly.
During an Addisonian crisis, you might be dizzy or lightheaded, feel weak and tired, have trouble concentrating, sweat a lot, have abdominal pain, or experience nausea or vomiting. You might also have a high fever or lose consciousness.
Other signs of an Addisonian crisis are a fast heart rate, difficulty breathing or coughing, and sweating. Your doctor will also try to stop these symptoms as quickly as possible by giving you medicine to reduce the cortisol production in your body.
The symptoms of Addison’s can be painful and disabling if they aren’t treated soon after they start. They can also interfere with your daily activities and even cause serious, life-threatening complications.
You can get Social Security Disability Insurance if you have Addison’s disease and aren’t able to work. Getting this type of coverage can be challenging, but it is a great way to provide financial relief during the difficult times that are common with Addison’s disease.
