{"id":1407,"date":"2018-04-24T09:24:29","date_gmt":"2018-04-24T09:24:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/besthealth.guide\/?p=1407"},"modified":"2021-10-04T14:57:03","modified_gmt":"2021-10-04T14:57:03","slug":"12-addisons-disease-symptoms-you-shouldnt-overlook","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/besthealth.guide\/12-addisons-disease-symptoms-you-shouldnt-overlook\/","title":{"rendered":"12 Addison’s Disease Symptoms You Shouldn’t Overlook"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Addison’s disease is an autoimmune condition where the body’s immune system erroneously attacks the adrenal glands degrading the external layer. The condition occurs in only about 1-person per 100,000 but happens at all age levels in men and women. Addison’s disease develops when the adrenal glands produce too little cortisol and inadequate levels of aldosterone, severely impacting your health. The adverse condition is often confused with adrenal insufficiency and if left untreated, can be life-threatening.<\/p>\n

The adrenal glands are positioned just above the kidneys. When these organs are damaged, it affects your endocrine system, disrupting hormone production. Hormones are vital and used to signal instructions to every tissue and organ in the body. The interior of your adrenal glands, known as the medulla, generate adrenaline hormones while the outer layer, known as the cortex, produces corticosteroids. Certain corticosteroids, glucocorticoids, and mineralocorticoids are essential for life.<\/p>\n

Treatment for Addison’s disease requires hormone replacement therapy to balance the body\u2019s levels of adrenaline and return to a healthy baseline level. Here are 12 signs of Addison\u2019s disease, if you display any of the symptoms, consult with a medical professional.<\/p>\n

1. Feeling Tired All the Time<\/h3>\n

Feeling fatigued is a terrible mental and physiological state in which to live. It\u2019s challenging trying to keep your eyes open when all you want to do is fall asleep on your feet. Chronic exhaustion is the most noticeable and incapacitating symptom of Addison\u2019s disease.<\/p>\n

Diminished production of adrenaline-like hormones in the medulla area of the adrenal gland<\/a> takes its toll on your energy levels. A sensation of mental numbness is frequently used to describe the feeling of extreme fatigue felt by people living with Addison\u2019s. Life eventually becomes laborious, and you may find it challenging to handle emotions of joy and happiness.<\/p>\n

Fatigue can be treated by a medical professional using HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy). Your doctor administers medication to deliver exogenous hormones, such as cortisol and corticosteroids, to artificially restore hormone levels in the blood. The treatment shows an immediate effect, but you may need to wait for a few weeks to feel fully restored.<\/p>\n

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2. Decreased Appetite and Weight Loss<\/h3>\n

The dysfunction of the adrenal glands due to Addison\u2019s disease has a profound effect on your appetite and body weight. With less adrenaline available for energy demands, metabolism slows down to a near standstill.<\/p>\n

Your body goes into a sort of survival mode where it conserves as much energy as possible for metabolic function and to keep your vital organs working. The production of ghrelin<\/a>, the hunger hormone, is suppressed and the body no longer experiences feelings of hunger.<\/p>\n

As the weeks go by, the calorie deficit between your food intake and metabolic energy demand begins to strip away body fat and muscle to obtain a fuel source. It\u2019s possible for people living with Addison\u2019s to lose ten to twenty pounds of body weight in just a month or two. Once you have begun treatment for Addison\u2019s, the medications will restore the hormone balance in your body. Ghrelin production improves, and your appetite steadily returns.<\/p>\n

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3. Low Blood Sugar<\/h3>\n

Hypoglycemia<\/a> is a dangerous condition that causes low blood sugar levels. If left untreated, hypoglycemia can create a blackout or a seizure that may be life-threatening. If you experience frequent periods of sweating, shakiness, weakness, and hunger, then you are probably feeling the mild effects of hypoglycemic shock.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s critical to treat low blood sugar levels as quickly as possible to ensure you don\u2019t faint. Fainting can result in a nasty fall that can injure your head or other vital organs. Eating a sugary snack will quickly dissipate the symptoms of low blood sugar.<\/p>\n

Cortisol counteracts insulin increasing blood sugar levels. Addison\u2019s disease decreases cortisol production, exposing the body to hypoglycemia. A full blood work panel can be screened to analyze the health of your kidneys and liver.<\/p>\n

Hypoglycemia is directly linked to liver disease and can also present symptoms of serious health disorders such as kidney or liver tumors, diabetes, pre-diabetes, and hypothyroidism.<\/p>\n

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4. Low Blood Pressure<\/h3>\n

Addison\u2019s disease creates endocrine complications with the production of vital hormones used to control blood pressure. Low blood pressure can result in symptoms of nausea, lightheadedness, dizzy spells, and even fainting<\/a>. In some cases, people with Addison\u2019s disease may have low blood pressure that is dangerous and requires medication for treatment.<\/p>\n

Dehydration is also a concern for people living with Addison\u2019s. Losing more water than you take in will eventually create countless health problems. Even mild dehydration can produce dizziness, weakness, and fatigue while reducing energy levels by up to 60%. When in a dehydrated state you may experience intense bouts of thirst that are difficult to satiate, no matter how much water you drink.<\/p>\n

Severe signs of dehydration include a lack of concentration, shallow and rapid breathing, cold and clammy skin, as well as blurred vision and foggy thoughts. Keep a journal and log your symptoms of Addison\u2019s, including any experiences of low blood pressure.<\/p>\n

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5. Nausea, Vomiting or Diarrhea<\/h3>\n

Nausea is the urge to vomit. The feeling can be short-lived or prolonged depending on the cause of the sensation. Prolonged bouts of nausea, such as seasickness, can be debilitating. Nausea originates from a disorder in the brain or the organs of the upper GI tract. Diseases to organs and glands outside of the gastrointestinal system, such as Addison\u2019s, also contribute to feelings of nausea.<\/p>\n

The hormonal deficiencies in the body during the early stages of adrenal dysfunction can initiate feelings of nausea. It is also possible to induce the condition with specific odors and fragrances. The sense of smell changes when cortisol levels are too low. Reactions in the gut to displeasing smells will start a chain reaction creating feelings of nausea.<\/p>\n

You can expect bouts of nausea to strike in the late afternoon and evening. Cortisol<\/a> levels are highest in the morning during the initial stages of Addison\u2019s disease.<\/p>\n

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6. Pain in the Joints and Muscles<\/h3>\n

The muscular and skeletal systems also experience disorders stemming from the development of Addison\u2019s disease. Cortisol is responsible for regulating levels of inflammation in the body. When the adrenal glands limit hormone production, symptoms of the inflammatory disease manifest.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s quite common for medical professionals to misdiagnose muscular and skeletal pain as the symptom of other diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis or fibromyalgia<\/a>. Visit your medical health provider and ask them to perform a joint stress test on you along with a trigger point test. These tests can be slightly painful as the doctor flexes your stiff and dry joints.<\/p>\n

If you are experiencing joint and muscular issues along with other symptoms of Addison\u2019s such as fatigue or dizziness, speak to your doctor. Arrange a blood panel test for adrenal fatigue and Addison\u2019s disease. Supplement your diet with extra calcium and magnesium. These nutrients promote cell communication and new cell generation, strengthening bones and sinew.<\/p>\n

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7. Irritability and Mood Swings<\/h3>\n

Hormone deficiency can make you feel like a completely different person physically, and mentally. Aberrant behavior, mood swings, and feelings of irritability are associated with low hormone levels. Being stuck on a hormonal rollercoaster all day long can see you turn from a happy person to a grumpy monster in just a few hours.<\/p>\n

Cortisol levels are highest in the morning during the initial stages of Addison\u2019s disease. You may find that you feel fine until midday. However, as the cortisol levels in your blood begin to nosedive in the afternoon, so does your enthusiasm with the world.<\/p>\n

Being stuck in a feedback loop of negative emotions can destroy your sense of well-being and lead to the onset of anxiety disorders and depression. Balancing your hormone levels with HRT will resolve this issue. Your doctor will prescribe medication that improves the production of cortisol and corticosteroids<\/a>, enhancing and stabilizing your mood throughout the day.<\/p>\n

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8. Abdominal Cramping<\/h3>\n

There are hundreds of causes of abdominal pain, so experiencing a tummy ache does not mean that you have Addison\u2019s disease. However, people living with Addison\u2019s disease may notice that they begin to experience frequent bouts of abdominal pain throughout the day. Once again, this symptom is easy to misdiagnose as another digestive disease or disorder such as a stomach ulcer.<\/p>\n

If you notice that you experience stomach pain along with other symptoms mentioned on this list, then it is possible that you are suffering from Addison\u2019s disease. Addison\u2019s can impact the health of the digestive tract by disrupting hormone production in the adrenal glands.<\/p>\n

If left untreated, the stomach pains could progress into the development of other gastrointestinal issues and even life-threatening conditions. Your doctor will recommend a diet free of refined carbohydrates<\/a> and rich in fibrous vegetables that sweep your GI tract clean. You can supplement your diet with probiotic formulas to protect the health of your gut.<\/p>\n

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9. Depression and Suicidal Thoughts<\/h3>\n

Hormonal imbalances can lead to depression and suicidal tendencies. Our personality is intimately related to our moods and defined by the production and use of hundreds of hormones in the body. A deficiency in any one of them can have disastrous implications for our sense of self and quality of life.<\/p>\n

Cortisol is vital for hormonal regulation and balance. Producing too much cortisol can have an adverse impact on your health as well. However, when the body does not produce enough of it, the body is unable to fight off the effects of biological inflammation. This inflammation affects the neurological<\/a> system and clouds your thoughts.<\/p>\n

The underproduction of cortisol can leave you feeling grumpy and filled with negative emotions. Your mental state can become toxic if these thoughts are left unaddressed, and symptoms of depression will begin to creep into your mind. If left undiscussed, the emotional disorder could evolve into thoughts of suicide.<\/p>\n

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10. Salt Cravings<\/h3>\n

Do you have a craving for salt? Addison\u2019s disease reduces the production of aldosterone. This hormone is responsible for the reabsorption of sodium and chloride in the body. Aldosterone also regulates the balance of sodium and chloride, as well as the concentrations of potassium<\/a> and magnesium.<\/p>\n

Low production of aldosterone will cause the body to excrete excess chloride and sodium in the urine. These minerals are crucial for neurological and physiological function. Without their presence in the body, you would not be able to access the motor cortex of the brain. The motor cortex is the part of the brain involved in planning, control, and execution of both voluntary and involuntary movement.<\/p>\n

This mineral imbalance is why people living with Addison\u2019s experience intense salt cravings, along with rapid dehydration as the minerals flush from the body. People living with Addison\u2019s should add a mineral complex supplement to their diet to mitigate the effects of mineral loss and dehydration.<\/p>\n

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11. Hair-Loss<\/h3>\n

Another strange symptom of Addison\u2019s disease sees some individuals start to lose body hair. The pubic region and armpits are most at risk of this hair-loss phenomenon. Hair loss is not just limited to body hair, in rare some people may experience loss of hair on their head as well.
\nEven more peculiar is that this symptom commonly manifests in females more than it does in men. The reason being the loss of adrenal androgens, the primary source of androgen hormones in women.<\/p>\n

While most people don\u2019t mind shedding their body and pubic hair<\/a>, losing the hair on your head can have a tremendous negative impact on your self-image, especially for women. It\u2019s possible to regrow your head hair through the use of medication and androgen replacement therapy.
\nHowever, not all women respond the same way to this therapy, and it may have unintended side-effects such as the thickening and darkening of body hair, as well as the growth of facial hair.<\/p>\n

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12. Addisonian Crisis<\/h3>\n

This term describes the biological state where the body experiences complete adrenal fatigue. An Addisonian crisis can be a life-threatening event requiring immediate medical attention. Adrenal fatigue can present sudden symptoms such as shaking, anxiety, and dizziness<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Addisonian crisis is the final stage of Addison\u2019s disease; you should do all you can to avoid falling into this hormonal state. People living with Addison\u2019s that experience frequent Addisonian crisis are at risk of developing other serious illnesses and diseases.<\/p>\n

The best course of action to take in avoiding an Addisonian crisis is to visit your doctor for a hydrocortisone shot. The injection will be administered in the upper area of the buttocks and provides immediate relief from all symptoms.<\/p>\n

Those individuals living with the advanced stages of Addison\u2019s disease may need to keep an emergency hydrocortisone shot available in a travel medical kit. A medical professional will show you how to administer the intramuscular injection by yourself safely.<\/p>\n\r\n

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