What are symptoms of Addison’s disease?

Addison’s disease is a chronic condition where a person’s adrenal glands do not produce enough of the hormones cortisol and aldosterone. One of the most common symptoms of the disease is steadily worsening fatigue.

Adrenal glands, also known as suprarenal glands, are small, triangle-shaped glands located on top of each of the two kidneys, which are a part of one’s endocrine system.

Cortisol is a hormone that helps a person’s body respond to stress, including the stress of illness, injury or surgery.

It also helps maintain blood pressure, heart function, immune system and blood glucose (sugar) levels.

Aldosterone is a hormone which affects the balance of sodium (salt) and potassium in your blood.

This in turn controls the amount of fluid your kidneys remove as urine, which affects blood volume and blood pressure.

The difference between Addison’s disease and Cushing’s syndrome is that Addison’s happens when a person’s body does not have enough cortisol (and aldosterone), whereas Cushing’s is when one’s body has too much cortisol (hypercortisolism).

Addison’s disease can affect all age groups, but mostly is common in people between 30 to 50.

However, it is a rare disease. In the US, it affects 1 in 100,000 people.

Symptoms of Addison’s disease include:

– Steadily worsening fatigue.

– Abdominal pain.

– Nausea and vomiting.

– Diarrhea.

– Loss of appetite and weight loss.

– Muscle pain or joint pain.

– Dehydration.

– Low blood pressure.

– Changes in mood and behaviour, such as irritability, depression and poor concentration.

– A craving for salty food.

– Low blood sugar.