Addison's Disease
Bio211: Addison’s Disease
Instructor:
September 10th, 02014
Addison's disease is a disorder of the adrenal glands. It is also known as hypocortisolism or adrenal insufficiency. The disease occurs when your adrenal glands do not produce sufficient amounts of certain hormones. The adrenal glands do not produce enough cortisol and more often than not, insufficient amounts of aldosterone.
Autoimmune disease can be attributed to approximately 70 percent of the cause for Addison’s disease. The autoimmune system mistakenly attacks the adrenal glands and kills the outer layer of the gland. Examples of these types of autoimmune diseases are HIV, tuberculosis and some fungal infections. Cancer Cells can also cause damage to the adrenal gland.
There is secondary adrenal insufficiency that can be caused by issues with the hypothalamus or pituitary gland located in the center of the brain. Both these glands produce hormones that can act as a switch. They can increase, decrease, or turn on/off the production of hormones in other parts of the body. ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone/corticotropin) is a pituitary hormone and can switch on cortisol production in the adrenal gland. If this hormone is too low, the adrenal glands do not produce.
Other, less common, causes of secondary adrenal insufficiency is prolonged use or improperly using (abusing) steroid hormones. Even less common is tumors of the pituitary or damage to the pituitary gland by radiation or surgery.
This disease can occur in all age groups and both sexes but is more prevalent in women than men. It can also occur in canines. It is a rare disease, 1 in 100,000 people are diagnosed with Addison’s disease. If not properly treated, Addison’s disease can be life-threatening.
The treatment for Addison’s disease involves replacing the insufficient hormones. This would involve taking the correct hormones that your adrenal gland is no longer producing adequate quantities.
Adrenal
Instructor:
September 10th, 02014
Addison's disease is a disorder of the adrenal glands. It is also known as hypocortisolism or adrenal insufficiency. The disease occurs when your adrenal glands do not produce sufficient amounts of certain hormones. The adrenal glands do not produce enough cortisol and more often than not, insufficient amounts of aldosterone.
Autoimmune disease can be attributed to approximately 70 percent of the cause for Addison’s disease. The autoimmune system mistakenly attacks the adrenal glands and kills the outer layer of the gland. Examples of these types of autoimmune diseases are HIV, tuberculosis and some fungal infections. Cancer Cells can also cause damage to the adrenal gland.
There is secondary adrenal insufficiency that can be caused by issues with the hypothalamus or pituitary gland located in the center of the brain. Both these glands produce hormones that can act as a switch. They can increase, decrease, or turn on/off the production of hormones in other parts of the body. ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone/corticotropin) is a pituitary hormone and can switch on cortisol production in the adrenal gland. If this hormone is too low, the adrenal glands do not produce.
Other, less common, causes of secondary adrenal insufficiency is prolonged use or improperly using (abusing) steroid hormones. Even less common is tumors of the pituitary or damage to the pituitary gland by radiation or surgery.
This disease can occur in all age groups and both sexes but is more prevalent in women than men. It can also occur in canines. It is a rare disease, 1 in 100,000 people are diagnosed with Addison’s disease. If not properly treated, Addison’s disease can be life-threatening.
The treatment for Addison’s disease involves replacing the insufficient hormones. This would involve taking the correct hormones that your adrenal gland is no longer producing adequate quantities.
Adrenal