Understanding Addison's Disease By: Maya Chahbi

 Addison's Disease


Introduction:

Addison's disease is a rare disorder that occurs when the body doesn't make specific necessary

hormones.People with this disease make too little of hormone cortisol and too little of

aldosterone.Addison's disease is vital because it shuts down the adrenal glands from making

necessary hormones,such as cortisol and aldosterone,that controls critical tasks like stress

response and blood pressure.Addisons disease can affect anyone at any age,but it is most likely

diagnosed in adults between the ages of 30 and 50.




Cause:

Harm to the adrenal glands causes Addison's disease.These glands are above the kidneys.The

adrenal glands are part of the endocrine system to help make hormones.The hormones that the

adrenal gland produce effects almost every organ and tissue in the body.The adrenal glands are

made up of the medulla and cortex.The medulla makes adrenaline and the cortex makes

corticosteroids.


Symptoms:

Addison's disease symptoms normally happens slowly,usually over months.The disease may

happen so slowly that people who have it might not even notice the symptoms at first.An

injury or physical illness can make symptoms get worse.Early symptoms includes:

● Hypoglycemia

● Body hair loss

● Salt cravings

Statistics:

The main observational data and medical statistics for Addison's disease explains how rare it is

and its primary causes.The disease impacts 100 to 140 people per million in cultivated

nations.Between 4.4 and 6.2 new cases per million people each year are diagnosed with

Addison's disease.


Awareness:


People should learn about Addison's disease because it can prevent death from misdiagnosis

and understands the silent disability.Patient may face lifelong medication dependencies and

regular medical misunderstandings. The importance of advocacy makes diagnosis rates faster

and regulates emergency care procedures.

Conclusions:

Addison's disease is a rare disorder that occurs when the body doesn't make specific necessary

hormones and happens when the adrenal glands are harmed.Research is important for

Addison's disease because it is the only way to understand more about Addison's disease and to

find a functional cure for it.


Sources:

● "Addison's Disease." NHS, NHS England, 19 Sept. 2025,

www.nhs.uk/conditions/addisons-disease/.

● "Addison's Disease - Symptoms and Causes." Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for

Medical Education and Research, 21 Dec. 2024,

www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/addisons-disease/symptoms-causes/sy

c-20350293

● "Definition & Facts of Adrenal Insufficiency & Addison's Disease." National

Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, U.S. Department of

Health and Human Services, Sept. 2018,

www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/endocrine-diseases/adrenal-insufficie

ncy-addisons-disease/definition-facts.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Understanding Cystic Fibrosis

Image
Blog written by Alyza Kour - Reasearch Lead of Teen Med Spot   Mucus in our body is more than just “gross stuff” coming out our nose when we have a cold, it’s actually a vital protective layer. Its job is to line our lungs, digestive tract, and other organs to keep them moist and to trap dust, bacteria, or virusese so your body can get rid of them. Healthy mucus is thin, slippery, and water (Think of it like a layer of liquid soap). ( Cleveland Clinic ) What is cystic fibrosis? It is a genetic disease that causes sticky, thick mucus to build up in your organs (Lungs, Digestive System, Pancreas), blocking and damaging them. ( Cleveland Clinic.org ) What causes cystic fibrosis? Changes to the CFTR gene - called variants or mutations - cause cystic fibrosis. CFTR makes a protein that works as an ion channel on the surface of a cell. Ion channels are like gates in a cell’s membrane that allow certain molecules to pass through. Think of this protein as a “gate” for chloride ions (sa...
Read more

Understanding Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) By: Zella Shanks (Current Campaign)

Image
  Introduction   What is Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS)? Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, also known as EDS, is a group of genetic disorders that affect the body’s connective tissues. Connective tissue is found almost everywhere in the body and helps hold everything together, including your own skin, joints, muscles, and blood vessels. People that have Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome have problems with collagen, which is one of the many main proteins that gives connective tissues its strength and flexibility. When collagen doesn’t work the way it’s supposed to, the body’s tissues become weaker and more likely to stretch or to get injured. Why Is It Important?    Even though EDS isn’t very well known, it can have a huge effect on someone’s everyday life. Many people deal with ongoing pain, fatigue, joint injuries, and other symptoms that can make normal activities more difficult. While there isn’t a cure yet, getting diagnosed early and learning how to manage the condition can ...
Read more

Uncovering the Clinical Characterization and Mechanisms of Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva (FOP) By: Sharen Rego

Image
 Introduction Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva or FOP is an exceedingly rare, yet severely disabling genetic disorder, characterized by the abnormal formation of bone tissue outside of the normal human skeleton (heterotopic ossification). This can occur within soft tissues like the skeletal muscles, tendons, and ligaments. With an estimated one in two million people affected globally, FOP represents one of the most complex genetic conditions known to modern medicine. Raising awareness for this disorder is crucial, as early symptoms are often misdiagnosed as cancer, leading to harmful medical interventions like biopsies or routine muscle injections which trigger irreversible bone growth. Main Body At the cellular level, FOP is caused by a specific mutation in the ACVR1 gene located on chromosome 2. This gene provides instructions for making a specialized receptor protein that controls when and where the body builds bone tissue (such as during fetal development or when healing a...
Read more