Signs and Symptoms of Addison's Disease

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Cortisol is a hormone that is vital in the regulation of major processes of the body. It is produced by the adrenal glands, but the pituitary and hypothalamus both play a role in how much of the hormone is actually secreted.

When you are stressed, in athletic training or even pregnant, you will have a lot of cortisol in your system. However, when you have too little, it is called Addison’s Disease.

While anyone can develop this disease, it is most common in people between the ages of 30 and 50. It is also important to note that this condition typically comes on quite slowly over the period of several months according to the MayoClinic. Common symptoms include:

- Mood swings
- Depression
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Weight loss
- Fatigue
- Hyperpigmentation
- Fainting
- Low blood pressure
- Irritability
- Decreased appetite

You should see your physician right away if you have any of these symptoms. However, if you have any of the following, you need medical care immediately. They are signs of a more severe form of the disease called acute adrenal failure.

- Low blood pressure
- Fainting
- Pain in the back
- Pain in the abdomen
- Pain in the legs
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Dehydration
- Loss of consciousness

Addison’s Disease can be caused by many things, however the primarily culprit is typically autoimmune disease. Essentially, your body begins to attack the adrenal cortex as though it were a virus or germ, preventing the production of cortisol. Other causes include cancer, bleeding in the adrenal glands, infections and tuberculosis.

A blood test is the most common method of diagnosing this disease. But before you head off to the doctor—unless your symptoms are severe—you may wish to take an at-home test. These tests can detect various substances in the body and determine whether or not you have the appropriate amounts. While an at home wellness panel test cannot provide a diagnosis for any disease, it can act as a signal to you that you may have a problem and may need to see a doctor about it. This is especially the case for people who may not have been experiencing any symptoms of a condition, but the test points out a level of a hormone or substance that is extremely high or extremely low. So high or low that it is a cause for concern.

Who knows? With one of these at home tests you may be able to prevent the onset of a disease or catch it in its earliest stages.

Article Source: http://depositarticles.com/

This Article is written by Lena Butler, the author of Home Testing Blog - Testing It Up, and a constant contributor to Home Health & Drug Testing Forum, a longer version of this article is located at Signs & Symptoms of Addison’s Disease and resources from other home health and wellness testing.

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