ADDISONS DISEASE

DR THOMAS ADDISON DISCOVERED THE DISEASE IN 1849. HE DESCRIBED IT AS A FORM OF ANEMIA, OR LOW IRON IN THE BLOOD. IT WAS ALMOST ALWAYS FATAL

SYMPTOMS

• Weight loss
• Decreased appetite
• Darkening of skin
• Low blood sugar
• Muscle or joint pains
• Hair loss
• Salt craving
• Extreme fatigue

Causes
Damage to your adrenal glands which causes not enough of the hormone cortisol. The adrenal glands give instructions to every organ in your body, so when its damaged your body doesn’t function correctly. Damage to adrenal glands can be caused by autoimmune diseases or cancer.

TREATMENT

• Cannot be prevented
• Treat with hormone replacement therapy and steroids
• Carry medical alert card and extra medication

Treatment in the future
Doctors are working on pumps that is put under the skin to deliver the hormones.