Adrenal Insufficiency
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Clinical
Adrenal insufficiency is a condition in which the
body lacks adequate production of a hormone, cortisol. This hormone
affects every cell and tissue in the body and is responsible for helping
the body make energy. Lack of this hormone, particularly in times
of stress, may cause serious consequences, including shock and death.
Fatigue, tiredness
Mental depression
Dizziness, especially upon standing
Weight loss and/or loss of appetite
May crave salt
Change in skin pigment:
Depending on cause of adrenal insufficiency, may have either darkening
or lightening of skin
Loss of sexual drive
Impotence in men
Amenorrhea (loss of menstrual periods) in women
Loss of hair in pubic area and armpits
Increased sensitivity to smells,
tastes, noises
Voice weakness
Severe weakness,
blackout spells
Irregular
heartbeat
Abdominal
pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
Treatment
Always discuss treatment of adrenal insufficiency with your
doctor. This is a serious medical condition which may require rapid intervention,
especially in emergency and crisis situations.
- Always carry a Medical Alert
identification indicating that you are:
"Cortisone-dependent" or "Adrenal insufficiency"
- Take your medication faithfully,
as indicated by your physician.
Failure to take even one pill so may endanger your life.
- You may need to take 2-5 times
your usual dose of medication if you have severe physical or mental stress,
fever greater
than 101 degrees (F), surgery, etc.
- If, for any reason, you
are unable to take your medication by mouth, you will need to get the medication
by injection
- Discuss with your doctor if
you should carry injectable steroids with you, for emergency use.
Click here for convenient patient handouts:
For information on how to order medical alert identification:
For the health professional, the following link provides
quality pathology photographs of adrenal and other endocrine disorders:
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PRIVACY ALERT: Anyone
using the internet for medical information should be aware that personal
information such as identity, interests, and surfing habits may not be
secure or private. Although many health information sites claim that
they do not release information about those visiting the site, numerous
commercial entities may have access to sensitive personal information by
mechanisms such as cookies and banners.
Please read the Report on the "Privacy Policies and Practices
of Health Web Sites" monograph from the California Healthcare Foundation
for their detailed discussion on consumer health care on the internet.
Also, please refer to the guidelines for safe surfing published
by the Federal Trade Commission:
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Kim Carmichael, M.D.
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Copyright 1996-2011 - Kim A. Carmichael, M.D.
Last update February 23, 2011
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