16/07/2025
Addison’s disease
Addison’s disease affects your body’s adrenal glands. The adrenal glands are part of the endocrine system. The endocrine system is a group of glands all over your body that produce hormones to regulate your body’s processes, including your moods, growth, metabolism, and tissue function. The adrenal glands are located just above your kidneys. They produce hormones that affect how your body responds to stress.
In people who have Addison’s disease, the adrenal glands do not produce enough corticosteroid hormones, such as cortisol and aldosterone.
Addison’s disease is most common among people 30 to 50 years of age, but it can occur at any age and affects men and women equally. It is also called adrenal insufficiency or hypocortisolism.
Symptoms What are the symptoms of Addison’s disease?
The symptoms of Addison’s disease usually develop over a period of several months. Many of the symptoms of Addison’s disease are nonspecific. This means that at first, it may be hard for you or your doctor to figure out exactly what is wrong. Common symptoms of Addison’s disease may include:
Fatigue
Muscle weakness
Joint or muscle pain
Fever
Weight loss
Nausea, vomiting and/or diarrhea
Headache
Sweating
Changes in mood or personality, such as irritability, anxiety, or depression
Loss of appetite
Darkening of the skin (called hyperpigmentation)
Lightheadedness or fainting upon standing, most often caused by low blood pressure
Cravings for salty foods
Sometimes, the symptoms of Addison’s disease appear suddenly, or quickly get worse. This is called acute adrenal failure or an Addisonian crisis. It can cause death if it isn"t treated. If you have any of the following symptoms, contact your doctor or go to an emergency room right away:
Sudden, severe pain in the abdomen, lower back, or legs
Severe vomiting and diarrhea, leading to dehydration
Fainting (loss of consciousness)
Low blood pressure
Confusion or slurred speech
Sluggish movements, or serious muscle weakness
Seizures
High fever