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Precision Medicine
4 May 2021
It is a condition that affects the adrenal glands, located in the upper renal area, which are responsible for producing hormones that are involved in growth, mood, tissue function, metabolism, and the body’s reaction to stress.
Also called adrenal insufficiency, Addison’s disease usually occurs between the ages of 30 and 50, but can appear at any age.
There are two types of adrenal insufficiency:
Symptoms usually develop slowly and over several months, characterized by:
If these symptoms appear abruptly or worsen rapidly, it is known as an Addisonian crisis or acute adrenal insufficiency, which if not treated promptly can lead to death. Therefore, you must go to the ABC Medical Center Emergency Room to receive immediate medical attention.
Once your doctor analyzes your symptoms and medical history, they will perform a physical examination and order blood tests, insulin-induced hypoglycemia tests, and adrenocorticotrophin hormone stimulation tests to measure the body’s hormone and mineral levels. You will also require imaging studies, such as MRI and CT scans, to look at the dimensions of the adrenal glands and pituitary glands.
If deemed necessary, they may order alternative tests for secondary adrenal insufficiency.
Treatment consists primarily of hormone replacement therapy to correct the levels of steroid hormones that your body is not making, using oral medications such as:
Your doctor may also recommend taking dehydroepiandrosterone to improve your mood and restore your sexual desire.
In the event of an Addisonian crisis, you will be injected with hydrocortisone, saline solution, and dextrose to restore blood pressure and regulate blood sugar and potassium levels.
For your safety and well-being, you must carry steroids, your medications, and glucocorticoid injections with you in case of an emergency.
At ABC Medical Center’s Internal Medicine Department, we offer health care services with the highest quality and safety, from the prevention, diagnosis, timely treatment, and monitoring of infectious, respiratory, endocrinological, dermatological, rheumatic, nephrological, gastrointestinal, and hematological pathologies of both chronic-degenerative diseases and acute conditions, through a comprehensive and multidisciplinary model.
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