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    Addison's Disease: Causes, Tests and Treatments
    Addison's Disease: Causes, Tests and Treatments
    Addison's Disease: Causes, Tests and Treatments
    Ebook109 pages1 hour

    Addison's Disease: Causes, Tests and Treatments

    By John Hewitt

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    About this ebook

    Addison’s disease is a rare disorder of the endocrine system that carries its name after Thomas Addison, the physician who first observed the condition in 1855. Addison's disease can lead to heart problems, breathing difficulties, electrolyte imbalances and if left untreated, death. Addison’s disease is characterized by the inability of your adrenal cortex, which is the outer layer of your adrenal gland, to produce the hormones that it normally secretes. If you or a loved one suffers from this life threatening disorder, this book has the answers you need.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherAndale LLC
    Release dateApr 1, 2011
    ISBN9781458062192
    Addison's Disease: Causes, Tests and Treatments
    Author

    John Hewitt

    'John Hewitt outstrips the categories we keep invoking for him, such as “doyen of Ulster poets” or “conscience of the Planter tradition”. He becomes, instead, the universal poet, servant of the medium, renewer of the forms, discoverer of the nugget of harmony in the language and in ourselves.’ Seamus Heaney 'The constant subjects of his poetry are historical isolation and private loneliness. When he uses one as a metaphor for the other, he writes with an unforgettable mixture of courage and perception.' Eavan Boland    ‘John Hewitt the poet made himself heard in a land of bellowers without raising his voice. He held out the creative hand rather than the clenched fist.’ Michael Longley   John Hewitt, father figure to a generation of poets such as Seamus Heaney and Michael Longley, is widely acknowledged as a poetic icon and creative catalyst within the canon of Irish poetry. Edited, with a new introduction, by acclaimed poets Michael Longley and Frank Ormsby, Selected Poems is testament to Hewitt’s remarkable legacy, and a celebration of a unique, compelling and still urgent voice in Irish poetry. 

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      Book preview

      Addison's Disease - John Hewitt

      ADDISON’S DISEASE:

      Causes, Tests, and Treatments

      John Hewitt, M.A.

      Michelle Gabata, M.D.

      Smashwords Edition

      ****

      Copyright 2011 John Hewitt, M.A. and Michelle Gabata, M.D.

      Smashwords Edition, License Notes

      This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

      Contents

      One: What is Addison’s Disease?

      Two: Types of Addison’s Disease

      Three: Causes

      Four: Symptoms

      Five: Diagnosis

      Six: Treatment

      Seven: Complications – Addisonian crisis

      Eight: Helpful Advice

      Nine: Research and Studies

      Ten: Tests

      References

      Eleven: How the Adrenals and Kidneys Work

      Twelve: A Genetics Primer

      Glossary of Medical Terms

      Appendix A: Internet Resources / Further Reading

      One: What is Addison’s Disease?

      Addison’s disease is a rare disorder of the endocrine system that carries its name after Thomas Addison, the physician who first observed the condition in 1855. Some of the other names that are used to refer to this condition are adrenal insufficiency, adrenocortical hypofunction, chronic adrenocortical insufficiency, and hypoadrenalism. Addison’s disease is characterized by the inability of your adrenal cortex, which is the outer layer of your adrenal gland, to produce the hormones that it normally secretes due to direct destruction of the organ or indirect damage received. This condition develops over the course of several months and leads to the inadequate production of corticosteroid hormones by your adrenal cortex.

      Your adrenal cortex is in charge of generating hormones called corticosteroids, including glucocorticoids, mineralocortoids, and androgens. Glucocorticoids, including cortisol, are involved in a wide range of body processes including: helping the inflammatory response of your immune system; aiding your body to cope with stressful situations; and regulating the metabolism of proteins, carbohydrates and fats. Mineralocortoids, including aldosterone, help your body to regulate its sodium and potassium levels so that your blood pressure stays within a normal range. Androgens, in turn, are male sex hormones that the adrenal glands of both men and women secrete in small quantities. In men, these hormones allow for sexual development. In addition, androgens also affect muscle mass, libido, and the sense of well being in both men and women.

      The inadequate production of corticosteroids that results from Addison’s disease can have numerous effects on your health. First, your sodium levels and your potassium retention rates may increase, which in turn will prevent your kidneys from being able to generate concentrated urine. This will often cause you to urinate a lot more than usual and may even lead you to get dehydrated. In addition, the lack of corticosteroids can increase the sensitivity of your body to insulin causing your blood sugar levels to drop. Also, because corticosteroids are an essential element in your immune system that help your body to heal during times of physical stress, the lack of these hormones can make your body to be exposed to greater risk during stressful times like surgeries, infections, or injuries.

      It is estimated that four in every 100,000 people have Addison's disease. This disease has no particular sex predilection, and unfortunately, there are no guidelines to preventing it. Due to the fact that it is an autoimmune condition, it is not unusual for Addison’s disease patients to develop other autoimmune diseases. Even though the symptoms may be difficult to diagnose during its early stages, it is important that you recognize any of the signs as soon as possible and that you consult with your doctor to diagnose this condition and receive the proper treatment. Although this Addison’s disease can be life threatening if it is not diagnosed properly, with the adequate medication and treatment, you will be able to continue with your normal life.

      Two: Types of Addison’s Disease

      Addison’s disease can be classified into two different types depending on the cause that led to the insufficient production of hormones by the adrenal gland. When the insufficiency occurs as a result of an autoimmune disease that attacks the adrenal cortex, such condition is known as primary adrenal insufficiency. In this case, your immune system begins to see the adrenal cortex as something foreign, and therefore, it creates antibodies to destroy it. As a result of such attack, you adrenal glands will eventually be unable to secrete their hormones.

      Secondary adrenal insufficiency, on the other hand, occurs when the pituitary gland is damaged. Your pituitary gland is in charge of secreting a hormone named adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), which sends a signal to the adrenal cortex to produce its hormones. The lack of ACTH secretion will cause your adrenal glands to slow down or stop their production of cortisol, but it will not affect the secretion of aldosterone. So, in the case of secondary adrenal insufficiency, there is an insufficiency of the hormones that are normally produced by your adrenal glands even though your adrenal glands themselves aren't damaged. Autoimmunity is the most frequent cause of secondary adrenal insufficiency.

      Three: Causes

      Primary adrenal insufficiency, the type of Addison’s disease that results from direct damage to the adrenal glands, is usually caused by an autoimmune destruction of the adrenal cortex. This occurs when your body's immune system generates antibodies that attack your body’s own tissues and organs, slowly destroying them. It is estimated that autoimmune diseases account for 85% of Addison’s disease cases in developed countries. Having autoimmune diseases such as type

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