![]() ![]() Who does Addison’s disease affect?Īddison’s disease can affect people of all age groups, but it’s most common in people 30 to 50 years old. What’s the difference between Addison's disease and Cushing's syndrome?Īddison’s disease happens when your body doesn’t have enough cortisol (and aldosterone), whereas Cushing’s syndrome happens when your body has too much cortisol (hypercortisolism). A related disorder, secondary adrenal insufficiency, happens when your pituitary gland doesn’t release enough adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), which activates your adrenal glands to produce cortisol. This in turn controls the amount of fluid your kidneys remove as urine (pee), which affects blood volume and blood pressure.Īddison’s disease is also called primary adrenal insufficiency. Cortisol is essential for life.Īldosterone is a hormone that affects the balance of sodium (salt) and potassium in your blood. It also helps maintain your blood pressure, heart function, immune system and blood glucose (sugar) levels. They’re a part of your endocrine system.Ĭortisol is a hormone that helps your body respond to stress, including the stress of illness, injury or surgery. Your adrenal glands, also known as suprarenal glands, are small, triangle-shaped glands that are located on top of each of your two kidneys. ![]() Addison’s disease is a chronic condition in which your adrenal glands don’t produce enough of the hormones cortisol and aldosterone.
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