Is Addison's disease curable?

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asked Jul 30, 2022 in Diseases Conditions by yellowbeannie (16,990 points)
Is Addison's disease curable?

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answered Jul 30, 2022 by Vapirusky (52,230 points)
Addison's disease is not curable and cannot be cured.

Addison's disease, also called adrenal insufficiency, is an uncommon disorder that occurs when your body doesn't produce enough of certain hormones.

 In Addison's disease, your adrenal glands, located just above your kidneys, produce too little cortisol and, often, too little aldosterone.

Most people with Addison's disease have a normal lifespan and are able to live an active life with few limitations.

Although many people with Addison's disease also find they must learn to manage bouts of fatigue, and there may be associated health conditions, such as diabetes or an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism).

And although Addison's disease isn't curable, it can be treated, usually with a combination of medication and lifestyle adjustments.

Treating Addison's disease involves taking hormones to replace those that your adrenal glands don't make.

Hydrocortisone is the most common corticosteroid for replacing cortisol.

Tuberculosis (TB) is the most common cause of Addison's disease worldwide, but it's rare in the UK.

TB is a bacterial infection that mostly affects the lungs but can also spread to other parts of your body.

It can cause Addison's disease if it damages your adrenal glands.

If you have untreated Addison's disease, you may develop an addisonian crisis as a result of physical stress, such as an injury, infection or illness.

Normally, the adrenal glands produce two to three times the usual amount of cortisol in response to physical stress.

The stages of Addison's disease are.

Stage 0: Normal adrenal function.
Stage 1: You may have increased plasma renin with normal or low levels of aldosterone but no other abnormal results.
Stage 2: You're likely to have high renin levels and low aldosterone levels.

Foods and drinks you should avoid with Addison's Disease are.

    Coffee.
    Green tea.
    Black tea.
    Too much alcohol.
    Too many bananas.
    Too many oranges.
    Salt substitutes.

Regardless of the specific terminology used, it is clear that some people with Addison's disease have a disturbance in brain function and may develop a range of neuropsychiatric symptoms as a result.

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