Adrenal Insufficiency Symptoms

In many cases, the signs and symptoms of adrenal insufficiency begin gradually. The most common symptoms include chronic fatigue, loss of appetite, loss of appetite, and weight loss. In about 50 percent of cases, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea will also occur. Because the symptoms usually progress slowly, they are usually ignored until a stressful event like an illness or an accident triggers what's known as an addisonian crisis.

Info about Adrenal Insufficiency

What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Adrenal Insufficiency?

Given the importance of adrenal gland hormones, people with adrenal insufficiency can have a number of different adrenal insufficiency symptoms. The symptoms a person with adrenal insufficiency experiences will be affected by the hormones that are deficient, the level of hormone deficiency, the cause of adrenal insufficiency and other stresses on the body.

Common Symptoms

Adrenal insufficiency symptoms usually begin gradually. Common symptoms include:

Chronic fatigue that progressively worsens
Muscle weakness
Loss of appetite
Weight loss.

About 50 percent of the time, one will notice adrenal insufficiency symptoms that include:

Nausea
Vomiting
Diarrhea.

Other Symptoms

Other possible symptoms include:

Low blood pressure that falls further when standing, causing dizziness or fainting
Irritability
Depression
Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) symptoms, including sweating, nausea, palpitations, and anxiety
Craving for salty foods
Irregular menstrual periods.

In Addison's disease, skin changes can occur with areas of hyperpigmentation, or dark tanning, covering exposed and non-exposed parts of the body. This darkening of the skin is most visible on scars, skin folds, pressure points (such as the elbows, knees, knuckles, and toes), lips, and mucous membranes.

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