Adrenal Insufficiency

People with adrenal insufficiency suffer from a malfunction of the adrenal glands, a condition in which the adrenal glands stop producing hormones that are important for certain bodily functions. There are two general types of adrenal insufficiency: primary adrenal insufficiency (Addison's disease) and secondary adrenal insufficiency. Symptoms of adrenal insufficiency include fatigue, weight loss, and muscle weakness. Treatment for adrenal insufficiency involves replacing, or substituting, the hormones that the adrenal glands are not making.

 

Adrenal Insufficiency: An Introduction

Adrenal insufficiency is a medical condition in which the adrenal glands stop making hormones important for certain bodily functions. Adrenal insufficiency is characterized by weight loss, muscle weakness, fatigue, low blood pressure, and sometimes darkening of the skin in both exposed and non-exposed parts of the body.
 
There are two general types of adrenal insufficiency:
 
Adrenal insufficiency occurs in all age groups and afflicts men and women equally.
 

Understanding the Adrenal Glands

There are two adrenal glands, one above each kidney in the back of the upper abdomen. The adrenal glands are also called the suprarenal glands. The inside layer of the adrenal gland is called the adrenal medulla. The adrenal medulla produces epinephrine (adrenaline). The outside layer is called the adrenal cortex. The cells in the adrenal cortex make important hormones that help the body function properly. The two hormones are cortisol and aldosterone.
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Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD