Pathophysiology

Pathophysiology Study Guide

emotional control, headache, bone loss, glucose intolerance, worsening hypertension, and cognitive difficulties. Addison’s Disease Addison's disease is characterized by an insufficient amount of cortisol and aldosterone hormones by the adrenal glands. This disease can affect anyone and can be life-threatening. In this disease, the adrenal glands become damaged, and cause disturbances in the instructions given to all the body organs and tissues. The adrenal gland produces three main hormones: glucocorticoids (helps in converting food into energy); mineralcorticoids (helps in maintaining the balance of sodium and potassium and keeps the blood pressure under control); and androgens (helps in sexual development in men, influences muscle mass and libido, as well as a sense of well-being in men and women). Addison's disease can be categorized as primary and secondary adrenal insufficiency. • Primary adrenal insufficiency: In this case, the main cause of Addison's disease is the damage of the cortex such that it remains incapable of producing the requisite hormones in adequate quantities. This is an autoimmune disease since the immune system attacks the adrenal cortex and damages it. Other reasons that cause the failure of the adrenal gland are tuberculosis, infections of adrenal glands, spread of cancer to adrenal glands, and bleeding into the adrenal glands. • Secondary adrenal insufficiency: In this case, Addison's disease is caused by a diseased pituitary gland. This leads to an inadequate production of the adrenocorticotropic hormone, which triggers an insufficient production of other hormones produced by the adrenal glands. It can also be caused by the intake of corticosteroids for treating conditions like asthma with an abrupt discontinuing of the drug. Signs and symptoms of Addison's disease are extreme fatigue, weight loss, loss of appetite, hyperpigmentation, hypotension, craving for salt, hypoglycemia, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, pain in the abdomen, pain in muscles and joints, irritation, depression, and body hair loss. Primary Aldosteronism Primary aldosteronism is a hormonal disorder of the adrenal glands in which excess amounts of aldosterone hormone are produced, which causes the blood to lose potassium and retain sodium. This leads to an increase in blood volume and hypertension. Major causes of primary aldosteronism are a benign growth in the adrenal gland, over-activity of both adrenal glands, and hereditary glucocorticoid-remediable aldosteronism. Signs and symptoms of this disorder are moderate to high blood pressure, resistant hypertension, and hypokalemia. Androgen Excess Androgen excess is the endocrine disorder that affects women of reproductive age. Androgen hormones are produced in the adrenal glands, fat cells, and ovaries. These hormones are necessary to regulate the functioning of different organs in the reproductive tract, bones, kidneys, muscles, and liver. They also help in the synthesis of estrogen, which prevents osteoporosis and augments sexual desire and satisfaction. An excess of androgen can influence and affect various tissues and organs and

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