Addison's disease

ARTICLE SECTIONS

Introduction Signs and symptoms Causes When to seek medical advice

Screening and diagnosis Treatment Coping skills

Introduction

Addison's disease is a disorder that results in your body producing insufficient amounts of certain hormones produced by your adrenal glands.

Your adrenal glands are located just above each of your two kidneys. These glands are part of your endocrine system, and they produce hormones that give instructions to virtually every organ and tissue in your body.

In Addison's disease, your adrenal glands produce too little cortisol, which is one of the hormones in a group called the glucocorticoids. Sometimes, Addison's disease also involves insufficient production of aldosterone, one of the mineralocorticoid hormones. Addison's disease can be life-threatening.

Also called adrenal insufficiency or hypocortisolism, Addison's disease can occur at any age, but is most common in people ages 30 to 50. Treatment for Addison's disease involves taking hormones to replace the insufficient amounts being made by your adrenal glands.

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Signs and symptoms