More handpicked essays just for you.
Addison's Disease Case Study
Addison's disease effects on the body essay
Addison's disease effects on the body essay
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
Addison’s disease is a rare disease, also called adrenal insufficiency. Named after Thomas Addison, Addison’s disease is “caused by partial or complete failure of the adrenal cortex, which is the outer layer of the adrenal glands” (HealthCentral). This disorder occurs when the body fails to produce sufficient amounts of the hormones cortisol, aldosterone, and adrenal androgens. These are essential to the body because they produce hormones that control many bodily functions. The inadequate production of cortisol and often deficient levels of aldosterone and adrenal androgens can result in the body attacking itself (autoimmune disease), thus becoming life-threatening. When these hormones are not producing sufficiently it can be detrimental to the body because they are essential for life. The MayoClinic website states the hormone cortisol is necessary and without it can result in excessive levels of potassium and low levels of salt, causing an electrolyte imbalance in the body. It can also hinder the body’s ability to convert foods into energy, affects the body’s inflammatory response, and impede the body’s ability to respond to stress appropriately. It also can affect a person’s overall mental well-being by influencing sexual development among males and females by causing diminished libido and muscle mass.
Though Addison’s disease affects both male and females, it also affects children. Its most predominant in females than males but more likely to occur between the ages of 30-50 in both. According to Webscape, children who are predisposed have a 30% risk of progression to Addison’s disease. The mortality rate is around 6 to every 1 million in the United State and much higher in other countries; however this number is very deceivin...
... middle of paper ...
...ients are also advised to wear Medic Alert jewelry.
Works Cited
"Addison's disease Definition - Diseases and Conditions - Mayo Clinic." Mayo Clinic - Mayo Clinic. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Jan. 2014.
"Dermatologic Aspects of Addison Disease." Medscape. WebMD, 8 Mar. 2013. Web. 26 Jan. 2014.
Erickson, Quenby L., et al. "Addison's Disease: The Potentially Life-Threatening Tan." Cutis 66.1 (2000): 72-4. ProQuest.Web. 26 Jan. 2014.
HealthCentral. "Addison's Disease." HealthCentral.com - Trusted, Reliable and Up To Date Health Information. Remedy Health Media, n.d. Web. 26 Jan. 2014.
Liotta, MD, Elizabeth A., and Dirk M. Elston, MD. "Dermatologic Aspects of Addison Disease." MedScape. WebMD, 8 Mar. 2013. Web. 25 Jan. 2014.
Margulies, MD, Paul. "Adrenal Diseases - Addison's Disease The Facts You Need To Know."NADF. National Adrenal Diseases Foundation, n.d. Web. 26 Jan. 2014.
Arch Dermatol. 2007;143(1):124–125. Puchenkova, S. G. (1996). "
Barone, Eugene J., Judson C. Jones, and Joann E. Schaefer. "Hidradenitis Suppurativa." Skin Disorders. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2000. 21-25. Print.
"Learning About Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy." Learning About Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. National Human Genome Research Institute, 18 Apr. 2013. Web. 15 May 2014.
Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH) is an inherited condition that affects hormone production in the adrenal gland. The individual lacks enzymes to make cortisol, and hormones are instead are shifted away to make other hormones, specifically androgens. This results in the deficiency of cortisol and the abundance of testosterone.
Credibility statement: I may not look like an expert of any sort, but I have personally seen how this disease takes over the body in my own grand-mother.
Heart Failure Overview WebMD Reviewed by Thomas M. Maddox, MD on May 28, 2012 http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/heart-failure/heart-failure-overview
Other lesions, such as eczema, body lice, insect bites, fungal infections, poison ivy, and various forms of dermatitis can make a person susceptible to this infection.... ... middle of paper ... ... The New York Times.
Quinn, P. (2012). Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: What Is ADHD?. WebMD. Retrieved on December 3, 2013, from
U.S. National Library of Medicine, 26 Sept. 2011. Web. The Web. The Web. 19 Nov. 2013.
Parkinson’s Disease (PD), known for its degenerative abilities and debilitating affects, is an illness that affects approximately 1 million Americans. The cause of this disease has not been pinpointed, although strides have been made towards a cure. As our elderly population increases, so does our overwhelming need to find a suitable cure that may one day eliminate this disease.
Schepis, Carmelo, Donatella Greco, and Corrado Romano. "Cardiofaciocutaneous (CFC) Syndrome." Australasian Journal of Dermatology 40.2 (1999): 111-13. Print.
The Web. The Web. 22 Jan. 2014. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-pressure/basics/definition/con-20019580>. High cholesterol levels in the body.
25 November 2011. “Vitamin D Deficiency.” webmd.com. Retrieved April 24, 2019. WebMD, 13 July 2009.
Ed. David Zieve. U.S. National Library of Medicine, 26 Feb. 2014. Web. The Web.
University of Maryland Medical Center. (2013, December 18). What is a Pediatrician?. Retrieved September 12, 2014, from http://umm.edu/programs/childrens/health/about/what-is-a-pediatrician