Conner Zeuli and Savannah Cash Honors Anatomy and Physiology

 Addison’s affects the body’s ability to produce sufficient amounts of hormones that are often vital for everyday activities.  People with Addison’s suffer through everyday tasks due to this disease that causes adrenal insufficiency.  Treatments are available, but Addison’s still makes life difficult for those with stressful lives, and more ambitious desires.

 Addison’s attacks the Adenal gland and disrupts the production of the hormones Cortisol and Aldosterone.  Since the body is suppressing itself a person with Addison’s can’t behave normally.  The suppressing these hormones disrupts the body’s natural defenses, internal clock, and even immune system.  Over time Addison’s deteriorates the Adrenal gland until it is destroyed.

The top pair of Adrenal glands show what Addison’s long term damage look like. The middle pair are normal.

 The lack of Cortisol in the body affects a person’s ability to deal with stress, maintain blood pressure, and have normal cardiovascular function, as well as having a healthy immune system.  Cortisol also affects a person’s metabolism and levels of glucose which is why people with Addison’s struggle with gaining weight.

 Another hormone that Addison’s suppresses is Aldosterone which is important in blood flow, blood pressure, and helps the Kidneys deal with the balance of salt and water.  If the Kidneys aren’t able to regulate the balance, then blood pressure will fall.

There are two types of Addison’s: Type one is common in children and inherited from their parents, type two is common is young adults and is known as Schmidt’s Syndrome. Addison’s affects one in every 100,000 people, but with that there are treatments available. People with Addison’s have a chance for a normal life through hormone replacing drugs, and in high stress situations people can inject themselves with hydrocortisone.

     h.gov h.gov 

 isol/tab/test Cortisol isol/tab/test  Aldersterone  Adrenal damage  adrenal-glands JFK adrenal-glands  d_tantrums.html Child in Addison’s d_tantrums.html