Addison’s disease is primary adrenal failure.
[1]
Overview:
You may be at a higher risk for Addison’s disease if you I.E.:
In primary adrenal insufficiency, although the above mentioned causes lead to gradual destruction of the adrenal cortex, the symptoms and signs of the disease appear when the loss of adrenocortical tissue is higher than 90%.
At the molecular and cellular level, a viral infection, even subclinical, or an excessive tissue response to inflammatory signals may potentially lead to apoptosis or necrosis of adrenocortical cells. Cellular components, such as 21OH-derived peptides, trigger the activation of local dendritic cells, which then transport and present these antigens to CD4+ Th1 cells.
Upon activation, CD4+ Th1 cells help the committed clonal expansion of cytotoxic lymphocytes and autoreactive B cells releasing antibodies against 21-hydroxylase and possibly other antibodies.
(a) direct cytotoxicity by lymphocytes that induce apoptosis; (b) direct cytotoxic actions by IFN-γ and lymphotoxin-α released by activated CD4+ Th1 cells; (c) cellular cytotoxicity by autoantibodies or by autoantibody-mediated activation of the complement system; and (d) cytotoxic effects of inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, TNF-α) and free radicals (superoxide, NO) secreted by monocytes/macrophages or by the adrenal cells (51).
In the initial phase of chronic gradual destruction, the adrenal reserve is decreased and although the basal steroid secretion is normal, the secretion in response to stress is suboptimal. Consequently, any major or even minor stressor can precipitate an acute adrenal crisis. With further loss of adrenocortical tissue, even basal steroid secretion is decreased, leading to the clinical manifestations of the disease. Low plasma cortisol concentrations result in the increase of production and secretion of ACTH due to decreased negative feedback inhibition (37). The elevated plasma ACTH concentrations are responsible for the well-recognized hyperpigmentation observed in these patients.
In secondary or tertiary adrenal insufficiency, the resultant ACTH deficiency leads to decreased secretion of cortisol and adrenal androgens, while mineralocorticoid production remains normal. In the early stages, basal ACTH secretion is normal, while stress-induced ACTH secretion is impaired. With further loss of basal ACTH secretion, there is atrophy of zonae fasciculata and reticularis of the adrenal cortex. Therefore, basal cortisol secretion is decreased, but aldosterone secretion by the zona glomerulosa is preserved.[7]
Primary Adrenal Insufficiency
Secondary Adrenal Insufficiency
Tertiary Adrenal Insufficiency
Onset – usually insidious, Rarely first manifestation may be acute crisis.
The patient may be dehydrated and lethargic.
If Addison’s disease is suspected, blood tests will be carried out to measure the levels of sodium, potassium and cortisol in your body. A low sodium, high potassium or low cortisol level may indicate Addison’s disease.
You may need to see a hospital hormone specialist (endocrinologist) for your blood to be tested for the following:
Any of the above could be a sign of Addison’s disease.[9]
First about to take medical history an signs and symptoms. You may undergo some of the following tests:
All treatment for Addison’s disease involves medication. You will be given hormone replacement therapy to correct the levels of steroid hormones your body isn’t producing.
Some options for treatment include oral corticosteroids such as i.e.:
Treatment for an Addisonian crisis, which is a medical emergency, typically includes intravenous injections of i.e.:
1. Do not stop taking steroids suddenly.
2. Do not miss daily steroid doses for more than 24 hours (accidentally missing a dose, vomiting more than 24 hours, hospitalization without continuation of medication, etc.).
3. Know when stress doses should be given (severe illness, surgery, or trauma).[12]
Homeopathy treats the person as a whole. It means that homeopathic treatment focuses on the patient as a person, as well as his pathological condition. The homeopathic medicines selected after a full individualizing examination and case-analysis.
A miasmatic tendency (predisposition/susceptibility) also often taken into account for the treatment of chronic conditions.
A homeopathy doctor tries to treat more than just the presenting symptoms. The focus is usually on what caused the disease condition? Why ‘this patient’ is sick ‘this way’?.
The disease diagnosis is important but in homeopathy, the cause of disease not just probed to the level of bacteria and viruses. Other factors like mental, emotional and physical stress that could predispose a person to illness also looked for. No a days, even modern medicine also considers a large number of diseases as psychosomatic. The correct homeopathy remedy tries to correct this disease predisposition.
The focus is not on curing the disease but to cure the person who is sick, to restore the health. If a disease pathology not very advanced, homeopathy remedies do give a hope for cure but even in incurable cases, the quality of life can greatly improved with homeopathic medicines.
The homeopathic remedies (medicines) given below indicate the therapeutic affinity but this is not a complete and definite guide to the homeopathy treatment of this condition. The symptoms listed against each homeopathic remedy may not be directly related to this disease because in homeopathy general symptoms and constitutional indications also taken into account for selecting a remedy.
People with Addison’s disease should also eat a well-balanced, nutritious diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and proteins. For instance:
Addison’s disease is primary adrenal failure.
References:
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