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What is Addison's Disease
Addisons disease is a rare life long disorder, when you have disruption of your adrenal glands. It can also be known as primary adrenal insufficiency or hypoadrenalism.
Adrenal glands sit on top of each kidney and produce 2 essential steroid hormones, cortisol and aldosterone. However, Addison’s Disease is most commonly caused due to a problem with the immune system which attacks and damages the outer layer of the adrenal gland resulting in a lack of cortisol and aldosterone being produced.
Addison’s Disease can be controlled by life long medication to replace the missing hormones, cortisol and aldosterone, and people diagnosed can go on to have a long life-span living full, active lives.
Symptoms mainly present with fatigue, muscle aches, exhaustion, lack of appetite, low mood and weight loss. Further symptoms include low blood pressure, low blood sugar and changes in colour of skin eg vitiligo.
People with Addison’s Disease must monitor their symptoms closely and be aware if symptoms worsen suddenly as this can lead to Adrenal Crisis which is a medical emergency.
Adrenal Crisis is a result of cortisol level dropping significantly, which if left untreated can be fatal.
If you or anyone you know has Addison’s Disease and are experiencing worsening symptoms please call 999, ask for an ambulance and state “Adrenal Crisis”. SAVE A LIFE!
Around 8,400 people in the UK are diagnosed with Addison’s Disease which is around 1 in 14,000 people and approximately 320 new diagnoses each year. It is more common in women than men, and between the ages of 30-50, however it can affect people of any gender and age.
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Information for Friends & Family
As a supportive family member/friend, you can do the following to help your loved one manage their Addison's disease:
Encourage and support their treatment: Help ensure your loved one/friend is taking their prescribed medications on time and at the recommended doses. Encourage them to attend all their medical appointments and follow through with any recommendations or treatment plans.
Help them maintain a healthy lifestyle: Encourage your loved one to exercise regularly, eat healthy, and manage stress. Consider joining them in these activities to provide social support and motivate them to stay on track.
Educate yourself about their condition: Learn the signs and symptoms of an Addisonian crisis, which is a life-threatening medical emergency that can occur if the body doesn't receive enough cortisol. Knowing this information can help you be prepared to respond appropriately if such an emergency were to arise.
Be a listening ear: Living with a chronic condition can be challenging, so make yourself available to listen to your loved one's/friend’s concerns and offer emotional support. Encourage them to talk to a healthcare professional or mental health provider if needed.
Overall, the key is to be supportive, understanding, and informed about your loved one's/friend’s condition, and work together to manage their Addison's disease.
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Information for Employers
As an employer, you should be aware of the following information to support an employee with Addison's Disease:
Diagnosis: You should be aware that Addison's disease is a medical condition that occurs when the adrenal glands fail to produce enough cortisol and aldosterone. This means that the affected employee may require long-term treatment and management of their condition. Symptoms: You should be aware of the common symptoms of Addison's disease, such as fatigue, weakness, weight loss, low blood pressure, and darkening of the skin.
Medication: The employee with Addison's disease will likely require daily medication, such as synthetic cortisol (hydrocortisone) and fludrocortisone, to manage their symptoms and prevent adrenal crises.
Treatment during an adrenal crisis: It is essential to know what to do if the employee experiences an adrenal crisis, which can be life-threatening. The employee should have an emergency injection of cortisol (such as Solu-Cortef) available, and you should also ensure they receive prompt medical attention.
Accommodations: Depending on the severity of the employee's condition, they may require accommodations such as flexible work hours and additional breaks. You should try to provide reasonable accommodations that allow the employee to perform their job effectively while managing their condition.
Overall, it is essential to maintain open communication with the employee about their needs and work together to create a supportive and accommodating work environment.
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Diagnosed with Addison disease
Healthcare professionals should consider when caring for individuals with Addison's disease:
Understanding Addison's Disease: Addison's disease is a rare chronic disorder that causes the adrenal gland to produce insufficient amounts of cortisol and aldosterone. Healthcare professionals need to understand the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and potential complications associated with Addison's disease.
Identification of Triggers: Addison's disease may trigger or worsen during illness, stress, surgery, dehydration, or injury. Healthcare professionals must consider these factors before recommending any treatment.
Medications: Individuals with Addison's disease require lifelong therapy with oral glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids to replace the adrenal hormones. Healthcare professionals should have a thorough knowledge of the doses and timing of medications, drug interactions, and potential side effects.
Medications: Individuals with Addison's disease require lifelong therapy with oral glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids to replace the adrenal hormones. Healthcare professionals should have a thorough knowledge of the doses and timing of medications, drug interactions, and potential side effects.
Regular Monitoring: Regular patient follow-ups and monitoring blood tests are required to ensure the adequacy of hormone replacement therapy. Cortisol replacement doses may need to be modified in response to illness, surgery, or stress.
Emergency Management: Healthcare professionals should also be aware of adrenal crisis, which is a life-threatening condition that can occur when there is a sudden deficiency of adrenal hormones. They must be trained in recognizing and managing adrenal crisis and providing emergency treatment with intravenous administration of corticosteroids and saline solution.
Patient Education: Healthcare professionals should provide patients with understandable information about their condition, treatment options, and self-care measures to prevent complications.
It is essential to provide a coordinated multidisciplinary approach involving medical, nursing, and social care teams to provide optimal care for individuals with Addison's disease.
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Living with Addison disease
Healthcare professionals should consider when caring for individuals with Addison's disease:
Understanding Addison's Disease: Addison's disease is a rare chronic disorder that causes the adrenal gland to produce insufficient amounts of cortisol and aldosterone. Healthcare professionals need to understand the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and potential complications associated with Addison's disease.
Identification of Triggers: Addison's disease may trigger or worsen during illness, stress, surgery, dehydration, or injury. Healthcare professionals must consider these factors before recommending any treatment.
Medications: Individuals with Addison's disease require lifelong therapy with oral glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids to replace the adrenal hormones. Healthcare professionals should have a thorough knowledge of the doses and timing of medications, drug interactions, and potential side effects.
Medications: Individuals with Addison's disease require lifelong therapy with oral glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids to replace the adrenal hormones. Healthcare professionals should have a thorough knowledge of the doses and timing of medications, drug interactions, and potential side effects.
Regular Monitoring: Regular patient follow-ups and monitoring blood tests are required to ensure the adequacy of hormone replacement therapy. Cortisol replacement doses may need to be modified in response to illness, surgery, or stress.
Emergency Management: Healthcare professionals should also be aware of adrenal crisis, which is a life-threatening condition that can occur when there is a sudden deficiency of adrenal hormones. They must be trained in recognizing and managing adrenal crisis and providing emergency treatment with intravenous administration of corticosteroids and saline solution.
Patient Education: Healthcare professionals should provide patients with understandable information about their condition, treatment options, and self-care measures to prevent complications.
It is essential to provide a coordinated multidisciplinary approach involving medical, nursing, and social care teams to provide optimal care for individuals with Addison's disease.
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Information for Healthcare Professionals
Healthcare professionals should consider when caring for individuals with Addison's disease:
Understanding Addison's Disease: Addison's disease is a rare chronic disorder that causes the adrenal gland to produce insufficient amounts of cortisol and aldosterone. Healthcare professionals need to understand the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and potential complications associated with Addison's disease.
Identification of Triggers: Addison's disease may trigger or worsen during illness, stress, surgery, dehydration, or injury. Healthcare professionals must consider these factors before recommending any treatment.
Medications: Individuals with Addison's disease require lifelong therapy with oral glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids to replace the adrenal hormones. Healthcare professionals should have a thorough knowledge of the doses and timing of medications, drug interactions, and potential side effects.
Medications: Individuals with Addison's disease require lifelong therapy with oral glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids to replace the adrenal hormones. Healthcare professionals should have a thorough knowledge of the doses and timing of medications, drug interactions, and potential side effects.
Regular Monitoring: Regular patient follow-ups and monitoring blood tests are required to ensure the adequacy of hormone replacement therapy. Cortisol replacement doses may need to be modified in response to illness, surgery, or stress.
Emergency Management: Healthcare professionals should also be aware of adrenal crisis, which is a life-threatening condition that can occur when there is a sudden deficiency of adrenal hormones. They must be trained in recognizing and managing adrenal crisis and providing emergency treatment with intravenous administration of corticosteroids and saline solution.
Patient Education: Healthcare professionals should provide patients with understandable information about their condition, treatment options, and self-care measures to prevent complications.
It is essential to provide a coordinated multidisciplinary approach involving medical, nursing, and social care teams to provide optimal care for individuals with Addison's disease.