Hormones take part in the activity of absolutely all body systems. These substances are reflected in the course of metabolic processes, affect tissue growth and their development. An extremely complex condition is adrenal hypofunction. Symptoms, signs of the disease and its treatment will be considered in this article.
The essence of the problem
Hypofunction of the adrenal glands leads to insufficient production of hormones that are involved in the regulation of the functions of body cells. In violation of their production, you can notice how the organs of the human body gradually cease to function normally.
The adrenal glands are paired organs. The latter are responsible for the production of hormones of several groups. What happens if the adrenal glands and hormones are not normal ? Hypofunction and hyperfunction of the adrenal glands can lead to insufficiency or excess of cortisol, aldosterone, sex steroids in the blood. All this entails the occurrence of serious disorders in the body with negative consequences for a wide variety of organs and systems.
Hypofunction of the adrenal gland: forms of the disease
There are several forms of the disease. The disease can be chronic or acute. In the acute form of the disease, a person periodically suffers from a whole mass of serious conditions, the so-called addison crises. The individual has to deal with a decrease in vitality, failures in the work of internal organs.
Chronic hypofunction of the adrenal gland is divided into a secondary and tertiary form. The secondary form develops with damage to the tissues of the adrenal glands themselves. The phenomenon often affects the elderly. The tertiary form is less common and is formed with insufficient secretion of the hormone corticoliberin by the brain department - the hypothalamus, which subsequently causes gradual atrophy of the adrenal glands.
Hypofunction of the adrenal cortex: symptoms
The following symptoms are characteristic of the disease:
- Change the color of the skin of the body to a darker shade. The severity of the problem in a particular individual may be different, based on the duration of the formation of the pathological process, as well as the form of the disease. First of all, darkening of the skin becomes clearly noticeable in open areas of the body: arms, neck, face. In some cases, white spots are formed on the body, known as vitiligo. Brown spots may appear on the gums, tongue, lips, and other mucous membranes.
- With adrenal hypofunction, a feeling of general fatigue and growing muscle weakness develops. Later, the symptom is supplemented by a decrease in body weight.
- Low blood pressure.
- Digestive Disorders. Hypofunction of the adrenal cortex can cause diarrhea, constipation, vomiting, regular attacks of nausea, pain in the abdomen.
- Nervous irritability, apathy, memory impairment, distraction, loss of concentration.
Causes of the disease
Hypofunction of the adrenal glands most often develops against the background of abnormal autoimmune reactions of the body, during which adrenal tissue is destroyed. This reason leads to the appearance of the disease in approximately 98% of cases. However, in 1-2% of cases, hypofunction develops as a result of adrenal tuberculosis.
Poor heredity can also lead to the formation of an ailment. A genetic disease such as adrenoleukodystrophy causes defects in enzymes that are directly involved in the metabolism of fatty acids. With this hereditary pathology, fatty acids are concentrated in the white matter of the nervous system. In turn, this leads to serious dystrophic changes in the body.
What else can cause adrenal hypofunction? Diseases of the cardiovascular system, pituitary tumors - all this can become a catalyst for the disease.
Diagnostics
How is adrenal hypofunction diagnosed? The disease can be suspected in people who have complaints that correspond to the main symptoms of the disease. To make sure of disappointing assumptions, the patient is referred for consultation to an endocrinologist. Further, based on the results of the examination, the doctor can refer the patient to the following tests:
- blood test for hemoglobin level;
- glycemia - detection of a decrease in sugar level;
- study of blood plasma electrolytes - detection of a violation of potassium concentration;
- hormone analysis - diagnosis of a decrease in cortisol;
- special tests - Throne test, water load, glycemic profile.
In addition to conducting the above tests, endocrinologists do not exclude the likelihood of developing negative autoimmune processes, tuberculosis, which also often leads to hypofunction of the adrenal glands. To assess the condition of the adrenal glands themselves, doctors often resort to tomography, ultrasound diagnosis of internal organs.
Treatment
Therapy with the development of adrenal hypofunction involves lifelong replacement of the natural production of hormones by taking drugs containing corticosteroids. Treatment at the initial stages usually starts with the injection of hydrocortisone into the patient's body (intravenous or intramuscular). A significant improvement in the condition of a person with such an action is confirmation of the adequacy of the initial diagnosis. Subsequently, with the stabilization of the patient's condition, the latter is prescribed medications containing mineral and glucocordicoids.
With hypofunction of the adrenal gland, patients have to adhere to a strict diet. The diet is based on the use of high-calorie foods. Mandatory foods are saturated with proteins, fatty acids, vitamins. At the same time, the amount of edible salt in products should not exceed 10 grams per day.
Patients suffering from adrenal hypofunction have to avoid increased physical exertion, as well as stress, situations that can lead to moral upheaval. You also have to seriously limit yourself in the use of sleeping pills and alcoholic beverages.
During treatment, patients need to take actions aimed at regulating body weight. People with hypofunction of the adrenal glands are recommended to maintain the level of potassium in the blood serum. You also need to periodically monitor blood pressure and take medications, which contribute to maintaining its stable level.
Prognosis for adrenal hypofunction
With the timely identification of the problem, the correct diagnosis and proper implementation of hormonal therapy, most people have a favorable course of the disease, without noticeable negative consequences for the body. The forecast in this case is determined by the success of eliminating the so-called crises.
In the case of the development of concomitant infections, surgical operations, injuries, and gastrointestinal upsets, an immediate increase in the dose of drugs containing hormones prescribed by the doctor is required.
Finally
Hypofunction of the adrenal gland is an extremely serious, rather unpredictable disease, regardless of the speed and nature of the pathological processes in the body. In order to hope for a positive result of treatment, it is important to identify symptoms in advance, conduct a high-quality diagnosis, and also select the appropriate drugs. If everything is done on time, you can choose the option of therapy that will allow a person to lead an absolutely normal lifestyle and enjoy every day spent.