As you know, the adrenal glands are a paired organ located in the region of the upper strip of the kidneys, approximately at the level where the 12 thoracic vertebra is located. If you remove the adrenal glands, a person is at risk of death. The function of the adrenal glands includes the production of a number of hormones, as well as about 50 different intermediate substances that are involved in the synthesis of other hormones.
The adrenal cortex includes such major hormones as corticosteroids, which, in turn, are divided into androgens, mineral and glucocorticoids. Their importance for the whole organism as a whole is undeniable: since they are primarily responsible for water-salt, as well as carbohydrate, fat metabolism. In addition, these hormones have a significant effect on blood pressure and more.
With a decrease in the body of these hormones, changes are observed leading to the development of adrenal cortex insufficiency, which can be expressed in acute, chronic, as well as primary or secondary. Chronic insufficiency is a dangerous disease of the adrenal gland, symptoms gradually appear. At the same time, patients are not able to indicate when exactly the disease began to manifest.
If we talk about primary chronic adrenal insufficiency, then this disease occurs when there is a lesion of the cortical layer of the adrenal glands, which are not able to produce the necessary amount of hormones. This disease in practice is extremely rare, while a person can be ill at any age.
As for secondary adrenal insufficiency, its development occurs when the pituitary gland or hypothalamus is located in the brain. As a result, there is insufficient secretion of ACTH (adrenocortctoropia), which is responsible for the production of glucocorticoids in the adrenal cortex.
Symptoms of chronic adrenal cortex insufficiency.
In the chronic form of the disease, adrenal symptoms begin in the form of increasing constant muscle weakness or general weakness of the body. As a rule, weakness increases by the end of the day. Over time, adrenal symptoms increase, weakness intensifies. At first, these symptoms are only disturbing during colds, and rarely, anyone who pays attention to it. Along with this, in patients suffering from chronic insufficiency, there is a sharp loss in weight, appetite decreases, all this is accompanied by vomiting and nausea.
The main symptoms.
- 1. The color of the skin changes.
Skin color changes due to the fact that with adrenal insufficiency, melanin is debugged, as a rule, in those places where the skin is rubbed with clothing or in open areas of the skin. Subsequently, the skin color in these areas takes on a bronze hue.
- 2. Lowers blood pressure.
This is due to a decrease in the amount of plasma in the blood, the pulse is soft.
- 3. The functions of the gastrointestinal tract are impaired.
Vomiting, constipation and nausea occur, and appetite decreases.
- 4. The sugar level is reduced.
This is due to a decrease in the volume of glycogen in the liver. Due to this, the patient is irritable, weakness, sweating and a measure of saturation increase.
In addition to the above, symptoms of the adrenal gland can manifest as nocturia. With this symptom, patients often go to the toilet at night, which signals impaired adrenal function.
Symptoms of the adrenal glands may also include changes in the activity of the nervous system. So, as a result of this, the patient suffers from a decrease in memory and concentration of attention, irritability and depression are observed, up to acute psychosis.
If you observe such symptoms, immediately seek professional medical help, only an experienced doctor can answer you the question: “How to treat the adrenal glands?”, Establish an accurate diagnosis and individual treatment for you.