Adrenal insufficiency is a life-threatening medical condition in which the adrenal glands do not produce enough of certain essential steroid hormones, primarily cortisol. It includes Addison's disease (primary adrenal insufficiency), as well as secondary and tertiary adrenal insufficiency.
Addison’s disease and adrenal insufficiency are rare and life-threatening endocrine conditions, but can be treated by taking daily medication to replace the hormones that are missing.
With the right balance of daily medication, people with Addison’s and adrenal insufficiency can expect to have a normal life span
The adrenal gland is a small gland that sits above your kidneys and produces vital steroid hormones that are essential for life and keep our body functioning correctly in many different ways. It is part of the body's endocrine (hormone) system.
Adrenal insufficiency describes when not enough of those vital hormones are produced, or they are no longer produced at all.
The 3 key hormones produced by the adrenal gland are cortisol, aldosterone and DHEA
What hormones are affected, and to what degree, depends on what type of adrenal insufficiency you have. We have information on all three types of adrenal insufficiency. Make sure to ask your doctor if you are not sure which type you have.
Named after Thomas Addison, the London doctor who first identified the condition, Addison's disease is also known as Primary adrenal insufficiency. It is a rare condition where the adrenal glands themselves stop working, so are unable to produce any of the essential hormones they usually would.
This is when the pituitary gland in the brain no longer sends the right signals to the adrenal glands to produce essential hormones, primarily cortisol.
This is where the adrenal glands are suppressed (go to sleep) after taking long-term steroid medication for another condition.
For an overview of adrenal insufficiency, download and read our leaflet or purchase a copy from our online store. We share the information to help you understand your condition, or to help those around you to understand it. Particularly useful if you are newly diagnosed, or would like to share information with an employer, colleague, family or friends.
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People with adrenal insufficiency often report similar symptoms, regardless of which type they have. However, there are also some specific signs associated just with Addison's disease.
Diagnosis is done by hospital blood tests and an assessment of the symptoms. Suspected cases will be referred to see an endocrinologist, a doctor who specialises in treating hormone-related conditions.
Whether you have just been diagnosed, or have had adrenal insufficiency for some time, knowledge is power! Let us guide you through the key information that will support you to be aware, be prepared and be understood.
An adrenal crisis is a life-threatening medical emergency that occurs when the cortisol levels in the body are too low for it to continue to function.
Adrenal crisis can occur with any type of adrenal insufficiency.
It requires a time-critical emergency treatment with an injection (or IV) of hydrocortisone (chemically the same as cortisol) to raise cortisol levels in the body.
It can quickly get confusing when you are learning the medical terminology that is used to describe your condition, diagnosis and treatment. Use our glossary to check what something means if you are not sure.
Addison's disease affects just 1 in 10,000 people in the UK and it can feel isolating to have a rare condition. The ADSHG is here to support you. You may also be interested to read about famous people with Addison's disease!
One of the important roles of the Addison's Disease Self-Help Group is to help you learn about your condition. This awareness will help you to manage it each day, to be prepared in case of adrenal crisis, and also to help those around you better understand what you might need.
Explore our extensive resource hub for information about adrenal insufficiency, including Addison's disease.
Are you living with Addison's or another type of adrenal insufficiency?
Explore our 'Living with adrenal insufficiency' pages to understand more about your condition and how to manage it day-to-day.
