Signs of Addison's Disease

What are the signs of Addison's Disease?

The phrase "signs of Addison's Disease" should, strictly speaking, refer only to those signs and symptoms of Addison's Disease that are not readily apparent to the patient. The word "symptoms of Addison's Disease" is the more general meaning; see symptoms of Addison's Disease.

The signs and symptom information on this page attempts to provide a list of some possible signs and symptoms of Addison's Disease. This medical information about signs and symptoms for Addison's Disease has been gathered from various sources, may not be fully accurate, and may not be the full list of Addison's Disease signs or Addison's Disease symptoms. Furthermore, signs and symptoms of Addison's Disease may vary on an individual basis for each patient. Only your doctor can provide adequate diagnosis of any signs or symptoms and whether they are indeed Addison's Disease symptoms.

List of symptoms of Addison's Disease:

The list of medical symptoms mentioned in various sources for Addison's Disease includes those listed below. Note that Addison's Disease symptoms usually refers to various medical symptoms known to a patient, but the phrase Addison's Disease signs may often refer to those signs that are only noticable by a doctor:

• Weight loss
• Muscle weakness
• Fatigue
• Low blood pressure
• Hyperpigmentation - dark skin tanning of both external and unexposed skin areas, most noticable on skin folds, elbows, knees, knuckles, toes, lips, and mucous membranes.
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Orthostatic hypotension
• Dizziness
• Fainting
• Coldness
• Irritability
• Mood changes
• Lethargy
• Depression
• Weight loss
• Wasting
• Anorexia (appetite loss)
• Craving salty foods
• Amenorrhea
• Irregular menstrual periods
• Hypoglycemia
• Underarm hair loss
• Adrenal insufficiency
• Symptoms of an Addisonian crisis, the most severe result, include:
  • Back pain - sudden penetrating pain in the lower back
  • Abdominal pain
  • Leg pain
  • Severe vomiting
  • Severe diarrhea
  • Dehydration
  • Hypoglycemia - low blood sugar
  • Hyperkalemia - high levels of potassium
  • Low blood pressure
  • Collapse
  • Loss of consciousness
  • Coma
  • Death
• Increased bronze pigmentation of skin
• Increased bronze pigmentation of mucous membranes
• Weakness
• Reduced endurance
• Anorexia
• Fatigue
• Dehydration
• Weight loss
• Gastrointestinal disturbances
• Salt cravings
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Restlessness
• Emotional distress
• Reduced tolerance to physical stress
• Reduced tolerance to emotional stress
• Low blood sodium
• Low blood glucose
• High blood potassium
• Darkening of skin
• Tremors
• Reduced blood pressure

Signs or Symptoms of Addison's Disease:

The symptoms of adrenal insufficiency usually begin gradually. Chronic, worsening fatigue and muscle weakness, loss of appetite, and weight loss are characteristic of the disease. Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea occur in about 50 percent of cases. Blood pressure is low and falls further when standing, causing dizziness or fainting. Skin changes also are common in Addison's disease, with areas of hyperpigmentation, or dark tanning, covering exposed and nonexposed parts of the body. This darkening of the skin is most visible on scars; skin folds; pressure points such as the elbows, knees, knuckles, and toes; lips; and mucous membranes.

Addison's disease can cause irritability and depression. Because of salt loss, craving of salty foods also is common. Hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, is more severe in children than in adults. In women, menstrual periods may become irregular or stop.

Because the symptoms progress slowly, they are usually ignored until a stressful event like an illness or an accident causes them to become worse. This is called an addisonian crisis, or acute adrenal insufficiency. In most patients, symptoms are severe enough to seek medical treatment before a crisis occurs. However, in about 25 percent of patients, symptoms first appear during an addisonian crisis.

Symptoms of an addisonian crisis include sudden penetrating pain in the lower back, abdomen, or legs; severe vomiting and diarrhea, followed by dehydration; low blood pressure; and loss of consciousness. Left untreated, an addisonian crisis can be fatal. (Source: excerpt from Addison's Disease: NIDDK)

More symptoms of Addison's Disease:

More detailed symptom information may be found on the symptoms of Addison's Disease article. In addition to the above medical information, to get a full picture of the possible signs or symptoms of this condition and also possibly the signs and symptoms of its related medical conditions, it may be necessary to examine symptoms that may be caused by complications of Addison's Disease, underlying causes of Addison's Disease, associated conditions for Addison's Disease, risk factors for Addison's Disease, or other related conditions.

Medical articles on signs and symptoms:

These general reference articles may be related to medical signs and symptoms of disease in general:

• Books on signs and symptoms
• Books on medical diagnosis
• Symptoms of the Silent Killer Diseases
• Symptoms and Medical Malpractice

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