Hormones are involved in the activity of absolutely all body systems. These substances affect the course of metabolic processes, affect the growth of tissues and their development. An extremely complex condition is hypofunction of the adrenal glands. Symptoms, signs of the disease and its treatment will be discussed in this article.
The core of the problem
Hypofunction of the adrenal glands leads to insufficient production of hormones that are involved in the regulation of body cell functions. If their production is disturbed, 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, 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 leads to seriousdisorders in the body with negative consequences for a variety of organs and systems.
Hypofunction of the adrenal glands: 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 host of serious conditions, the so-called Addisonian crises. The individual has to deal with a decrease in vitality, malfunctions of internal organs.
Chronic adrenal hypofunction is divided into secondary and tertiary forms. The secondary form develops when the tissues of the adrenal glands themselves are damaged. The phenomenon more often affects older people. The tertiary form is less common and is formed when there is insufficient secretion of the hormone corticoliberin by the hypothalamus, which subsequently causes gradual atrophy of the adrenal glands.
Hypofunction of the adrenal cortex: symptoms
The disease is characterized by the following symptoms:
- Changing 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 visible in open areas of the body: arms, neck, face. In some cases, white spots form on the body, known as vitiligo. On the gums, tongue, lips, other mucous membranes canbrown spots appear.
- When hypofunction of the adrenal glands develops a feeling of general fatigue and growing muscle weakness. 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 bouts of nausea, pain in the abdomen.
- Nervous irritability, apathy, memory impairment, distraction, loss of concentration.
Causes of disease development
Hypofunction of the adrenal glands most often develops against the background of abnormal autoimmune reactions of the body, during which the tissues of the adrenal glands are destroyed. This cause leads to the appearance of the disease in about 98% of cases. However, in 1-2% of cases, hypofunction develops as a result of adrenal tuberculosis.
Bad 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.
Diagnosis
How is adrenal hypofunction diagnosed?You can suspect the disease in people who have complaints that correspond to the main symptoms of the disease. To make sure of the disappointing assumptions, the patient is referred for a consultation with an endocrinologist. Further, based on the results of the examination, the doctor may refer the patient to the following tests:
- blood test for hemoglobin;
- Glycemia - detecting low sugar levels;
- study of blood plasma electrolytes - detection of violations of potassium concentration;
- hormone analysis - diagnosis of cortisol decline;
- special tests - Throna test, water load, glycemic profile.
In addition to the above tests, endocrinologists do not exclude the possibility of developing negative autoimmune processes, tuberculosis, which also often leads to adrenal hypofunction. To assess the state of the adrenal glands themselves, doctors often resort to tomography, ultrasound diagnostics of internal organs.
Treatment
Therapy for 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 an injection into the patient's body (intravenous or intramuscular) of hydrocortisone. A significant improvement in a person's condition with such an action is a confirmation of the adequacy of the initial diagnosis. Subsequently, when the patient's condition stabilizes, the latter is prescribedmedications containing mineral and glucocorticoids.
With hypofunction of the adrenal glands, patients have to adhere to a strict diet. The diet is based on the use of an increased amount of high-calorie foods. Mandatory are foods saturated with proteins, fatty acids, vitamins. At the same time, the amount of edible s alt in foods 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 turmoil. You also have to seriously limit yourself in the use of sleeping pills and alcoholic beverages.
In the process of treatment, patients need to take actions aimed at regulating body weight. People with hypofunction of the adrenal glands are advised to maintain the level of potassium in the blood serum. You also need to periodically monitor blood pressure and take medications that help maintain its stable level.
Prognosis for adrenal hypofunction
With timely detection of the problem, correct diagnosis and competent implementation of hormone therapy, most people have a favorable course of the disease, without noticeable negative consequences for the body. The prognosis in this case is determined by the success of eliminating the so-called crises.
In case of development of concomitant infections, surgical operations, injuries,the occurrence of gastrointestinal disorders, an immediate increase in the dose of drugs containing the hormones prescribed by the doctor is required.
In closing
Hypofunction of the adrenal glands is an extremely serious, rather unpredictable disease, regardless of the speed and nature of the course of pathological processes in the body. In order to hope for a positive result of treatment, it is important to identify symptoms in advance, conduct high-quality diagnostics, and also select the appropriate drugs. If everything is done in time, you can choose the therapy option that will allow a person to lead an absolutely normal life and enjoy every day.
