Addison's disease is a disorder that results in your body producing insufficient amounts of certain important hormones.
This disorder affects your adrenal glands, which are located just above each of your two kidneys. The adrenal glands are
part of your endocrine system, and they produce hormones that give instructions to virtually every organ and tissue in your
body.
In Addison's disease, the adrenal glands produce too little cortisol, which is one of the hormones in a group called the
glucocorticoids. Sometimes, Addison's disease also involves insufficient production of aldosterone, one of the hormones called
the mineralocorticoids. Addison's disease can be life-threatening.
The disorder, also called adrenal insufficiency or hypocortisolism, can occur at any age, including infancy, and is equally
likely among males and females. It's rare, affecting only about one in 100,000 people. Treatment involves taking hormones
to replace the insufficient amount being made by the adrenal glands.
--Taken from the Mayo Clinic Website. Click the link below to view the entire text including more info. about Addison's
Disease, diagnosis, & treatment options.
