While cold and cough are common, diseases like Addison s disease are rare. It is also known as chronic adrenal insufficiency or hypocortisolism as it is a result of insufficient production of hormones like cortisol and aldosterone by the adrenal glands. This disease can affect men and women of any age.

There are two types of Addison s disease. These are:

    Primary adrenal insufficiency: In this case, the adrenal glands themselves have a problem.
    Secondary adrenal insufficiency: If the hormone production in the adrenal glands is restricted by a problem that has started somewhere else like the pituitary gland, for example, it is known as secondary adrenal insufficiency.

Primary adrenal insufficiency is more common of the two. This could be triggered as a result of autoimmune diseases or a long lasting infection such as HIV, tuberculosis and some fungal infections. Cancer can also cause this type of Addison s disease.

Secondary adrenal insufficiency is usually caused by a problem with the pituitary gland or the hypothalamus as they are responsible for the production of hormones that stimulate the adrenal glands. Damage caused to the pituitary gland by tumors or radiation and surgery can also interfere with hormone production. Prolonged and improper use of steroid hormones can also trigger this condition.

Addison s disease has a very slow progression and its symptoms develop gradually over time. Some of these symptoms are:

    Weight loss and loss of appetite
    Extreme fatigue
    Hyperpigmentation
    Low blood pressure
    Craving for salt
    Nausea and diarrhea
    Pain in the abdomen and joint pains
    Irritability
    Depression
    Loss of body hair and sexual dysfunction in women

Treatment for Addison s disease involves hormone replacement therapy. This aims at correcting the hormone levels in the body. Hormone replacement therapy includes oral corticosteroids and corticosteroid injections. The dosage of these steroids could vary depending on the situation. For example, the doctor may suggest a temporary high dosage when the patient is in a stressful condition. Along with this, sodium is also recommended especially during the summer months and while exercising. This medication must be taken regularly as skipping a single dose can be dangerous.

In some cases this condition can become life threatening. An addisonian crisis causes a drop in blood pressure, sugar and a spike in potassium levels in the body. This requires immediate medical attention and can be treated with intravenous injections of hydrocortisone, saline solution and sugar.

Addison's Disease - What You Should Know About it

Diabetes refers to the condition when there is an excess of glucose in your body. Though glucose is beneficial for the proper functioning of the body, an excess can lead to serious consequences. Over the years, diabetes has over the years emerged as one of the fatal diseases, one that once developed has no known cure. This condition is preceded by various perceptible symptoms, some of them are-

1. Insatiable thirst

The onset of diabetes is almost always accompanied by a nagging thirst, one that refuses to be quenched despite drinking plenty of water.

2. Frequent tendencies of urination

A frequent tendency of urination is one of the primary precursors of diabetes.

3. Acute hunger

Having bouts of acute hunger is one of the most predominant premonitions of diabetes.

4. Exhaustion and fatigue

In case you are suffering from diabetes, you will inevitably feel tired and exhausted all the time.

5. Blurring of vision

Diabetes is one of those rare conditions that threaten to affect and damage the eyesight. The blurring of vision comes hand in hand with the onset of diabetes.

6. Sores which take a long time to heal

One of the most fatal symptoms of diabetes is when the sore that you have suffered from takes a longer time than necessary to heal.

Some of the complications which diabetes invite are-

1. Cardiovascular problems

Diabetes considerably increases the risk of a host of cardiovascular problems and ailments like heart attacks, chest pain, and stroke.

2. Damage to the kidneys

The pair of kidneys that human beings are endowed with has the responsibility to remove the toxins from the body. An excess of diabetes in the body unsettles the purging ability of the kidneys.

3. Damage to the eyes

The onset of diabetes, among other things, puts your eyes at great risks. The condition tends to damage the blood vessels of the retina and can even cause blindness in some.

4. Skin disorder

Diabetes puts your skin at great risks. You may suffer from various bacterial and fungal infections among other ailments, due to an excess of glucose in your body.

Symptoms and Complications of Diabetes

Can you imagine your life without your cell phone? Difficult isn t it, but did you know that these devices could be harming your sexual health? Most people keep their cell phones in their jeans or trouser pockets or clipped to a belt on their waist. While this does make the phone easily accessible, it also affects male fertility.

There are two main aspects to male fertility; the motility and viability of sperm cells. Motility refers to the sperm cell s ability to swim through body fluids and fertilise the egg. Viability refers to the number of living vs non-living sperm cells and sperm cell abnormalities.

Cell phones are constantly working even when we re not talking into them. They constantly send out and receive electromagnetic frequency radiation to keep your social media accounts updated. Given the close proximity of the cell phone and your body, this energy may be absorbed by your genitals. As a result, the sperm cells may change shape and lose their ability to attach themselves to an egg. The structural abnormality may impede the sperm s ability to swim and thus reduce motility. Semen exposed to this type of radiation also has a high level of free radicals.

In order to produce sperm, the testicles maintain a specific temperature that is ideal for sperm health. Smartphones typically also have a higher temperature than that of the room you are in. Thus, when you keep your cell phone in your pant pockets, they increase your skin temperature in the groin by approximately 2 degrees as well as the temperature within your testicles. This slows down the production of sperm cells and can even kill them thus, reducing sperm cell viability.

In the ideal world, a cell phone should only be carried in a bag, but almost all men may cringe at the thought of carrying a bag. Hence, take your phone out of your pocket whenever possible, for example while driving, at a restaurant etc. The use of Ayurvedic aphrodisiacs can also lower the harmful effects of cell phones. The dried roots of asparagus or safed musli can help increase sperm count and rejuvenate a man s libido. Ashwagandha, shilajit and kawach are also very effective Ayurvedic herbs to treat male infertility. Increasing your intake of food rich in vitamin C and E can also help deal with the stress in sperm caused by phone radiation. The use of these herbs has negligible side effects and hence can be safely used by men of all ages.

https://www.lybrate.com/health-package/127921944?lpt=PS-PPV

Cell Phone in Pocket - Did You Know It Can Reduce Male Fertility?

How Thyroid issues affect your weight - When I talk with women suffering with unexpected weight gain, often one of the first questions I am asked is "Is it my thyroid?"

Sometimes, my answer is "Yes" - after all, our thyroid hormones play a huge role in regulating our metabolism and how we use nutrients.

And research shows that even small changes to the thyroid function can cause weight gain. In fact, many women who have been told their thyroid test results are "normal" may still have a reduced thyroid function (subclinical hypothyroidism) that's enough to cause weight gain and other bothersome symptoms.

At the clinic, I work with women suffering from a wide range of thyroid issues from those just starting to suspect they have a thyroid problem to those already taking medication. And I tell each and every one of them how they can benefit from natural thyroid support and a holistic approach that considers thyroid function as part of overall hormonal balance.

The thyroid and unexpected weight gain: an early signal - Unexpected weight gain and difficulty losing weight may be one of the first noticeable signals that you're struggling with hypothyroidism (a sluggish thyroid) or subclinical hypothyroidism. Many women tell me about their frustration with gaining five pounds every year and not being able to figure out why!

Reduced thyroid function may be the result of the thyroid's impaired ability to produce hormones, or the body may have difficulty using the thyroid hormones. Either way, problems with your thyroid hormones may cause the rate at which you use nutrients (your metabolic rate) to slow down.

We are especially prone to thyroid issues and weight gain as women because the thyroid is linked to other systems that affect weight including the proper functioning of our neurotransmitters, reproductive hormones, and adrenal glands.

Thyroid issues affect women of all ages - While we see women of all ages with thyroid issues, there are times in your life when your hormones fluctuate more and when the development of thyroid issues may be even more likely.

If you have any questions related to thyroid, ask me by clicking on 'Consult'.

From Lybrate: If you found this tip useful, please thank the doctor by clicking on the heart icon below. Also, spread good health by sharing this tip with your loved ones over WhatsApp, Facebook and other media.

Revealed - How Thyroid Issues Affect Your Weight

Addison s disease is known as adrenal insufficiency or hypocortisolism. It is a hormonal disorder which occurs when adrenal glands which are located just above the kidneys do not produce enough of the hormone. The hormones produced by adrenal glands include cortisol and aldosterone, which are essential for a healthy life.

The disease is characterized by weight loss, muscle weakness, fatigue, low blood pressure, and darkening of the skin also sometimes. Most cases of Addison's disease are caused by autoimmune disorders.
It is quite a rare condition. Only 1 in 1 lakh suffer from this condition. this condition can affect a person of any age group irrespective of sex. To live a normal life people, with this condition, a patient will be required to take their medication regularly.

Cortisol and Aldosterone - What do they do?
The most important function of the cortisol in the body is to respond to stress. It helps the body in using protein, carbohydrates, and fat. It maintains blood pressure, cardiovascular function; and controls inflammation. While as aldosterone helps kidneys in regulating the amount of salt and water in the body   which helps in regulating blood volume and keeping blood pressure under control.

Cause of Addison's Disease
Mostly Addison s disease occurs due to problems with adrenal glands themselves   which is known as primary adrenal insufficiency. While Autoimmune disease accounts for 70% of Addison s disease. In this condition, the body's immune system mistakenly attacks the adrenal glands. This attack destroys the outer layer of the glands.

Some long-term infections such as tuberculosis, HIV, and some fungal infections harm the adrenal glands. It is also caused by the cancer cells that spread from other parts of the body to the adrenal glands.
Less commonly, adrenal glands can also be affected by secondary adrenal insufficiency. It is caused by a problem with the pituitary gland or a problem with the hypothalamus, both located in the center of the brain.
These glands produce hormones that control the production of hormones in the rest of the body. A pituitary hormone called ACTH which turns on cortisol production in the adrenal gland. If ACTH levels are too low, the adrenal glands do not function.
One more cause of secondary adrenal insufficiency is also caused by the prolonged or abuse of steroid hormones such as prednisone.
Symptoms of Addison's disease
The symptoms of adrenal insufficiency grow gradually and the main characteristics are:

Chronic, worsening fatigue
Muscle weakness
Loss of appetite
Weight loss
About 50 percent of the time, one will notice:

Nausea
Vomiting
Diarrhea

A Quick Guide To Addison's Disease!

Sugar is an all pervasive substance that is found in most food items although specific ones such as candies, colas and sweet delicacies tend to have more of it. While it may taste great on the tongue, it may not be so good for your body as well as your teeth. Teeth are especially affected by sugar as an ingredient in all items of food. Some of the ways it affects your dental health are discussed below  

Sugar from colas, sodas and other carbonated beverages: Sugar that gets into your body in the form of carbonated beverages are the worst in terms of the nooks and crannies that it gets into. As it is in liquid form, it can swirl around the toughest corner and deposit sugar there. This will encourage the growth of harmful bacteria, causing a host of problems.

Dissolving tooth enamel: Tooth enamel is the topmost layer of teeth. This is the layer which is visible to the naked eye and is white in color. Foods such as chewy candies can leave a hard lump of sugar lodged in your teeth which the saliva in your mouth will not be able to dissolve away. This will keep producing acids and result in the dissolving of the enamel. Enamel protects the nerves of the teeth and thus will result in extreme pain and even tooth decay.

Encourages the growth of plaque: Plaque is an obstructive and sticky substance that forms on many parts of your body, including the teeth. Plaque is an ideal breeding ground for bacteria and these bacteria feed and grow on the sugar from the foods that you eat. These bacteria can cause cavities, gum infections, bad breath, destroy the enamel among causing other dental problems as well.

Some of the other related problems that can be caused by sugar on your dental health are:-

Reduction in the size of your back teeth due to erosion from acids formed from sugar.

Gum infections of various kinds which may end up requiring surgery.

Changes in the bite of a person i.e. the way upper and lower teeth come together.

Sugar may also affect the growth of bacteria in the mouth, which in turn may also cause digestion problems.

Causes bad breath due to buildup of bacteria.

Sugar - How It Affects Your Teeth?

Don't wait any longer, manage your Neuroendocrinologist online with a Lybrate doctor today

Consult for Neuroendocrinologist - Online and Easy!

FilterClear All

COMMON SPECIALITIES

COMMON ISSUES