What are the signs and symptoms of adrenal insufficiency?
nausea.
How do you determine primary adrenal insufficiency?
The ACTH stimulation test is the test used most often to diagnose adrenal insufficiency. In this test, a health care professional will give you an intravenous (IV) injection of man-made ACTH, which is just like the ACTH your body makes.
What are the primary causes of adrenal insufficiency?
Primary adrenal insufficiency is most often caused when your immune system attacks your healthy adrenal glands by mistake.
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Other causes may include:
- Cancer.
- Fungal infections.
- Tuberculosis infection of the adrenal glands.
- Inherited disorders of the endocrine glands.
What happens during primary adrenal insufficiency?
Primary adrenal insufficiency is when your adrenal glands are damaged and can’t make the cortisol you need. They also might not make enough aldosterone. This condition is often called Addison’s disease. Secondary adrenal insufficiency is more common than Addison’s disease.
What are the types of adrenal insufficiency?
Adrenal insufficiency can be primary, secondary, or tertiary:
- Primary adrenal insufficiency. This is known as Addison disease.
- Secondary adrenal insufficiency. This starts when the pituitary gland doesn’t make enough of the hormone ACTH (adrenocorticotropin).
- Tertiary adrenal insufficiency.
What is adrenal insufficiency mean?
Adrenal insufficiency is a disorder that occurs when the adrenal glands don’t make enough of certain hormones. The adrenal glands are located just above the kidneys. Adrenal insufficiency can be primary, secondary, or tertiary. Primary adrenal insufficiency is often called Addison’s disease.
When should you suspect adrenal insufficiency?
The clinical symptoms of adrenal insufficiency include weakness, fatigue, anorexia, abdominal pain, weight loss, orthostatic hypotension, salt craving, and characteristic hyperpigmentation of the skin occurring with primary adrenocortical failure (4, 5).
What lab values indicate Addison’s disease?
Test Results That Suggest Addison Disease
| Test | Result |
|---|---|
| Serum sodium | < 135 mEq/L (< 135 mmol/L) |
| Serum potassium | > 5 mEq/L (> 5 mmol/L) |
| Ratio of serum sodium:potassium | < 30:1 |
| Plasma glucose, fasting | < 50 mg/dL (< 2.8 mmol/L) |
What are 3 diseases that affect the adrenal glands?
Some of the most common include:
- Addison’s disease, also called adrenal insufficiency. In this disorder, you don’t produce enough cortisol and/or aldosterone.
- Cushing’s syndrome.
- Congenital adrenal hyperplasia.
- Adrenal gland suppression.
- Hyperaldosteronism.
- Virilization.
What other clinical manifestations should the nurse monitor for with suspected adrenal insufficiency?
The patient should be aware of signs and symptoms of adrenal insufficiency, including nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, hypoglycemia, hypotension, weight loss, etc.
What finding is commonly seen with primary adrenal insufficiency but not secondary adrenal insufficiency?
Patients with secondary adrenal insufficiency are more likely to have hypoglycemia but will not have dehydration, hyperkalemia, or skin hyperpigmentation. The most common laboratory findings in chronic primary adrenal insufficiency are anemia, hyponatremia, and hyperkalemia.
What are the symptoms of low cortisol?
Low levels of cortisol can cause weakness, fatigue, and low blood pressure. You may have more symptoms if you have untreated Addison’s disease or damaged adrenal glands due to severe stress, such as from a car accident or an infection. These symptoms include sudden dizziness, vomiting, and even loss of consciousness.
What are 2 disorders that affect the adrenal glands?
Which of the following would be observed in a patient with Addisonian crisis?
An Addisonian crisis usually starts out with a person experiencing symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, diarrhea, and loss of appetite. As the crisis worsens, the person will experience chills, sweating, and fever.
Which of the following findings would be typical of Addisons disease?
Typical laboratory findings include hyponatremia, hyperkalemia, and hypoglycemia. Hyponatremia is due to cortisol and aldosterone deficiency. Aldosterone deficiency causes sodium wasting, and cortisol deficiency results in the increased antidiuretic hormone.
Which of the following signs or symptoms might be expected in Addison disease?
Symptoms of Addison’s disease include: Steadily worsening fatigue (most common symptom). Patches of dark skin (hyperpigmentation), especially around scars and skin creases and on your gums. Abdominal pain.
Which syndrome would be suspected in a patient who has Addison’s disease?
People with Addison’s disease often have an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism), where the thyroid gland does not produce enough hormones. By testing the levels of certain hormones in your blood, your endocrinologist (a specialist in hormone conditions) can determine whether you have hypothyroidism.
Which symptoms would the nurse assess in a patient who has Addison’s disease?
Symptoms of Addison’s disease include:
- Steadily worsening fatigue (most common symptom).
- Patches of dark skin (hyperpigmentation), especially around scars and skin creases and on your gums.
- Abdominal pain.
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Diarrhea.
- Loss of appetite and unintentional weight loss.
Which of the following would be an expected finding in a client with adrenal crisis Addisonian crisis )?
Which of the following abnormal electrolyte imbalances is EXPECTED with Addisonian Crisis? The answer is B. Remember with Addisonian Crisis the 3’H (hypoglycemia, hyponatremia, and hyperkalemia). The potassium and blood glucose levels are normal in this question.