A & P Case Study on Addisons Disease Essay

A & P Case Study on Addisons Disease Essay

Unit 1 Case Study



Addison's disease is from a result from damage to the adrenal cortex. These two



adrenal glands are located on top of the kidneys, where they are enclosed in a



fibrous capsule and a cushion of fat. . The have an outer portion, called the



cortex, which is a glandular tissue derived from embryonic mesoderm. The inner



portion called the medulla, which is more like a knot of nervous tissue than a gland



and it is part of the sympathetic nervous system. The adrenal cortex synthesizes



over two dozen steroid hormones called corticosteroids. The Adrenal medulla is part



of the autonomic nervous system. They are often referred to as the suprarenal



glands. That damage causes the cortex to produce ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...Treatment with



replacement corticosteroids will control the symptoms of this disease, and this



usually will require the patient to take these drugs for life. It is receive a



combination of glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids. The provider may increase



the dose in times of infection, injury and stress. With adrenal crisis patients will



need an immediate injection of hydrocortisone, either IM, or IV. If the blood



pressure is extreme low IV fluids will be helpful. Complications can occur if you



take too much or not enough of the adrenal hormone supplement. This



complications can arise due to related illnesses such as diabetes, chronic thyroiditis,



hypoparathyroidsim, ovarian hypofunction or testicular failure, thyrotoxicosis and



pernicious anemia. Low sodium with Addison's should be carefully corrected, if



done to quickly it can lead to brain damage, this is noted in a 2004 article in



"American family Physician" they require immediate but slow administration of



saline, which is basically salt water, composed of sodium chloride in water. They list



a second step which then be finding the underlying cause. Primary adrenocortical



insufficiency is not a common disorder. It's incidence in western populations are



near 50 cases per 1,000, 000. However with the widespread corticosteroid use



secondary adrenocortical insufficiency due to steroid withdrawal

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