Often, an adrenal crisis is triggered by health-related stress, such as an illness, surgical procedure or serious injury. This can occur in someone who has been diagnosed with adrenal insufficiency or in someone who has yet to be diagnosed. Symptoms of adrenal insufficiency can develop suddenly and rapidly into an adrenal crisis. Cravings for salt and darkening of skin, especially on the face and hands, or on moles, scars or skin folds, are seen only with primary adrenal insufficiency. In addition, signs and symptoms can include lightheadedness, feeling wiped out by an ordinary illness, depression, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea. The most common signs and symptoms include muscle weakness and fatigue muscle, joint or abdominal pains and decreased appetite and weight loss.

Diagnosis sometimes is delayed because early symptoms can easily be mistaken for something else. Signs and symptoms of adrenal insufficiency often come on gradually and progressively worsen over months. In this situation, the adrenal glands may take days to months to recover function and restore proper cortisol production. Secondary adrenal insufficiency is most commonly caused by medications, such as prednisone, intra-articular injections with steroids, or steroid creams. If the pituitary gland somehow is damaged or altered, it can affect adrenal gland cortisol secretion, even if the adrenal glands are healthy. With secondary adrenal insufficiency, the pituitary gland, located in the brain, makes an insufficient amount of a hormone called “adrenocorticotropic hormone.” This hormone stimulates the adrenal gland to produce cortisol. Most often, this takes the form of a long-term (chronic) disease - Addison’s disease - that occurs when your immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys adrenal gland tissues. Primary adrenal insufficiency occurs when adrenal glands are diseased or damaged. There are two main categories of adrenal insufficiency: primary adrenal insufficiency and secondary adrenal insufficiency. Aldosterone helps maintain proper blood pressure through the balance of sodium, potassium and water in the body. It also helps glucose metabolism and helps with proper cardiovascular function. Cortisol helps your body respond to stress, such as from an injury or infection.

Hormones secreted by the adrenal glands include cortisol and aldosterone.

Your adrenal glands are located on the top of each kidney. Primary adrenal insufficiency, also known as Addison’s disease, is one form. DEAR MAYO CLINIC: What is adrenal insufficiency? Is it the same as Addison’s disease?ĪNSWER: There are a few forms of adrenal insufficiency, which is an uncommon disorder caused by the adrenal glands not making enough of certain hormones.

Primary function of the adrenal gland