Causes
Female gender, females are highly susceptible to Addison’s disease as compared to males.
-Diagnosis of TB (tuberculosis)
-Infections.
-Traumatic injury to glands.
-Hemorrhage/Internal bleeding into the adrenal glands.
-Abnormal pituitary gland functioning.
-Abnormal autoimmune activity.
-History of autoimmune disorder in the family (close relative)
-Cushing’s disease and its treatment.
-Using blood thinner for a longer period of time.
-Diagnosis of Amyloidosis.
-Spread of cancer to adrenal glands from other organs or tissues.
-Diagnosis of adrenoleukodystrophy.
-Primary and secondary adrenal insufficiency that are explained in detail below:
- Primary adrenal insufficiency: It occurs when adrenal glands are no longer able to produce hormones due to damage to them. Damage to adrenal glands occurs when the immune system attacks them. Hence, this disease is also known as an autoimmune disease. In an immune disease, the autoimmune system mistakes an organ as an outsider like viruses or bacteria, and attacks them.
Causes of primary adrenal insufficiency include:
-administration of glucocorticoids for a long period of time.
-Body infections.
-Some kind of cancer or abnormal tumor growth.
-Prescribed blood thinner to avoid blot clots.
- Secondary adrenal insufficiency: This occurs when the pituitary gland is unable to produce adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH). ACTH acts as a signal for adrenal glands for hormone production. If corticosteroid medications are not taken, it is also possible to develop adrenal insufficiency as it helps to control chronic health issues such as asthma.
Causes of secondary adrenal insufficiency include:
-Possible tumor in the body.
-Prescribed medications.
-Genetic composition.
-A brain injury that is traumatic in nature.