Addison’s Disease
If Cushing syndrome is about the oversupply of cortisol in the body, Addison’s disease is about cortisol insufficiency, which happens when the adrenal gland does not produce enough such hormones. But in both cases, the consequences can be fatal if it takes a long time before the patient receives the proper treatment, like hormonal replacement therapy, to supply what is lacking.
Cushing syndrome and Addison’s disease develop slowly and may have some very similar symptoms, like acanthosis nigricans, extreme tiredness, and depression. In some cases, Addison’s disease gets worse due to stress or an injury, making the symptoms more severe and apparent.
In its acute state, Addison’s disease may result in severe abdominal pain, confusion, delirium, and life-threatening health crisis like low blood pressure, high potassium, and low sodium. That’s why hyperpigmentation, or the simple darkening of patches of skin, does not seem simple at all. They must be addressed immediately with proper diagnosis to rule out Addison’s disease or whatever condition might be causing it to receive the right treatment and avoid the worst-case scenarios.
