The adrenal glands are located just above your kidneys and make two hormones that can impact adrenal insufficiency: cortisol and aldosterone.
Cortisol is a hormone involved in your stress response, and it also helps to regulate your body’s metabolism. Low coritsol levels can cause a set of symptoms that include weight loss, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain and joint pain.
Aldosterone is a hormone that helps to maintain your body’s salt and water levels, which plays a part in regulating blood pressure. People with low aldosterone may feel lightheaded, dizzy, fatigued and have low blood pressure.
When someone has adrenal insufficiency, they may have low coritsol levels, low aldosterone or both.
What exactly is adrenal insufficiency? Is it the same as adrenal fatigue?
Adrenal insufficiency is an endocrine -- or hormonal -- disorder that occurs when the adrenal glands are damaged and do not produce enough of certain hormones. Unfortunately, the disease is often misdiagnosed. (National Institute of Diabetes & Digestive & Kidney Diseases).
Endocronologist, Theodore C. Friedman, MD, PhD, is a hormone know-it-all. In this segment, he thoroughly describes the signs and symptoms of adrenal insufficiency and also explains the difference between adrenal insufficiency and adrenal fatigue.
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The Major Hormones Affected by Adrenal Insufficiency
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Theodore C. Friedman, M.D., Ph.D., contributes to public health through many different avenues. From his role in direct patient care and his many research contributions in peer-reviewed endocrinology journals, to his efforts in educating the lay public, Dr. Friedman’s work aims to increase knowledge and improve overall patient care in areas of endocrinology and metabolism.
Dr. Friedman is a Professor of Medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, where he also serves as Vice-Chairman of the Department of Internal Medicine. At Charles Drew University he is a Professor of Medicine, as well as Chairman of the Department of Internal Medicine and Chief of the Division of Endocrinology, Molecular Medicine, and Metabolism. He is also an endowed professor in Cardio-Metabolic Diseases at CDU and Chief in the Division of Endocrinology at Martin Luther King, Jr. Multi-Service, Ambulatory Care Center (MLK-MACC), where he sees patients in endocrine and diabetes clinics.
Theodore C. Friedman, MD, PhD
Theodore C. Friedman, M.D., Ph.D., contributes to public health through many different avenues. From his role in direct patient care and his many research contributions in peer-reviewed endocrinology journals, to his efforts in educating the lay public, Dr. Friedman’s work aims to increase knowledge and improve overall patient care in areas of endocrinology and metabolism. Dr. Friedman is a Professor of Medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, where he also serves as Vice-Chairman of the Department of Internal Medicine. At Charles Drew University he is a Professor of Medicine, as well as Chairman of the Department of Internal Medicine and Chief of the Division of Endocrinology, Molecular Medicine, and Metabolism. He is also an endowed professor in Cardio-Metabolic Diseases at CDU and Chief in the Division of Endocrinology at Martin Luther King, Jr. Multi-Service, Ambulatory Care Center (MLK-MACC), where he sees patients in endocrine and diabetes clinics.
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