Adrenal Insufficiency

Adrenal insufficiency is a condition where the adrenal glands don’t produce enough cortisol and sometimes aldosterone. It can be caused by an autoimmune disease (Addison’s disease) or from a secondary cause such as pituitary gland dysfunction. Patients require lifelong steroid medications to prevent a life-threatening complication called an adrenal crisis which can be triggered by physical stress (illness, injury, surgery) or emotional stress and can lead to a dangerously low blood pressure, low blood sugar, low sodium level, and high potassium level.