Addison's disease

Under worsening condition Addison's disease may result in Addisonian crisis. This is characterised by the adrenal failure.

Addisonian crisis may be provoked by injury, infection or stress if a person has Addison's disease.

The symptoms may include those of Addison's disease as well as:
Coma or loss of consciousness
Pain in abdomen, neck or lower back
Hyperkalemia or high levels of potassium

The adrenal glands consist of two parts. The inner part called medulla produces adrenaline hormones.
The outer part of the adrenal glands is known as cortex which produces three types of hormones - glucocorticoids, mineralocorticoids and male sex hormones.
Of these the first two are essential for human life. Glucocorticoids play an important role in the conversion of food into energy, help in combating stress and respond to immune system’s inflammatory condition.
Secondary adrenal deficiency occurs when pituitary glands fail to produce adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). This hormone stimulates the adrenal cortex to function properly. Even if the adrenal glands are not damaged, inadequate production of ACTH can result in insufficient amount of adrenal hormones. Doctors regard this condition as secondary adrenal insufficiency.

Mineralocorticoids maintain a balance of sodium and potassium and thereby regulate the blood pressure of the body.

Addison’s disease comes about when this cortex fails to produce hormones in adequate quantities. Doctors classify this condition as primary adrenal insufficiency. The most common reason why the adrenal glands fail to produce the required hormones is because the immune system begins to look at the adrenal cortex as harmful foreign substance that is in the body which should be eliminated and therefore begins to attack it.