Definition

1. Noun:
   • A glandular disorder: A medical condition caused by the inadequate function of the adrenal cortex, the outer layer of the adrenal glands. This failure leads to insufficient production of certain hormones, primarily cortisol and often aldosterone.
   • Characteristic symptoms: The condition is notably marked by anemia (a deficiency of red blood cells), extreme weakness or prostration, and hyperpigmentation, which causes a brownish or bronze discoloration of the skin.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The patient was diagnosed with Addison's disease after presenting with chronic fatigue and darkening skin.
  • Managing Addison's disease typically requires lifelong hormone replacement therapy.

Advanced Usage

• "Addisonian crisis": A severe, life-threatening complication of Addison's disease characterized by extremely low blood pressure, low blood sugar, and high potassium levels, requiring immediate medical treatment.
  • The sudden stress of an infection can precipitate an Addisonian crisis in an untreated patient.

Variants and Related Words

• Adrenal insufficiency: A more general medical term for underactive adrenal glands, which includes Addison's disease (primary adrenal insufficiency).
• Hypocortisolism: A term referring specifically to low cortisol levels, a central feature of Addison's disease.

Synonyms

• Primary adrenal insufficiency: The formal medical synonym for Addison's disease.
• Chronic adrenocortical insufficiency: A descriptive synonym emphasizing the long-term nature of the gland's failure.

Related Phrases

• "To have Addison's": An informal way to state that someone has the condition.
  • She has had to manage her schedule carefully since she was diagnosed with Addison's.

Noun

1. a glandular disorder caused by failure of function of the cortex of the adrenal gland and marked by anemia and prostration with brownish skin