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	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text and any section headings.

Adrenal insufficiency is a condition in which the adrenal glands, located above the kidneys, do not produce adequate amounts of steroid hormones (chemicals produced by the body that regulate the function of other organs). There are many causes of adrenal insufficiency. Certain diseases cause permanent adrenal insufficiency while other conditions cause temporary adrenal insufficiency. Some medications can also result in temporary adrenal insufficiency. Adrenal insufficiency can also occur when the hypothalamus or the pituitary gland, located at the base of the brain, does not make adequate amounts of the hormones that assist in regulating adrenal function. The November 16, 2005, issue of JAMA includes an article about adrenal insufficiency.

SYMPTOMS OF ADRENAL INSUFFICIENCY

Typical symptoms of adrenal insufficiency include unusual tiredness and weakness, unintended weight loss, nausea, diarrhea, dizziness, loss of appetite, joint pain and belly pain, salt craving, and darkening of the skin. When levels of ACTH or CRH are affected, people . . . [Full Text of this Article]

Erin Brender, MD, Writer; Cassio Lynm, MA, Illustrator; Richard M. Glass, MD, Editor

RELATED ARTICLE

Adrenal Insufficiency
Roberto Salvatori
JAMA. 2005;294(19):2481-2488.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT