Major Symptoms Of Adrenal Insufficiency

Low Blood Pressure

Low blood pressure is more common in Addison's disease rather than type 2 adrenal insufficiency. Low blood pressure means anything under 90/60 and is caused by low levels of aldosterone in the blood. Aldosterone helps to moderate blood pressure by controlling sodium and potassium in the body. If sodium is too low, aldosterone signals to the kidneys to add more to the blood. If potassium is too high, it signals to the kidneys to release it in urine. Symptoms of this condition include lightheadedness, dizziness, blurred vision, fainting, and nausea. In some cases, there may be no symptoms at all.

Muscle And Joint Pain

Adrenal insufficiency can manifest as muscle and joint pain as a symptom of the disorder. The adrenal cortex is responsible for releasing glucocorticoids including cortisol when the hypothalamus and pituitary trigger it. Cortisol is responsible for helping the body synthesize protein, carbohydrates, and fats into cellular energy properly so the muscles can use it. Without enough cortisone due to adrenal insufficiency, proteins are synthesized into non-functional carbohydrates that cannot be stored in the muscles and liver. Glycogen is a form of carbohydrate released from the liver when the muscles require glucose to function. Cortisol deficiency causes the depletion of glycogen in the liver, rendering it unable to supply energy to the muscles. As a result, the muscles become weak and unable to function properly, leading to soreness and joint pain.

Additionally, cortisol acts as a potent anti-inflammatory agent in the body through its inhibition of leukocytic responses, lysosome stabilization, and stopping cytokine production. The smallest muscular or skeletal injury during a state of deficiency in cortisol can cause an inflammatory response that is persistent and handicaps healthy healing processes. Pain sensitivity increases as a result of prolonged cytokine elevation, while nerve damage is associated with widespread tissue inflammation. A combination of one or more of these malfunctions that occur in the absence of cortisol can cause muscle and joint pain.