A sudden collapse. An unexplained, extreme fatigue. These are not just symptoms of a long workday or stress from daily life but could be an indication of something more serious and debilitating. For 25-year-old TikTok influencer Taylor Rousseau Grigg, they were signs of something far more serious—a life-threatening autoimmune condition that led to her unexpected death. Diagnosed with Addison's disease, a rare disorder that slowly damages the adrenal glands, Taylor’s struggle with the illness highlights how challenging it can be to detect and manage a condition that impacts your hormones and energy levels. For many people, this disease remains undiagnosed for months, or even years, often until it has already caused significant harm.

But what exactly is Addison's disease, and why is it so often overlooked? While it’s a rare condition, the potential for long-term damage—especially if left untreated—should not be underestimated. In this article, we dive deep into the symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatment options available for Addison's disease. Could you be at risk without even knowing it? Read on to find out how to spot the signs and take proactive steps toward managing this rare but dangerous condition.

What is Addison’s Disease?

Addison’s disease is a chronic condition that stems from insufficient hormone production in the adrenal glands. These small, triangular glands, located above your kidneys, are responsible for producing hormones like cortisol and aldosterone, which play crucial roles in regulating metabolism, stress response, immune function, and even blood pressure. When these hormones are not produced in adequate amounts, the body’s ability to handle stress, maintain normal blood pressure, and regulate blood sugar levels becomes compromised.

In its early stages, Addison’s disease is often subtle, manifesting as mild fatigue, muscle pain, and skin discoloration. However, as the disease progresses, the lack of essential hormones can lead to severe health complications. It’s the slow onset of these symptoms that makes Addison's disease difficult to diagnose—patients often attribute their tiredness and discomfort to more common issues like stress or overwork.

Symptoms of Addison’s Disease

The initial signs of Addison’s disease can be easily mistaken for other conditions, making it one of the trickier disorders to identify. Here are some of the most common symptoms to be aware of:

Steadily Worsening Fatigue: If you feel drained no matter how much rest you get, it could be more than just burnout. This fatigue doesn't go away with a good night's sleep.

Hyperpigmentation: One of the hallmarks of Addison’s disease is the darkening of certain skin areas—especially scars, skin folds, and gums. The condition is sometimes mistaken for sun exposure or other dermatological conditions.

Abdominal Distress: Nausea, vomiting, and unexplained weight loss are frequent early signs. If you notice gastrointestinal issues coupled with chronic tiredness, it’s worth considering further testing.

Craving Salt: A sudden and intense craving for salty foods is another symptom due to the imbalance in sodium and potassium levels. Your body craves salt as a way to compensate for adrenal insufficiency.

These symptoms are often mistaken for something much more benign, but they can signal the onset of a life-threatening condition. If left untreated, the body’s inability to manage stress effectively could result in an Addisonian crisis—a severe medical emergency that can cause shock and even death.

What Causes Addison’s Disease?

Addison's disease primarily occurs due to an autoimmune reaction where the body's immune system mistakenly attacks and damages the adrenal glands. This often happens slowly, and symptoms may not appear until around 90% of the gland is damaged. In autoimmune cases, the immune system targets the adrenal cortex, the part of the gland responsible for producing vital hormones like cortisol and aldosterone.

While autoimmune issues account for the majority of Addison's cases, there are other causes. For example, tuberculosis (TB) was once a leading cause, especially in developing countries. Today, certain infections, cancer metastasis to the adrenal glands, and even surgeries that remove parts of the adrenal glands can also lead to this condition.

Additionally, those with autoimmune conditions such as Type 1 diabetes, vitiligo, or thyroid disorders (like Graves' disease) are at a higher risk. Addison's disease often develops in people who have another autoimmune disorder, making it part of a broader spectrum of diseases linked to immune system dysfunction.

Diagnosing Addison's Disease

Due to the slow progression of symptoms, many people with Addison's disease go undiagnosed for a long time. A routine blood test might reveal abnormal levels of sodium or potassium, prompting further investigation into the underlying cause. Skin pigmentation changes—especially around scars, creases, or the gums—can also signal Addison's disease and should be considered during diagnosis.

To confirm the condition, doctors will perform tests that assess hormone levels in the blood. An ACTH stimulation test, which measures how well the adrenal glands respond to stress, is commonly used to diagnose Addison’s disease. If the glands aren’t producing cortisol as expected, the diagnosis is typically confirmed.

Treatment for Addison's disease

While Addison's disease cannot be cured, it can be effectively managed with medication. The primary treatment involves replacing the hormones that the adrenal glands are no longer producing, particularly cortisol and aldosterone.

Cortisol Replacement: Hydrocortisone is the synthetic version of cortisol used to manage this deficiency. The dosage varies depending on individual needs and stress factors.

Aldosterone Replacement: Fludrocortisone helps replace aldosterone to maintain sodium and potassium balance, crucial for blood pressure regulation.

In addition to medication, people with Addison's disease must monitor their health closely and adjust their hormone levels during times of illness, stress, or surgery. This may require increasing their medication dosage temporarily. Lifestyle changes, such as staying hydrated and maintaining a healthy diet with adequate salt intake, also play an essential role in managing the disease.

Addison's disease may be rare, but its impact can be severe if left untreated. Early detection is key to managing the disease and preventing life-threatening crises. If you experience unexplained fatigue, digestive issues, or unusual skin pigmentation, consult a healthcare provider. With the right care, individuals with Addison's disease can live long, healthy lives despite the challenges they face.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult a healthcare provider for diagnosis and treatment options.

One child in India dies every nine minutes from an infection caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria, as it becomes one of the top 10 global public health threats, experts warn.

Dr HB Veena Kumari of the Department of Neuromicrobiology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, claims: "The Covid-19 pandemic has significantly contributed to rising antimicrobial resistance. The World Health Organisation projects that 10 million deaths will occur annually by 2025."

According to the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, antibiotic resistance occurs when bacteria in the body learns to withstand and remain unaffected by the medicines (antibiotics) meant to kill them.

In such cases, doctors have to switch to different antibiotics, but these backup medicines might not work as well or might cause more side effects. Additionally, infections may also worsen over time as bacteria can become resistant to all available drugs.

Alarmingly is that these tough, drug-resistant bacteria can spread from one person to another, both in hospitals and at home.

According to Dr TS Balganesh, Gangagen Biotechnologies, nearly 36 percent of haemodialysis patients die from fatal infections, which is second only to cardiovascular diseases as a cause of death.

He tells Deccan Herald: "The risk for infective endocarditis in haemodialysis patients is approximately 18 times higher than in the general population and up to 58 percent of these episodes are caused by a bacteria named 'S aureus', with an in-hospital mortality of more than 50 percent."

What Does WHO Say?

One out of every six serious infections confirmed in labs worldwide last year could not be killed by the antibiotics meant to treat them.

Between 2018 and 2023, the problem of antibiotics failing (called resistance) got much worse. For many common types of germs, resistance went up by 5% to 15% every year. The growing inability of these essential medicines to work is a huge threat to people everywhere.

Which Antibiotics Are People Becoming Resistant To?

The WHO's latest report is the most detailed look yet at this issue. It reports on how much resistance exists across 22 different antibiotics, which include common drugs used to treat everyday illnesses. The report focused on eight common types of bacteria that cause things like:

• Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
• Stomach and intestinal infections
• Dangerous blood infections
• Gonorrhoea

Additionally, Dr Obaidur Rahman of Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital has also warned that the country’s casual use of Azithromycin, sold under brand names such as Zithromax, Azee and Zmax, has worsened its effectiveness and pushed India closer to a major public health challenge.

A drug often prescribed for sore throats and upper respiratory tract infections, Dr Rahman noted that Azithromycin was once effective against Mycoplasma Pneumonia, a bacterium responsible for pneumonia in adults and children.

READ MORE: India’s New Antibiotic in 30 Years Offers Hope Against Antibacterial-Resistant Infections

However, this is no longer the case as India now shows an alarming 80 to 90 percent resistance to the drug when treating infections caused by this bacterium. A medicine that once addressed a wide range of respiratory problems is no longer reliable for many patients.

The surgeon has since urged people to avoid taking antibiotics without proper medical advice. Most seasonal respiratory infections resolve on their own, and unnecessary drugs only add to the resistance problem.

Supreme Court on Friday declared the right to menstrual health as part of the right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution. The court issued a slew of directions to ensure that every school provides biodegradable sanitary napkins free of cost to adolescent girls. The guidelines also ensured that schools must be equipped with functional and hygienic gender-segregated toilets. The Court directed the pan-India implementation of the Union's national policy, 'Menstrual Hygiene Policy for School-going Girls' in schools for adolescent girl children from Classes 6-12.

Read: Menopause Clinics Explained: Latest Launch By Maharashtra And Kerala Government

Supreme Court Declares Menstrual Hygiene As Part Of Right To Life: Here Are the Directions

A bench comprising Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice R Mahadevan passed the following directions:

• All States/UT must ensure that every school, whether government-run or privately managed, in both urban and rural areas, is provided with functional gender segregated toilets with usable water connectivity.
• All existing or newly constructed toilets in schools shall be designed, constructed and maintained to ensure privacy and accessibility, including by catering to needs of children with disabilities.
• All school toilets must be equipped with functional washing facilities and soap and water available at all times.
• All states/UTs must ensure that every school, whether government-run or privately managed, in both urban and rural areas, provide oxo-biodegradable sanitary napkins manufactured in compliance with the ASTM D-6954 standards free of cost. Such sanitary napkins must be made readily accessible to girl students, preferably within toilet premises through sanitary napkin vending machines or, where not visible, at a designated place.
• All States/UTs must ensure that every school, whether government-run or privately managed, in both urban and rural areas establish menstrual hygiene management corners. It must be equipped with spare innerwears, uniforms, disposable pads and other necessary materials to address menstrual urgency.

The court also issued directions for the disposal of sanitary waste. Justice Pardiwala said, "This pronouncement is not just for stakeholders of the legal system. It is also meant for classrooms where girls hesitate to ask for help. It is for teachers who want to help but are restrained due to a lack of resources. And it is for parents who may not realise the impact of their silence and for society to establish its progress as a measure in how we protect the most vulnerable. We wish to communicate to every girlchild who may have become a victim of absenteeism because her body was perceived as a burden when the fault is not hers."

Read: Menstrual Cups To Replace Sanitary Napkins In Karnataka Government Schools

Why Is This Judgment So Important?

In India, menstruation is still seen as taboo. In fact, there is a lot of shame around it. Menstrual shame is the deeply internalized stigma, embarrassment, and negative perception surrounding menstruation, which causes individuals to feel unclean, or "less than" for a natural biological process. This judgment thus is an effort to do away with the shame rooted in cultural, social, and religious taboos, which is often the reason why many girls drop out, or due to lack of awareness, develop health adversities.

Most health videos on YouTube, even those made by doctors are also not reliable medical information, found a new study, published in JAMA Network Open. The researchers reviewed 309 popular YouTube videos on cancer and diabetes and found that fewer than 1 in 5 were supported by high quality scientific evidence. About two-thirds of the view had low, very low or no evidence at all to back up their health claims.

What was more concerning is that weaker evidence often attracted more viewer than those backed with strong science. The study looked at videos which had at least 10,000 views. The lead author of the study Dr EunKyo Kang of South Korea's National Cancer Center, said, "This reveals a substantial credibility-evidence gap in medical content videos, where physician authority frequently legitimizes claims lacking robust empirical support."

"Our findings underscore the necessity for evidence-based content-creation guidelines, enhanced science communication training for health care professionals, and algorithmic reforms prioritizing scientific rigor alongside engagement metrics," Kang added in a news release.

How Was The Study Conducted?

The researchers reviewed videos from June 20 and 21, 2025, focusing on cancer and diabetes content. 75 per cent of them were made by physicians. The videos had a median count of 164,000 views and a median length of 19 minutes.

Researchers also developed a scoring system, called E-GRADE to rate the strength of science backed evidence in each video's claim.

This is how the grading system worked:

• GRADE A: high quality evidence
• GRADE B: standard quality evidence
• GRADE C: low quality evidence
• GRADE D: very low or no evidence

What Were The Results Of The Medical Videos?

• GRADE A: 19.7%
• GRABE B: 14.6%
• GRADE C: 3.2%
• GRADE D: 62.5%

The study also found that videos with the weakest evidence were 35% more likely to get higher views than videos with strong scientific evidence.

Richard Saver, a professor of law at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill noted that this issue is not just limited to YouTube. "Physician-spread misinformation is a long-standing problem, dating back well before the internet era," he wrote in an accompanying editorial.

Saver said some doctors continue to lean on personal experience rather than solid data, despite evidence-based medicine being regarded as the gold standard. He noted that EBM can feel like it downplays individual clinical judgment. Still, Saver stressed that more research is needed, adding that the study underscores the importance of examining the evidence behind health professionals’ claims on social media.

How Health And Me Has Helped With Medical Facts

Health and Me has always stayed a step ahead from medical misinformation and ensured that its readers too consume correct information. Health and Me's Fact Check series have consistently ran checks on bizarre medical claims, whether it is about a magical potion for weight loss, fake health news, or un-scientific remedies.

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