Which statement best describes Addison's disease?

• A. Adrenal glands not producing enough steroids
• B. Overproduction of cortisol
• C. Excess aldosterone production
• D. Insulin deficiency

Answer: (A)

Addison's disease is adrenal insufficiency, where the adrenal cortex does not produce enough steroid hormones, especially cortisol, and often aldosterone as well. This lack of steroids leads to symptoms like fatigue, weight loss, abdominal pain, nausea, low blood pressure, dizziness, and sometimes darkening of the skin (hyperpigmentation). The deficiency of aldosterone also disrupts fluid and electrolyte balance, causing hyponatremia and hyperkalemia, which contribute to weakness and hypotension. The essential idea is that the adrenal glands are underproducing steroids.

This aligns best with the description that the adrenal glands are not producing enough steroids. Other options point to different conditions: too much cortisol occurs in Cushing’s syndrome; excess aldosterone leads to primary hyperaldosteronism with hypertension and low potassium; insulin deficiency relates to diabetes mellitus.