Major Symptoms Of Adrenal Insufficiency

Craving For Salt

An individual experiencing an excessive craving for salt may have adrenal insufficiency. This symptom is most often caused by the patient's immune system attacking their adrenal cortex. This autoimmune action impairs the adrenal cortex function of producing mineralocorticoids in response to signals sent from the kidneys. The kidneys send signals when the fluid levels in the body become too low or too high. Aldosterone is a mineralocorticoid produced by the adrenal gland that stimulates the kidney's action of reabsorbing sodium into the blood and releasing potassium into the urine, saliva, sweat, and gastrointestinal tract. This mechanism works well in healthy individuals to ensure they maintain a proper homeostatic balance of fluid. However, adrenal insufficiency means the adrenal glands do not supply aldosterone, resulting in the opposite effect. The kidneys actually excrete too much salt and hold onto too much potassium. This malfunction is dangerous because salt takes fluids with it from the body when it is excreted, resulting in excessive fluid loss. When the body is losing more fluid than it is taking in, the individual is dehydrated. The brain will increase an individual's craving for salt when they are dehydrated to encourage fluid intake.

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