What’s Addison’s Disease? Here’s What You Should Know About Taylor Rousseau Grigg’s Rare Condition.

Taylor Rousseau Grigg, a TikTok star known for her lifestyle content, passed away last week at the age of 25 of complications from Addison’s disease.

Here are important things to know about this uncommon disorder.

What’s Addison’s disease?

Addison’s disease, also called adrenal insufficiency or hypocortisolism, is a condition that happens when the adrenal glands don’t produce enough hormones, specifically cortisol and sometimes aldosterone. Cortisol helps the body respond to stress, and supports blood pressure, heart function, and blood sugar levels. Aldosterone affects sodium and potassium levels, which control the amount of fluid that flows through the kidneys and turns into urine. It also impacts blood volume and blood pressure.

What causes Addison’s disease?

The condition is commonly caused by an autoimmune response, which occurs when the immune system attacks healthy tissues for an unknown reason. In Addison’s disease, the immune system attacks the adrenal cortex, or the outer part of the adrenal gland that makes cortisol and aldosterone.

What are the symptoms of Addison’s disease?

The symptoms vary and usually happen slowly. People with the disorder may ignore the symptoms until they become worse. According to Dr. Oberto Torres Rafael, an endocrinologist with Jackson Medical Group, some symptoms include:

• Pain in the abdomen, muscles, or joints
• Dehydration
• Dizziness
• Fainting
• Severe fatigue
• Lightheadedness
• Loss of appetite and weight
• Low blood pressure
• Low blood sugar
• Water-electrolyte imbalance (which can lead to craving salty food)
• Excess sweating
• Nausea, diarrhea, or vomiting
• Areas of darkened skin

Treatment for Addison’s disease usually involves steroid replacement therapy. If you’re experiencing some of the common symptoms of this disorder, it’s important to talk with your doctor right away, as the effects of Addison’s disease can be life threatening.

Oberto Torres Rafael, MD, is an endocrinologist with Jackson Medical Group. He specializes in diabetes, metabolism, and internal medicine disorders. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Torres Rafael, call 305-585-4564 or visit jacksonmedicalgroup.org.