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Aldosterone and Hormone Replacement Therapy and Renal Dialysis

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Aldosterone and Hormone Replacement Therapy

Aldosterone falls in the class of hormone called mineralocorticoids, produces by the adrenal glands and is found near the kidneys. It sustains blood pressure, water and salt balance within the body. This procedure is assisting the kidneys to preserve sodium and excrete potassium in order to maintain a balance. If Aldosterone production falls, there isn’t enough regulation of salt and water balance (as aldosterone is being lost through urination) triggering blood pressure and blood volume to decline as a result of the kidneys not functioning properly. If body is in need of salt, water is not retained and adrenals release more Aldosterone and salt is reabsorbed from the tubule.

Addison’s …show more content…

Women who fall pregnant and suffer from Addison’s disease may need to also alter their medications depending on the individual. During delivery of the baby, similar treatment is applied as to surgery and after there is monitoring of what the dosage requirements need to change to.

In having the hormone replacement therapy, there are long-term and short-term benefits. In the long term estrogen levels will be higher than average reducing vaginal dryness and urethritis. Preventions of fractures, heart disease, colon cancer, or dementia and most commonly reduce breast and uterine cancer.

The prognosis for people with Addison’s disease can be uncertain. If untreated, it will be fatal, if diagnosed it requires a lifelong treatment. In some cases there is an increased chance of a ‘premature death’. In most cases, with hormone replacement therapy, most people with Addison’s disease are able to live normal lives.

Bibliography
Brotherton J. & Mudie K. (2010), Heinemann Biology HSC, Pearson Australia. Victoria
Corrigan E. K., Addison’s Disease, Retrieved December 19, 2012, from http://www.addisons.org.au/assoc/whatis.pdf
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (2013) Hormone Replacement Therapy. Retrieved December 19, 2012, from http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/hormonereplacementtherapy.html
NIDDK, Adrenal Insufficiency and Addison's Disease.

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