Addison's disease is a rare disease, also called adrenal insufficiency. Addison's disease, named for Thomas Addison, is "caused by a partial or complete failure of the adrenal cortex, which is the outer layer of the adrenal glands" (HealthCentral). This disorder occurs when the body fails to produce sufficient amounts of the adrenal hormones cortisol, aldosterone, and androgens. These are essential for the body because they produce hormones that control many bodily functions. Inadequate production of cortisol and often deficient levels of aldosterone and adrenal androgens can lead the body to attack itself (autoimmune disease), thus becoming life-threatening. When these hormones are not produced enough, they can be harmful to the body because they are essential for life. The MayoClinic website states that the hormone cortisol is necessary and without it it can result in excessive potassium levels and low salt levels, causing an electrolyte imbalance in the body. It can also hinder the body's ability to convert foods into energy, affect the body's inflammatory response, and impede the body's ability to respond appropriately to stress. It can also affect a person's overall mental well-being by affecting sexual development between males and females by causing a decrease in libido and muscle mass. Although Addison's disease affects both males and females, it also affects children. It is more predominant in females than males, but is more likely to occur between the ages of 30 and 50 in both. According to Webscape, predisposed children have a 30% risk of progression to Addison's disease. The death rate is about 6 million in 1 in the United States and much higher in other countries; however this number is very misleading... middle of the paper... patients are also advised to wear Medic Alert jewelry. Works Cited "Addison's Disease Definition - Diseases and Conditions - Mayo Clinic." Mayo Clinic – Mayo Clinic. Np, nd Web. January 25, 2014. "Dermatological Aspects of Addison's Disease." Medscape. WebMD, March 8, 2013. Web. January 26, 2014. Erickson, Quenby L., et al. “Addison's disease: potentially life-threatening tanning.” Cutis 66.1 (2000): 72-4. ProQuest.Web. January 26, 2014.HealthCentral. "Addison's disease." HealthCentral.com: Trusted, reliable and up-to-date health information. Remedy Health Media and Web. January 26, 2014.Liotta, MD, Elizabeth A., and Dirk M. Elston, MD. "Dermatological aspects of Addison's disease". MedScape. WebMD, March 8, 2013. Web. January 25, 2014. Margulies, MD, Paul. “Adrenal Diseases – Addison's Disease The Facts You Need to Know.”NADF. National Adrenal Disease Foundation, n.d. Web. January 26. 2014.