Final answer:
Adrenal exhaustion is linked to Addison's disease or adrenal insufficiency, which is characterized by insufficient cortisol production and symptoms such as fatigue, low blood pressure, and abnormal skin pigmentation. Diagnosis is through blood tests and imaging, and treatment usually involves lifelong cortisol replacement.
Step-by-step explanation:
Adrenal exhaustion, often associated with the chronic stress response, can lead to a condition known as Addison's disease, also known as adrenal insufficiency. This condition results from the hyposecretion of cortisol by the adrenal gland and can be either due to a primary malfunction of the adrenal glands or be secondary to reduced ACTH from the pituitary gland. Symptoms of Addison's disease include severe fatigue, depression, low blood pressure, weakness, nausea, appetite loss, and abnormal skin pigmentation. These symptoms arise because cortisol is crucial for various bodily functions such as maintaining blood pressure, immune response, and energy levels.
Diagnosis involves blood tests and imaging of the adrenal and pituitary glands. Treatment often necessitates lifelong cortisol replacement therapy to manage the symptoms and prevent an adrenal crisis, which may include severe abdominal pain, hypotension, and circulatory collapse. It's important to note that long-term stress without proper management can lead to exhaustion and eventually to serious health conditions like Addison's disease.