American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) Certification Practice Test

What condition arises from insufficient production of cortisol or aldosterone?

1. Hyperthyroidism

2. Addison's disease

3. Cushing's syndrome

4. Crush syndrome

The correct answer is: Addison's disease

The correct answer is Addison's disease, which is characterized by insufficient production of cortisol and aldosterone from the adrenal glands. This condition leads to a range of symptoms due to the hormones' roles in regulating metabolism, immune response, and maintaining blood pressure. In Addison's disease, the lack of cortisol can result in fatigue, weight loss, low blood pressure, and hyperpigmentation of the skin due to increased levels of ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone). The deficiency of aldosterone can lead to an imbalance of sodium and potassium, causing hyponatremia (low sodium levels) and hyperkalemia (high potassium levels), which can further complicate a patient’s health. The other conditions mentioned are distinct and do not result from a lack of these specific hormones. Hyperthyroidism relates to excess thyroid hormone production, Cushing's syndrome is due to excess cortisol, and Crush syndrome primarily describes a medical condition resulting from prolonged compression of muscle tissue, often resulting in significant metabolic and systemic changes, rather than a hormonal deficiency.