TikTok influencer’s family Taylor Rousseau Grieg More information is being shared about the health complications that led to the 25-year-old’s death last week.
Grigg, a lifestyle content creator with more than 1 million followers on TikTok and hundreds of thousands of followers on Instagram, opened up about her health challenges in a TikTok video in August. Grigg said she became ill shortly after her wedding, more than a year ago, although she wasn’t diagnosed until a few months ago.
Rousseau’s family said her death was caused by complications from asthma and Addison’s disease, a rare chronic disease. her husband cameron grigg Posted on Instagram His wife had “experienced more pain and suffering than most people in their lives” but remained “so radiant” and “always brought joy to everyone around her.”
Asthma, the better-known form of Gehrig’s disease, is a chronic inflammatory disease that causes the airways to narrow, making it difficult to breathe. More than 30 million people in the United States have asthma, and while asthma can often be controlled with steroid medications, asthma attacks or attacks can be life-threatening.
Here’s what we know about the rarer form of Addison’s disease.
A closer look at Addison’s disease
According to the Daily Mail, Addison’s disease is a rare disease that affects the adrenal glands, the small organs located on top of the kidneys. mayo clinic. These glands produce important hormones, such as cortisol and aldosterone, that help regulate many body functions, such as maintaining blood pressure, controlling stress, and balancing salt and water levels.
This condition can affect anyone and can be life-threatening without proper treatment to replace the missing hormones.
reason
Although rare (affecting 1 in 10 people in the United States), Addison’s disease is most commonly caused by an autoimmune reaction, according to cleveland clinic. When your body’s immune system is supposed to protect you from harmful substances like viruses and bacteria, it mistakenly attacks healthy tissue. In the case of Addison’s disease, the immune system attacks the adrenal glands, damaging them and making it difficult for them to produce necessary hormones. This is called “autoimmune adrenalitis”.
Addison’s disease can also be caused by infection, cancer, injury or genetic factors, but these are less common triggers, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
Addison’s disease symptoms
according to National Institutes of Health (NIH), Addison’s disease symptoms can develop slowly and may initially be mistaken for other health problems. Common symptoms include extreme fatigue, weight loss or changes in appetite, low blood pressure, craving for salty foods, darkening of the skin, nausea or diarrhea, and joint pain.
If left untreated, Addison’s disease can lead to a life-threatening condition called “Addison’s crisis,” in which blood pressure drops to dangerously low levels and the person may go into shock.
treat
According to the National Institutes of Health, doctors diagnose Addison’s disease with a blood test that checks hormone levels, especially cortisol levels. If cortisol levels are low, additional tests may be needed to confirm the diagnosis.
Addison’s disease is usually treated with hormone replacement therapy. This involves taking medications to replace the missing hormone, such as hydrocortisone or fludrocortisone. With regular treatment, most people with Addison’s disease can live normal, healthy lives.
Unfortunately, Grigg’s case appears to be complicated.
There isn’t much information about asthma and Addison’s disease together, but a 1993 case report breathe described a 14-year-old boy with both disorders, noting that Addison’s disease may have exacerbated his asthma symptoms. The authors also noted that the boy’s asthma made diagnosing Addison’s disease more difficult, which may at least partially explain why it took Grigg so long to receive a diagnosis.
Our deepest condolences go out to Greg’s family during this time.