Craving salty foods? It could be a sign of a deadly condition that requires urgent treatment READ MORE: The FOUR little-known signs that you've eaten too much salt By Cassidy Morrison Senior Health Reporter For Dailymail.Com Published: 01:01, 19 June 2024 | Updated: 01:01, 19 June 2024 e-mail 1 View comments Doctors are warning that extreme cravings for all things salty, from pickles to potato chips, could hint at a rare - and deadly - health disorder. A 15-year-old girl from Toronto was admitted to the hospital after months of suffering unexplainable symptoms, including severe dizzy spells, fatigue, dehydration and insatiable cravings for salty snacks .
It was not until the girl’s doctor noted her unusually tan complexion and dark spots under her tongue that it became clear her adrenal glands had stopped working, a potentially fatal health crisis. She was eventually diagnosed with Addison’s disease, a one-in-100,000 disorder in which the adrenal glands do not produce enough hormones to regulate crucial minerals and hormones in the body, leading to nausea, abdominal pain, weight loss , salt cravings, and dark spots on the skin - hyperpigmentation. The condition can be managed with hormone replacement therapy, but can lead to death if left untreated .
Addison's disease causes a dip in the hormone that regulates sodium and potassium levels in the body, leaving a person with extreme cravings for salty foods A 15-year-old patient experiencing extreme cravings for sodium also .