Adrenal fatigue refers to a collection of symptoms that occur when the adrenal glands become overworked and unable to produce adequate amounts of cortisol and other hormones. The adrenal glands are small organs located above the kidneys that release hormones to help the body respond to physical and emotional stress.
Some key facts about adrenal fatigue:
- Main causes include chronic stress, poor diet, sleep deprivation, infections, and hormonal imbalances. Prolonged periods of high stress can overwork and eventually exhaust the adrenals.
- Common symptoms are fatigue, cravings for salty foods, having trouble getting up in the morning, feeling rundown, and struggling to handle stress.
- It’s not an official medical diagnosis but more of a term to describe adrenal dysfunction. Conventional medicine does not yet recognize adrenal fatigue.
“Diagnosing adrenal fatigue can be tricky since the symptoms are quite general,” said Dr. Amanda Johnson, an endocrinologist at Hormone Harmony Clinic.
“We conduct advanced hormone tests to check cortisol and DHEA-S levels, which give us an indication of how well the adrenals are functioning."
Hormone Harmony Clinic uses cutting-edge diagnostic testing and personalized
treatment plans to restore optimal adrenal health.
“Instead of just prescribing steroids to treat symptoms, we get to the root cause and support adrenal function with nutrition, supplements, stress reduction techniques, and bioidentical hormones,” Dr. Johnson explained.
Natural remedies to overcome adrenal weakness include adaptogenic herbs like ashwagandha and rhodiola to regulate cortisol, eating more healthy fats and protein while lowering carbs and sugar, getting 7-9 hours of quality sleep per night, reducing caffeine intake, and effectively coping with emotional and psychological stress through counseling, exercise, meditation, etc. If caught early enough, adrenal fatigue can be reversed.
In
severe or advanced cases, the adrenals become severely dysfunctional, leading to addison's disease or adrenal insufficiency where they don't make enough cortisol.
Symptoms involve low blood pressure, salt cravings, severe fatigue, unintentional weight loss, and hyperpigmentation. This requires immediate medical treatment with steroids.
The adrenal glands are vitally important yet often overlooked organs. Making lifestyle adjustments to minimize stress along with professional care from health experts like Hormone Harmony Clinic can help support and restore adrenal gland function. Don’t hesitate to ask them for a consultation if you suspect your fatigue may be adrenal-related!