Adrenal fatigue is a term used to describe supposed symptoms like chronic fatigue, body aches, and disrupting sleep patterns when our adrenal glands are overworked and unable to adequately produce cortisol and other hormones. The adrenals produce over 50 different hormones that regulate various bodily functions.
While some integrative and holistic medicine practitioners argue adrenal fatigue is an unofficial diagnosis, it is not an accepted medical condition by most conventional doctors. Some believe it is a milder version of diseases like Addison's or Cushing's disease. Still, research on adrenal fatigue is limited, so mainstream medicine does not recognize it as a distinct disorder.
Possible Symptoms
Some symptoms associated with the proposed adrenal fatigue diagnosis include:
- Fatigue and feeling "wired but tired"
- Body aches, especially in the morning
- Cravings for salty and sweet foods
- Difficulty sleeping and waking up
- Irritability and anxiety
- Low libido
- Weight gain and sugar cravings
Causes
Potential causes put forth by alternative practitioners are:
- High stress lifestyles
- Sleep deprivation
- Poor diet and blood sugar imbalances
- Chronic infections
- Hormonal birth control use
The adrenal glands may become overtaxed from consistent stress and demands. Over time, the adrenals struggle to keep up, resulting in suboptimal hormone levels and generalized symptoms.
If you suspect
adrenal issues, consider getting lab testing on your cortisol and DHEA-S levels at a place like
Vitality Wellness Clinic. Our clinic specializes in customized hormonal and nutritional treatment plans to rebalance the adrenals.
With lifestyle changes like stress management and improved sleep and diet, one may be able to support healthier adrenal function. But some cases require individualized adrenal hormone supplements as well.
Working with a knowledgeable and experienced functional/integrative medicine practitioner can help determine if treatments are needed for
improving fatigue and energy levels relative to adrenal health. They can order the proper lab tests and create a personalized plan based on your symptoms and test results.