Adrenal Fatigue and Exhaustion

Adrenal Tests

Check out the adrenal stress profile test, or if you want to test the link between your adrenals and thyroid, look at the adrenal-thyroid test. Read on for more info below..

Adrenal Clinic

Adrenal fatigue has been dubbed 'The 21st Century Stress Syndrome.' Some doctors don't even think it exists, but I have found it in epidemic proportions and sometimes feel I'm running an adrenal clinic!

In fact, adrenal fatigue is why I became a nutritionist in the first place. I suffered from terrible chronic fatigue and was found to be adrenally exhausted. It was only by correcting the hormone output of the adrenals I recovered - to this day, I still need to watch it if I am under stress! This personal experience inspired me to train and want to help others with this horrible crushing tiredness feeling.

If someone comes in with chronic fatigue, I automatically think about what the adrenals might be up to and test if needed. People often think that their thyroid might be a bit sluggish and causing their fatigue, but not many people know much about the adrenal glands, and the thyroid and adrenals are linked so much that one can often affect the other. In fact, sometimes people are just what I would term 'glandularly weak' and glands like the pituitary, pancreas, thyroid and adrenals tend to be a bit sluggish.

I thought it might be useful for you to learn more about what the adrenals are and about this subject so here is some info supplied by Nutri-Link, a fab supplier of mine which tends to specialise in glandular issues like these.

What are the Adrenal Glands?

The Adrenal Glands are two triangle-shaped glands that sit atop the kidneys. Their primary function is in regulating the release of energy, especially in periods of stress.

 The Adrenal Glands are responsible for producing sudden bursts of energy during emergencies, also known as the ‘Fight-or-Flight' response. This response is a valuable tool in human survival since it enables the body to perform at increased strength, energy, and levels of awareness during moments of possible danger.

 In addition to emergency response, the Adrenal Glands are also vital in the body's reaction to stress. The body reacts to minor stressors in the same way it does to large stressors, just to a smaller degree.

 Today we are often subject to an almost endless number of daily stressors, from emotional stressors: children, money, marital issues; to physical stressors: fatigue, diet, lack of exercise. Whenever the body is stressed, it reacts in order to adjust to the stimuli. In the case of stress, the body releases cortisol, a stress hormone that allows the body to cope with stress and attempts to eliminate it.

 As the Adrenal Glands are responsible for the production of Cortisol, they are also key in the production and regulation of various other hormones, including dopamine, epinephrine, norepinephrine, aldosterone, and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA).

You can test this pretty simply using four saliva samples through the day. It will tell you where your levels of cortisol and DHEA are. Check out the adrenal stress profile test, or if you want to test the link between your adrenals and thyroid, look at the adrenal-thyroid test.

 What is Adrenal Fatigue?

 Adrenal Fatigue is the state at which the Adrenal Glands may be unable to perform at their optimal levels of hormone and steroidal production.

When the Adrenal Glands are continuously taxed from overuse of stimulants, lack of sleep, poor diet, lack of exercise, stress, and other lifestyle factors, the glands are forced to work harder to keep up with the levels that you are demanding.

 As your Adrenal Glands continue to work in ‘overdrive', the Adrenal system is eventually unable to maintain fully functional at such a demanding pace; the result is an uneven hormonal balance. Since the Adrenal hormones are vital for many of the body's processes, Adrenal Fatigue is generally accompanied by persistent fatigue, feelings of depression, cravings for sugar or salty foods, and sleep problems.

 Here is a quick video of a news report in Australia about adrenal fatigue showing a doctor saying it doesn't exist and a woman suffering from chronic fatigue and anxiety who certainly knows it does!

What are the Warning Signs of Adrenal Fatigue?

• Morning fatigue. Not seeming to "wake up" until 10 am even though you've been up for 3 hours.
• Middle of the afternoon "Low". Sluggishness and clouded thinking in the middle of the day.
• Burst of energy around 6 pm.
• Sleepiness around 9pm, but a "Second Energy Burst" around 11 pm till 1 am.
• Mild depression, decreased sex drive, lack of energy and lack of focus/concentration
• Muscular weakness and declining endurance
• Weight gain (especially around the midsection), with extreme difficulty in losing it
• Unrelaxing or unfulfilling sleep

What Causes Adrenal Fatigue?

Adrenal Fatigue typically results from the combination of several lifestyle factors and stressors, each of which requires the body to work longer and harder. As a result of these lifestyle factors, the Adrenal Glands become ‘exhausted' and may be unable to function properly. When the Adrenal system is unable to function properly, the body's natural energy levels decline, mood often declines or is unstable, sleep disorders may arise, and other problems can be typical.

The most common factors that contribute to Adrenal Fatigue are stress (physical and emotional), stimulant use, nicotine, poor diet, lack of exercise, insufficient sleep, and a lack of relaxation. Most people will not have every one of these factors present in their daily life; each of these can cause unbalance in the body, which leads to Adrenal Fatigue.

For instance, it is possible to exhaust your Adrenal Glands without the use of stimulants or even without excessive stress. A combination of multiple factors will accelerate the rate at which the Adrenal Glands are fatigued.

Adrenal Fatigue does not rely on a certain protocol to cause exhaustion. An overabundance of stress along with lack of sleep and relaxation is enough in itself to cause fatigue issues.

How can Adrenal Fatigue be Reversed?

Adrenal Fatigue may be overcome when healthy choices are made in lifestyle, diet, exercise, and stress avoidance. Depending on the severity of your Adrenal Fatigue, restoring your Adrenal health can take anywhere from a few months to over a year.

With lifestyle changes, most people can restore their energy levels within a short period of time. While natural energy production might return within a short period of time, it can take significantly longer for the Adrenal System to function properly, produce normal hormone levels, restore natural function, and repair Adrenal damage.

The most important thing aspect to take into consideration is your lifestyle. Stress, stimulants, lack of sleep, improper diet and exercise, and stressors all place a significant toll on your Adrenal Glands. By reducing the number of stressors in your life and reducing the amount of stimulants (ie coffee, nicotine, cola's, etc) that you ingest, you will allow your Adrenal Glands to operate at more healthy levels.

Other than that, depending on what stage adrenal output you are at, there are protocols to follow to boost adrenal and thyroid function. Both are dependent on having the right level of the right nutrients in the right place just at the right time. We use different supplements to help and these might include tyrosine, ginseng, calcium panothenate, so-called glandular products that act like little spark plugs or a myriad other things depending on your case.

Get in touch for more help. Don't put up with that horrible feeling any longer!