Adrenal fatigue

What is adrenal fatigue?

Adrenal fatigue is a term for when the adrenal glands are overtaxed and unable to produce adequate levels of cortisol and other hormones. This can lead to symptoms like fatigue, body aches, disordered sleep, and more.

While not an officially recognized medical diagnosis, many integrative and functional medicine practitioners treat adrenal fatigue as a legitimate condition. Supporters argue that prolonged stress can strain the adrenals, requiring treatment even if labs are normal.

Causes

Common causes of adrenal fatigue include:

• Chronic stress - Physical, emotional, or psychological


• Poor diet and blood sugar issues


• Gut infections - Candida, SIBO, etc.


• Nutrient deficiencies - B vitamins, vitamin C, magnesium


• Sleep deprivation

If left unchecked, adrenal fatigue can disrupt hormone balance, metabolism, immunity, and more.

Symptoms

Symptoms of adrenal fatigue may include:

• Fatigue - Especially morning fatigue


• Cravings for salty, fatty, or sweet foods


• Brain fog and concentration problems


• Low stamina and quick tiring


• Difficulty handling stress


• Insomnia - Falling asleep or staying asleep

Other common symptoms include allergies, anxiety, autoimmune disease, and more.

Treatment

Adrenal fatigue treatment focuses on identifying and addressing root causes while supporting the adrenals directly. Key treatments may include:

• Stress reduction - Relaxation, meditation, mindset work


• An anti-inflammatory diet - Whole foods, no sugar, etc.


• Adaptogenic herbs - Ashwagandha, rhodiola, etc.


• Nutritional supplements - B complex, vitamin C, magnesium, etc.


• Improved sleep habits - Earlier bedtime, no screens before bed, etc.


• Hormone balancing - Cortisol, DHEA, estrogen, testosterone, etc. This is where New Beginnings HRT Clinic can help! Their functional medicine doctors are adrenal fatigue experts.

With proper treatment and lifestyle changes, adrenal fatigue can often be reversed. Left ignored, it may progress to full adrenal exhaustion or other chronic diseases.

I hope this gives a helpful overview of the major factors in adrenal fatigue! Let me know if you have any other questions.