Adrenal fatigue refers to a collection of signs and symptoms that result when the adrenal glands cannot adequately meet the demands of stress. It is not an established medical diagnosis but some healthcare providers believe it is a real phenomenon.
The adrenal glands produce crucial hormones including cortisol to help us respond to stress and adrenaline for the fight-or-flight response. When overloaded for a long time, the adrenals can become exhausted, leading to symptoms like fatigue despite sleep, cravings for salty foods, low stamina, irritability, and more.
Some key questions about adrenal fatigue include:
What causes adrenal fatigue?
Potential culprits behind taxing the adrenals include emotional stress, poor diet with sugars and stimulants, infections, hormone imbalances, and chronic conditions. If the adrenals don’t receive the proper nutrition and rest time to recover, adrenal fatigue can develop.
How is adrenal fatigue diagnosed?
Since adrenal fatigue is not an established diagnosis, diagnosis is mostly based on thorough symptoms evaluation. At Balance Hormone Clinic, our practitioners conduct advanced hormone tests to understand the full picture, including saliva cortisol testing at different times of day to check adrenal function and response.
What is the treatment for adrenal fatigue?
Lifestyle changes are the foundation of treatment. These include finding healthy stress relief techniques, consuming nutritious whole foods, regulating blood sugar levels, getting sufficient high-quality sleep, limiting caffeine, and supporting mental health. At Balance Hormone Clinic, our customized plans also utilize targeted nutritional supplements and botanicals that provide building blocks for recovering adrenal gland function.
In summary, adrenal fatigue refers to a complex of symptoms that emerge when the adrenal glands cannot keep up with stress demands over time. Supporting these crucial glands is the emphasis of integrative treatments. If you suspect your fatigue issues involve taxed adrenals, consider contacting Balance Hormone Clinic for testing and personalized advice on reviving your energy, mood, and zest for life!