If you feel exhausted and weary much of the time even with plenty of sleep, you crave a lot of salty and sweet foods and your traditional provider can’t seem to pinpoint why you’re feeling badly, a visit to an AdventHealth naturopathic doctor might reveal you’re experiencing adrenal fatigue.
Keep reading to find out what adrenal fatigue is, symptoms and causes of adrenal fatigue, how to treat it naturally and more.
What Is Adrenal Fatigue?
The term "adrenal fatigue" was coined in 1998 by James Wilson, PhD, a naturopathic doctor. He describes it as a "group of related signs and symptoms (a syndrome) that results when the adrenal glands function below the necessary level." It’s usually connected to intense stress and often follows chronic infections.
Adrenal Fatigue Symptoms
Some believe adrenal fatigue is a condition that causes fatigue, or tiredness. Other symptoms linked to adrenal fatigue include:
- Chronic fatigue
- Difficulty maintaining normal blood sugar levels
- Exhaustion
- Low blood pressure
- Poor stress management
- Salt and sugar cravings
- Trouble falling asleep
- Trouble waking up
- Weight gain
These symptoms are common in many other conditions, so it’s vital to see your provider to rule out the cause behind your symptoms.
Causes of Adrenal Fatigue
Adrenal fatigue is thought to be caused by overusing the adrenal glands. Some believe this happens because of ongoing exposure to:
- Emotional stress
- Mental stress
- Physical stress
To break down this theory simply, your body's immune system responds by revving up when you’re under any kind of duress. Your adrenal glands, which are small organs above your kidneys, respond to stress by releasing hormones like cortisol (the “stress hormone”) and adrenaline.
These hormones are part of your "fight-or-flight" response, which increase your blood pressure and your heart rate. Following the theory, if you have long-term stress (such as a divorce, experiencing any type of abuse, the death of a family member or a serious illness), your adrenal glands exhaust themselves from the prolonged production of cortisol and adrenal fatigue develops.
How to Heal Adrenal Fatigue
If you and your doctor suspect you’re experiencing adrenal fatigue, you may be advised to:
- Avoid alcohol, smoking, illegal drugs and caffeine
- Eat a healthy diet, low in sugar, caffeine and junk food
- Eat healthy snacks regularly to balance blood sugar
- Exercise regularly
- Manage stress with mindfulness exercises
- Stay hydrated
- Supplement with vitamin C and magnesium
- Try to get a good night’s sleep
Be sure to check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any new supplements to make sure you can tolerate them and that they don't react with your other medicines.
AdventHealth Whole Health Institute
At the Whole Health Institute, our approach to health care uses natural, non-toxic therapies to treat the whole person and encourage the self-healing process.
Our team works alongside your conventional medical team to help uncover underlying causes of your ailments. Therefore, our providers do not provide primary care but rather serve as one member of your multidisciplinary care team, exploring options that may complement or supplement other care you receive. Integrative medicine pulls from evidence-based medicine and healing from around the world to help you feel your best. It’s this flexible and holistic approach that supports you, nurtures you and empowers you to reach your health goals.
Take the first step towards wellness and uncover the root cause of your health concerns. Learn more about the Whole Health Institute and find a primary care physician to start forming your world-class medical team that specializes in you — body, mind and spirit.
