Adrenal Fatigue

90-95% of patients have some degree of adrenal dysfunction. We can’t live without adrenals and we can’t live very well when the adrenals are depleted. Adrenal fatigue is adrenal depletion.

The adrenal glands secrete hormones such as cortisol, estrogen, and testosterone that are essential to health and vitality and significantly affect total body function. After mid-life, the adrenal glands gradually become the major endogenous source of sex hormones in both men and women. Intense or prolonged physical or emotional stress commonly associated with modern lifestyles or chronic illness can lead to adrenal fatigue, which is an important contributing factor in health conditions ranging from obesity to allergies.

Common symptoms associated with adrenal fatigue are:

• mild depression,
• lethargy,
• decreased ability to handle stress,
• “everything takes effort”,
• muscular weakness,
• decreased libido,
• swollen ankles, worse in PM,
• syncope or lightheadedness when rising rapidly,
• chronic fatigue,
• apathy,
• frequent sighing,
• immune dysfunction especially some allergic reactions,
• craves for salt and salty foods,
• mostly abdominal weight,
• 80% of patients with adrenal dysfunction have thyroid dysfunction and vice versa,
• tired all day or some increase in energy as the day progresses,
• can’t lose weight with diet and exercise.