What is adrenal fatigue?
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 recognized as a distinct medical diagnosis but proposed to be a mild form of adrenal insufficiency caused by chronic stress.
The adrenal glands produce key hormones, including cortisol and adrenaline, that help the body respond to stress. When someone experiences excessive or chronic stress, it can overwork the adrenal glands and cause them to become depleted and fatigued.
Symptoms of possible adrenal fatigue include:
These vague symptoms may resemble other health conditions, making adrenal fatigue difficult to diagnose. Standard blood and urine tests may show normal hormone levels even when someone is experiencing symptoms.
While adrenal fatigue itself lacks an established diagnostic criteria, the underlying chronic stress causing symptoms is very real. Treatment focuses on identifying and addressing factors contributing to stress overload, which may include:
Treatment strategies aim to rebuild resiliency against stress, potentially through:
By identifying issues overworking the stress response and making lifestyle changes to bolster system resilience, people experiencing signs of adrenal fatigue may be able to find relief. Focus on rest, relaxation, proper nutrition, and setting priorities to minimize nonessential stress.
I aimed to provide an overview of adrenal fatigue, including proposed symptoms, potential lifestyle factors contributing to impairment, and suggested natural treatment approaches focused on stress moderation and system renewal.