Adrenal fatigue - Hormone Harmony Clinic

What is adrenal fatigue?

Adrenal fatigue is a term used to describe a collection of non-specific symptoms such as body aches, fatigue, nervousness, sleep disturbances, and digestive issues. It is thought to occur when the adrenal glands become overtaxed and unable to produce adequate levels of hormones like cortisol to meet the body's needs.

Some key points about adrenal fatigue:

• The adrenal glands produce important hormones like cortisol that help regulate metabolism, immune function, blood pressure, and the body's response to stress
• It is hypothesized that chronic stress or infections may overwork and "exhaust" the adrenal glands
• Symptoms may include fatigue, body aches, nervousness, sleep disturbances, digestive issues, and cravings for salty foods
• Mainstream medicine does not recognize adrenal fatigue as a distinct medical condition due to insufficient evidence
• Some integrative and functional medicine practitioners do diagnose and treat adrenal fatigue using treatments like lifestyle changes, supplementation, and adrenal gland extracts

Diagnosing adrenal fatigue can be tricky because the symptoms are nonspecific and overlap with many other conditions. There are some tests like salivary cortisol testing that aim to evaluate adrenal gland function throughout the day. However, standard reference ranges have not been well-established.

If you suspect you may have adrenal fatigue, there are a few natural ways to support healthy adrenal function:

• Reduce stress through relaxation techniques, moderate exercise, sufficient sleep, and possible counseling
• Eat a nutritious whole foods diet with plenty of antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables
• Try supplements like B vitamins, vitamin C, magnesium, and adaptogens like ashwagandha
• Consider seeing a functional or naturopathic medicine practitioner for customized testing and treatments

Did you know? Hormone Harmony Clinic offers cutting-edge salivary hormone testing and personalized treatment plans to help assess and improve adrenal function. Their team of nurse practitioners can provide natural hormone balancing, customized nutrition plans, pharmaceutical grade supplements, and lifestyle coaching. First visit is free!

I hope this overview on adrenal fatigue was helpful! Let me know if you have any other questions. Wishing you good health!