The term “adrenal fatigue” has been used to explain a group of symptoms that are believed to occur in people under long-lasting mental, emotional or physical stress. There is no scientific evidence to consider adrenal fatigue as a real health problem. Doctors fear that if you are told you have this condition, the real cause of your symptoms may not be found and treated properly. Additionally, reported treatment for adrenal fatigue can be expensive, as insurance companies are unlikely to cover the costs.
Link to the endocrine system.
Proponents of adrenal fatigue believe the problem begins when the many stresses of life become too much for the body to handle. Our adrenal glands — small organs above the kidneys — usually deal with stress by producing hormones like cortisol. According to the adrenal fatigue theory, when people face long-term stress, their adrenal glands can no longer meet the body’s hormone needs. It is when this happens that proponents of adrenal fatigue believe that symptoms can appear.
Diagnosis and prevention.
There is no test that can detect adrenal fatigue. Often the symptoms are enough to tell a person that they are suffering from adrenal fatigue. Sometimes a blood or saliva test may be offered, but tests for detecting adrenal fatigue are not based on scientific fact or supported by good scientific studies. So the results and analysis of these tests may not be correct.
Symptoms and risk factors.
Symptoms said to be due to adrenal fatigue include fatigue, difficulty falling asleep at night or waking up in the morning, cravings for salt and sugar, and the need for stimulants like caffeine to get through the night. daytime. These symptoms are common and non-specific, meaning they can be found in many diseases. They can also occur as part of a normal, active life.
Doctors urge you not to waste valuable time accepting an unproven diagnosis such as adrenal fatigue if you feel tired, weak, or depressed. If you have these symptoms, you may have adrenal insufficiency, depression, obstructive sleep apnea, or other health issues. It is very important to get a real diagnosis to help you feel better and overcome your health problem.
Dispel the myth.
Adrenal fatigue proponents may advise you to improve your lifestyle by quitting smoking, alcohol, and drugs. Starting an exercise program, eating healthy foods, and following a daily sleep and wake routine will almost always make you feel better, regardless of medical diagnosis.
You may also be told to buy special supplements or vitamins. These supplements claim to be designed specifically for adrenal health. While regular vitamins and minerals may be good for your health, doctors are concerned that supplements or vitamins sold as adrenal fatigue treatment will harm you. Many of these supplements have not been tested for safety.
There is no guarantee that what is stated on a supplement’s label is actually what is in the bottle. In some cases, supplements contain very few, if any, active ingredients. In other cases, the dose of a particular ingredient may be too high. This is true whether you buy supplements at your local pharmacy, at a specialty pharmacy where supplements are made directly by the pharmacist, or online.
If you take adrenal hormone supplements when you don’t need them, your adrenal glands may stop working and become unable to produce the hormones you need when you’re under physical stress. When these supplements are stopped, a person’s adrenal glands can remain “asleep” for months. People with this problem are at risk of developing a life-threatening condition called adrenal crisis.
