Adrenal fatigue is a condition that can occur when the adrenal glands become overwhelmed and unable to produce adequate amounts of adrenal hormones. The adrenal glands are responsible for regulating many important body functions, including energy production, response to stress, and blood pressure. When the adrenals become fatigued, these functions can be impaired, leading to a host of symptoms.
If you’re feeling drained all the time and have no energy to keep going, you might have a condition called adrenal insufficiency (AI) also commonly referred to as adrenal fatigue. Chronic stress can take a toll on your adrenal glands and lead to adrenal fatigue, which involves having too little of the hormone cortisol in your blood.
Cortisol is important for many things, including blood pressure regulation, inflammation management, immune regulation, energy maintenance and a normal stress response. When you have adrenal insufficiency or fatigue, it means your adrenal glands aren’t making enough cortisol which can cause a variety of symptoms including:.
- Fatigue or exhaustion
- Trouble sleeping
- Irritability
- Anxiety
- Cravings for salt or sugar
- Body aches and stiffness
- Low blood pressure
- Dizziness upon standing up
- Difficulty concentrating.
- Light and sound sensitivity
If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, it’s important to consult with the Swiftwater Integrative Medicine team.
Adrenal Fatigue From Prolonged Chronic Stress
Adrenal fatigue is often seen in people who are under prolonged or chronic stress, but we have seen that it can also occur in people who have had a major traumatic event, such as a car accident or the death of a loved one.
There are several ways to test for adrenal fatigue, blood tests and comprehensive urine testing like the DUTCH urine adrenal panel are used by our doctors. Treatment for AI/adrenal fatigue typically involves supplements, medication, lifestyle changes and stress management.
How Do You Fix Adrenal Fatigue?
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to treating adrenal fatigue. Every patient and every patient’s needs are different. The goal of treatment is to manage stress and restore adrenal gland function through nourishing supplements and individualized hormone replacement for short or long periods as needed depending on the patient.
Lifestyle changes that may help include:
- Reducing stress with relaxation techniques such as yoga or meditation
- Getting enough sleep
- Eating a healthy diet
- Regular meal times – not skipping meals
- Exercising regularly
- Avoiding caffeine and other stimulants
- Saying no to extra responsibilities and activities
- Making resting and recovering a goal
In some cases, supplements may be recommended to help the adrenal glands function properly. These can include vitamins C and B5, B6, licorice root, holy basil, rhodiola, ashwagandha and adrenals extracts. However, each patient’s needs will be different. Be sure to talk with your doctor before taking any supplements, to ensure they are right for you and because supplements can interact with medications you may be taking.
When to See a Doctor at Swiftwater Integrative Medicine
Adrenal fatigue is often seen in people who are under prolonged or chronic stress. If you are experiencing symptoms of adrenal fatigue, talk to your doctor. You doctor can help you determine if adrenal fatigue is the cause and develop a treatment plan.
If You Think You May Have Adrenal Fatigue, Swiftwater Integrative Medicine Can Help!
Bioidentical hormones are a safe and effective way to treat adrenal fatigue and other hormone imbalances. At Swiftwater Integrative Medicine, we tailor treatments to fit our clients individual needs and combine both herbal and vitamin therapy with medications like bioidentical cortisol replacement.
Book an appointment directly on our online calendar. Or you can call us today at (509)-240-8676 to schedule an appointment with our hormone replacement medical specialists.
We look forward to serving you!