Feeling Tired All the Time? Learn the Signs, Symptoms and Solutions of Adrenal Fatigue

Do you feel constantly tired after a good night of sleep? Do you find yourself drinking coffee or other caffeinated drinks to help you feel energized throughout the day? Do you crave sweet and salty foods? Believe it or not these are common symptoms of adrenal fatigue.

The adrenal glands secrete precise and minute amounts of hormones when your body needs them. This also means that if you are under constant stress, whether, physical, environmental or emotional, your adrenal glands can become depleted.

In a society where we are plagued by poor diets, stress and long work hours, it’s no surprise that an estimated 80% percent of adults suffer from adrenal fatigue. Sadly, fatigue is such a common complaint that many doctors can miss the mark on this and simply attribute it to overwork or stress.

[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”110028″]

The mighty power of the adrenal glands

The adrenal glands sit on top of your kidneys. No larger than a walnut and weighing less than a grape, these tiny glands have a major impact on every tissue, gland and organ in your body. While these glands are tiny, they have a tremendous impact on your energy levels and the way you think and feel.

The hormones the adrenals secrete influence all of the physiological processes in your body. They affect how your body uses carbs and fats, and the conversion of proteins and fats into energy. They also affect how your body distributes stored fat, regulates blood sugar, as well as cardiovascular and gastrointestinal function.

In addition the anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant hormones secreted by the adrenals also help to minimize allergic reactions to foods, alcohol, drugs and environmental allergens.

Common factors that affect the adrenals

Adrenal fatigue can often be preceded by severe infections, such as bronchitis, pneumonia and other respiratory illnesses. The more frequently illness occurs the more stress is created on the body and the more likely it becomes that the adrenals will become depleted.

According to Dr. James L. Wilson, author of Adrenal Fatigue: The 21st Century Stress Syndrome, additional factors include:

Death of a loved one	Smoking	Wound healing
Repeated stress	Lack of sleep	Prescription drugs
Allergies	Poor eating habits	Nonprescription drugs
Over exertion	Sugar & white flour products	Caffeine
Emotional stress	Lack of exercise	Psychological stress
Negative attitude	Excessive exercise	Financial pressure
Toxins	Chronic /acute infections	Lack of rest/relaxation

Signs and symptoms of adrenal fatigue

Difficulty getting up in the morning	Craving salty or sweet foods
Continued fatigue not relieved by sleep	Increased effort to get through the day
Lack of energy/ Lethargy	Difficulty handling stress
Decreased sex drive	Lengthy recovery time after illness or injury
Light headed if standing too quickly	Depression
Lack of interest or enjoyment with life	Symptoms worsen with skipped meals
Increased PMS symptoms	Memory difficulties
Brain Fog	Impatience
Decreased productivity

6 self-help tips for adrenal fatigue

It’s always important to remember that healing takes time. Your adrenals didn’t become depleted overnight, so you’re not going to get better overnight either. Lifestyle changes will be required to regain your health.

1. Healthy foods: Avoid processed foods whenever possible. Focus on whole, fresh organic foods. Make every bite count. When snacking don’t fill up on chips, instead focus on a protein rich snack to help stabilize blood sugar levels.

2. Sleep: Try to keep consistent hours for your sleep time. Be sure to avoid TV and electronic devices for an hour or so before bedtime.

3. Avoid sugar and stimulants: Sugar may give you the quick boost you need, but after your blood sugar level drops you feel more tired than before. Consider eating protein based foods that will nourish your body long term.

[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”110030″]

4. Reduce stress: Everyone is dealing with stress on some level. It’s important to have some type of outlet for your stress. Consider exercise, meditation, gardening, long walks or some other stress free activity you enjoy.

5. Supplements: Nutritional supplements play an important role in recovering from adrenal fatigue. You should talk with your healthcare practitioner about what suits your needs best. Choose organic, whole food supplements when possible. Some of the more important supplements to consider for adrenal fatigue are vitamin C, E, pantothenic acid, niacin, B6 and minerals such as calcium and magnesium.

6. Herbs: Six herbs worth considering for adrenal support include:

Ashwagandha: Considered a great tonic herb and adaptogen.
Ginger root: This adaptogen helps regulate cortisol levels, normalize blood pressure and heart rate.
Gingko leaf: This powerful anti-oxidant helps to protect the adrenals, brain and liver from free radical damage.
Korean ginseng: More suitable for men, than women. Helps increase cortisol levels.
Licorice root: Supports adrenal function
Siberian ginseng: Good for both men and women. Helps support and rejuvenate adrenals.

Testing for adrenal fatigue

Most medical doctors don’t test for adrenal fatigue unless they suspect a more serious condition such as Addison’s or Cushing’s disease. You can however order a saliva hormone test to measure cortisol levels. Saliva tests for hormone levels are as accurate as blood tests for measuring hormone levels. The test involves simply spitting into a test tube. Cortisol is measured four times – in the morning (8 AM), noon, evening (4 PM) and bedtime (best between 11 PM and midnight). Once the sample set is complete, you mail the tubes back to the lab for analysis in the mailing envelop that is included with the test kit. Both you and your doctor will receive copies of the results, usually within 2 weeks.

Ragland’s Test

This is a simple test you can perform at home with a blood pressure cuff. This test known as Ragland’s Test checks for an abnormal drop in systolic blood pressure (the top number). For this test, you’ll need a blood pressure cuff.

Take a baseline reading while sitting comfortably in a chair. The cuff should be level with your heart.
Lie down and rest for 5 minutes. While still horizontal, take your blood pressure reading.
Move to a standing position and take another reading.

It is common that when moving from a sitting position to lying down, to have the systolic reading drop 6-10mm.

Upon standing, if your adrenals are functioning properly, your systolic blood pressure number should rise 10–20 points. If it drops, particularly by 10 points or more, adrenal insufficiency is indicated. Generally, the bigger the drop, the greater the adrenal insufficiency.

In conclusion

Recovering from adrenal fatigue can take time. If you believe you are suffering from adrenal fatigue, discuss nutritional supplements and dietary support with your healthcare practitioner. With positive lifestyle changes, modification of your diet, nutritional support and following the self-help techniques listed above, you are well on your way to recovery from adrenal fatigue.

About the author:

Elisha McFarland N.D., D. A. Hom., CWR., M.H. is the founder of My Health Maven. Elisha turned her debilitating illness from mercury poisoning into a dedicated passion to helping others. The My Health Maven website covers a wide range of topics including non-toxic living, health tests at home, the healing power of foods, home remedies, food ingredients, dental health and environmental illness. Her goal is to share her experience and knowledge, to help others live life more abundantly.

Elisha’s articles are widely published throughout alternative media such as The Organic Consumer’s Association and Food Matters TV. She is also a contributor to GreenMedInfo, Natural Health 365, The Hearty Soul and Eat Local Grown.

You can connect with Elisha at her website myhealthmaven.com or Facebook.com/myhealthmaven.

Please note: This article is for information purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

Recommended articles by Elisha McFarland:

[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”110027″]