Adrenal Fatigue or Adrenal Exhaustion

Adrenal fatigue and adrenal exhaustion, are practically an epidemic in our society today and is responsible for a vast number of debilitating symptoms, and yet most people are unaware that they have the condition. Adrenal fatigue, also sometimes referred to as adrenal insufficiency, develops when the adrenal glands no longer produce their hormones adequately and do not function optimally.

The adrenal glands are two small glands about the size of a walnut sitting on top of your kidneys that play a very large role in your level of health. They are responsible for the production of hormones that are critical to many body functions and systems like maintaining blood sugar, managing stress and fatigue, regulating the immune system and inflammatory response, normalizing blood pressure and regulating our fight or flight response system. Malfunctioning or depleted adrenal glands lead to excessive fatigue, exhaustion, cravings for sweets and caffeine, inability to handle stress, unstable blood sugar and a variety of other debilitating symptoms.

The outer portion of the gland is called the adrenal cortex and this where cortisol is produced. The inner portion of the gland is called the medulla and it produces norepinephrine and epinephrine.

The most crucial stress hormone produced by the adrenals is cortisol. When the adrenals are fatigued or exhausted they no longer produce enough cortisol. When there isn't sufficient cortisol in the body then the individual is susceptible to auto-immune disorders, chronic pain syndromes, chronic fatigue, asthma, allergies and more. In an attempt to self-medicate the many symptoms that occur as a result of a malfunctioning adrenal gland, the individual often reaches for drugs and alcohol, or caffeine and sugar which only perpetuates the problem even further.

The longer one goes without adrenals that function adequately the more symptoms that develop. Over time other organ systems begin to malfunction as well as they try to compensate for the weary adrenal glands.

Adrenal fatigue usually occurs in phases and the further you progress through the phases, the more symptomatic you will be and the more serious the issue becomes. In the early phases of adrenal fatigue you may respond quite well to a variety of natural treatments, but as it progresses the substances that would normally help in this situation actually perpetuate the problem.

When adrenal fatigue progresses to the last phase it is called adrenal exhaustion. At this point the adrenals are hardly functioning at all and the individual has a hard time staying ambulatory throughout the day and dealing with any stress seems like a monumental task. Their overall health at this point is severely compromised. This is a dangerous stage and requires the guidance of a skilled physician with expertise in advanced adrenal exhaustion.

How Does Adrenal Fatigue Develop? - Causes of Adrenal Fatigue

Stress hormones are needed when we are facing a dangerous, threatening or emergency situation, they provide us with extra strength, energy and alertness to deal effectively with the situation at hand. However overstimulation of the stress hormones is what leads to adrenal exhaustion.

The primary system involved in the bodies stress response system is known as the HPA axis, which involves a complex interaction between the hypothalamus, pituitary and adrenal glands. It is responsible for controlling essentially all the bodies hormones, nervous system activity, storage and expenditure of energy as well as regulating the immune system, controlling reactions to stress and a variety of other body processes like digestion, mood and emotions and sexuality.

When you're under stress the hypothalamus releases a hormone called corticotrophin releasing factor crf which then flows through your pituitary gland and stimulates the release of adrenocoricotropic hormone, acth which then stimulates the adrenal glands to release cortisol. This process makes you alert and gives you the energy needed to deal with the stressful event.

In a normal circumstance once the threat (the stressful event) passes then the hormones recede and the body returns to its non-stress state. However, in the fast paced, high stress life that most people live in these days and the diet they eat this cycle is ongoing. Over stimulation of the adrenal glands keeps the system releasing stress hormones on a regular basis. The body is in a constant state of fight or flight and eventually burns itself. When cortisol is released too much and too frequently then eventually the adrenals stop putting out cortisol out at the levels that are required for optimal functioning - adrenal exhaustion occurs.

Overstimulating could occur from a one time event where there is intense stress such the loss of a loved one or a medical crises, or it can be the result of chronic, ongoing stress in your daily life that eventually builds up and grates away at the adrenals slowly.

Overstimulation is caused by the following primary factors:

1. Excessive stress

   Too much stress in our life is #1 on the list of causes of adrenal fatigue. This can be from the demands of your job, raising a family, financial struggles, health conditions, too many responsibilities, relationship difficulties etc. Anything in your life that causes you ongoing stress can lead to adrenal exhaustion.

   If you grew up with child abuse in your childhood then you are likely to develop adrenal fatigue. A child living with child abuse is in a constant state of fight or flight. Their adrenal glands never get a break as their body is continually releasing high levels of stress hormones like cortisol.

   In fearful circumstances like abuse, stress floods the brain with cortisol repetitively and excessively. Over time this repetition damages the brain and the adrenal glands. In an attempt to adapt to this situation the brain then lowers the threshold at which cortisol is produced to a dramatically lower level, however the system remains in a hypersensitive state.

   When a child is exposed to continuous and overwhelming stress early in life, such as abuse, it alters the production and release of their stress-regulating hormones like cortisol and essential neurotransmitters like epinephrine, dopamine, serotonin and GABA.

   The scenario I just described above is also true of other high stress events like living with domestic violence, surviving a natural disaster, prisoners of war, civilians living in a war zone, living with a chronic health condition, poverty or any other event that threatens your livelihood and puts you in a constant state of hypervigilance.

2. Sugar, white flour and other refined foods

   The human body was not genetically designed to consume white refined sugar, white flour and other refined junk food, because they are void of any nutritional value. A diet lacking in nutrients put a continuous strain on the adrenal glands as well as the liver, pancreas and other organ systems and is the second leading contributor in the causes of adrenal fatigue.

   When we eat sugar, white flour and other refined foods they are absorbed very quickly by the body and bring our blood glucose levels up too quickly to an excessively high level. This sends and emergency signal to the pancreas to bring the blood sugar levels back down, so it releases an excessive amount of insulin to deal with the excessively high levels of blood glucose.

   This in turn causes the body to call on the adrenal glands to release cortisol to bring the blood sugar levels back up because it works in conjunction with insulin to keep blood sugar in balance. Every time you eat sugar and refined foods the pancreas and the adrenals go through this cycle and this puts too much demand on them.

   In time as the adrenal glands are called on over and over to regulate this vicious pattern, the adrenal glands become depleted and they not longer release the amount of cortisol that is necessary for adequate functioning and thus blood sugar stays in a consistently lower state and this leads to the problem of hypoglycemia in addition to adrenal exhaustion.

3. Caffeine

   Caffeine elevates our stress hormones. It triggers the body to release adrenalin, norepinephrine and epinephrine, the hormones involved in our stress response system, also known as the fight or flight response. As we discussed above stress hormones are needed when we are facing a dangerous, threatening or emergency situation, they provide us with extra strength, energy and alertness to deal effectively with the situation at hand. However in the case of caffeine there is no emergency to deal with and your body is put into the stressful fight or flight response on an ongoing basis for no reason at all. Your body is in a chronic state of stress.

   An hour or so after you ingest caffeine the stress hormones dissipate and then you feel tired, hungry and cranky so you reach our for more caffeine. This cycle puts excessive wear and tear on the adrenal glands and over time leads to adrenal exhaustion.

4. Nicotine

   Nicotine causes the liver to release high levels of sugar, which as we learned above, high levels of sugar in the blood alert the pancreas to release insulin to bring the sugar levels down. This results in a plunging of the blood sugar level and the excessive release of insulin and cortisol. Every time you light up your causing this vicious cycle to ensue and will eventually burn out the adrenals.

5. Environmental toxins

   Common everyday chemicals found in your personal care products, cleaning supplies, perfume, air fresheners, cologne, dish soap, cosmetics, housing construction, laundry soap, pesticides, herbicides, etc. contain endocrine disruptors and are also a leading cause of adrenal fatigue.

   The adrenal glands are one of the main glands involved in the endocrine system. Hormone/Endocrine disruptors enter the body through our food, air and water and attach to our hormone receptor sites and impede normal functioning of the endocrine system, which results in a variety of abnormal reactions throughout the body. Keeping the endocrine system in balance is a very delicate process and it takes very little amounts of toxins to cause damage.

   In some cases endocrine disruptors mimic our hormones which causes an excess, while in other cases it blocks hormones from being produced or functioning as they should.

   The body is not capable of breaking down these kinds of toxic chemicals. Once they are taken in by the body they are extremely difficult, and sometimes impossible to eliminate. They accumulate in our tissues and fat cells and continually recirculate throughout the body.

   When the adrenal glands don't function properly, you can't cope or manage your stress adequately. This results in a vicious cycle where the exhausted adrenal glands cause even more stress and the elevated levels of stress continuously exhaust the adrenal glands even more.

Other common causes of over stimulation that leads to adrenal exhaustion may include chronic illness, chronic infection, excessive exercise, gluten intolerance, malabsorption or maldigestion, surgery, sleep deprivation, hypoglycemia and alcohol and drug addiction - however on the flip side sometimes people with adrenal fatigue become an alcoholic or an addict in an attempt to soothe their symptoms from adrenal exhaustion.

Adrenal Fatigue Symptoms

It's very important to keep in mind that the symptoms of adrenal fatigue are shared with a variety of other conditions like thyroid disorders, hypoglycemia, neurotransmitter imbalances, hormonal imbalances and many others. One should always seek the advice of a qualified healthcare practitioner who is knowledgeable about adrenal disorders and have adrenal insufficiency testing to rule out any other possible conditions before assuming adrenal exhaustion.

• The primary symptom is relentless fatigue that is not relieved by any amount of sleep or rest.
• You feel weak, exhausted and tired for no apparent reason on a regular basis
• You have difficulty getting out of bed in the morning even when you had a reasonable amount of sleep
• You are slow to bounce back from an illness or stressful situation
• Cravings for salty food or sweets
• Inability to lose weight, particularly in the waist area, weight gain
• Lightheadedness when you rise from sitting position
• The need for stimulants to function in the morning or keep going through the day
• Trembling when stressed out
• Increase in PMS symptoms and/or menstrual flow that is heavy and stops and starts over
• Feel slightly better for a brief period after eating
• Frequent occurrence of flu or respiratory conditions
• Forgetfulness
• Feel to tired to enjoy life
• You have more energy and feel more alert in the evening (however, this is true only in the early stages of adrenal fatigue. If you have advanced to a more severe stage of adrenal fatigue, you don't have energy at any point of the day, including the evening.)
• Inability to handle stress is another classic hallmark in the list of adrenal fatigue symptoms

Other symptoms of adrenal fatigue may include

• Back or neck pain with no apparent reason
• Food allergies
• Low body temperature
• Feel better when not dealing with stress
• Low sex drive
• Difficulty in achieving daily tasks
• Dry skin
• Nervousness
• Constipation and/or diarrhea
• Heart Palpitations
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Hair Loss

Conditions associated with adrenal fatigue

• MCS - multiple chemical sensitivity
• CFS - chronic fatigue syndrome
• FMS - Fibromyalgia
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Anxiety disorders
• Hormonal Imbalances
• Mild Depression
• Neurotransmitter Deficiencies
• PMS - premenstrual syndrome
• Autoimmune disorders
• Frequent infections
• Thyroid disorders
• Hypoglycemia
• Allergies
• Headaches

Additionally, it's also important to note that not everyone with adrenal fatigue will experience all symptoms that are possible. One person may have only a few adrenal fatigue symptoms, while another person may be completely incapacitated with symptoms. It depends on the degree of damage that is done to a particular person's adrenals and many other factors such as age, other conditions that may be present, the integrity of other organ systems in each person, etc.

Adrenal Fatigue Diet

The adrenal fatigue diet should be free of sugar, white flour, caffeine, refined carbohydrates, alcohol, hydrogenated fats soda pop and other junk food.

It should be organic and include three meals or five smaller meals a day that are filled with and abundance of nutrient rich foods like fresh vegetables and fruits, nuts, seeds and healthy oils like walnut oil and olive oil.

A diet for adrenal fatigue should be high in meat protein like chicken, turkey, beef and buffalo or other meats like pheasant, duck and ostrich. Eggs and yogurt are good too.

An adrenal fatigue diet should include lots of water, that is preferably filtered and free of chlorine and other contaminants.

Many people find an 1/8 to 1/4 tsp of salt added to an 8 oz glass of water to be helpful, unless you have high blood pressure.

Salt your food as preferred to taste pleasant.

It should also be limiting in complex carbohydrates, because even complex carbohydrates break down into sugar in the body and too many of them will strain the adrenals as well as lead to neurotransmitter deficiencies and upset hormone levels.

The best adrenal fatigue diet will include an abundance of low carb vegetables, a generous amount of meat protein and fat and a small amount of complex carbohydrates. This will help provide a nice even amount of energy throughout the day.

Provide Adrenal Support with Comprehensive Adrenal Fatigue Treatment

Adrenal fatigue treatment may consist of providing adrenal support through a variety of lifestyle changes, diet, nutritional supplements, glandulars and adrenal hormone replacement.

However, the steps one takes for recovery depend on what phase of adrenal fatigue you are in and how your body responds. Once again, it is really important to seek the guidance of a skilled physician with expertise in adrenal fatigue, who also understands the advanced stage of adrenal exhaustion.

For the person who is in the stage of adrenal exhaustion it is crucial that they take the right steps in the right order. The dosage of nutrients must be correct for their body and herbs or nutrients that stimulate the gland will only make matters worse. The healing plan will be unique for each person depending on their situation.

For example, someone who is in the early stages of adrenal fatigue may find an adrenal glandular to be very beneficial, but someone who is already in the adrenal exhaustion phase is likely to have an exacerbation of symptoms from a glandular. People in the early stages of adrenal fatigue will need a different dosage of vitamin C and pantethine than a person with adrenal exhaustion. Someone in the earlier stages may benefit from licorice, while the person in exhaustion will become more incapacitated.

• Reduce excess stress as much as possible. This is the crucial first step.
• No caffeine
• No alcohol or drugs - alcohol is an extremely refined sugar.
• No sugar, white flour or refined foods
• Regular exercise, mild.

Exercise that is too demanding, extreme or strenuous will put too much stress on the adrenals and deplete them further. However, mild exercise will help them function better.
• Get adequate sleep and go to bed no later than 11 pm. The adrenals do the majority of their repair work between the hours of 10 p.m. and 1 a.m.
• Use stress relieving and relaxation activities on a regular basis like meditating, deep breathing exercises, time with nature, soothing music, writing, art or any other outlet for creativity to provide adrenal support.
• Add 1/8 to 1/4 of teaspoon of salt to your drinking water -- not if you have high blood pressure or experience negative symptoms when this is tried.
• Cortisol -- A therapeutic dose of hydrocortisone is often used for adrenal fatigue treatment to support the adrenal glands. First a saliva test is performed to measure your cortisol levels in the morning, noon, afternoon and evening. Then depending on what your results are ,cortisol is supplemented. Usually 5 or 10 mg of cortisol is administered for each time slot that indicates low output of cortisol. Using hydrocortisone in low level therapeutic dosages such as this, do not have the negative consequences on health that other cortisone products like prednisone have.

Natural cortisol or glandulars is another option as well.
• Nutritional Supplements, Herbs and Glandulars -- There are numerous nutritional supplements and herbs that are frequently used to provide adrenal support. It will vary from practitioner to practitioner and person to person who has adrenal fatigue. The two most important nutrients for anyone with adrenal fatigue or adrenal exhaustion is vitamin C and pantethine. Pantethine is a more absorbable form of pantothenic acid. Others may include the B vitamins, d-ribose, licorice, Siberian ginseng, Rhodiola rosea, adrenal glandulars and magnesium.

  It’s important to note that although d-ribose is considered to be one of the most beneficial nutrients for someone with adrenal fatigue or adrenal exhaustion, that for some people it feeds Candida and thus can't be taken. You will find that many of the specialists in adrenal fatigue will claim that d-ribose will not feed Candida, but that is not true. In theory it is not supposed to, but what occurs in real life is often different than theory. If someone tells you otherwise, they do not have a thorough understanding of Candida. D-ribose can and does feed Candida for some people, it depends on the strain of yeast one has and the level of overgrowth. That was my experience personally. Some physicians will recommend people with Candida cut their dosage of d-ribose into several small doses throughout the day and be sure to take it with a meal. That didn't work for me. Even 1/16 of a teaspoon feeds my Candida. However for some people that does seem to work.

  You should also be aware that doses of vitamin C and pantethine will be much higher than the doses that the average person will take. A form of vitamin C called liposomal vitamin C is recommended because it has a much higher rate of absorption. It is believed that only about 10% of traditional vitamin C makes it into the cell while liposomal has an absorption ability of about 95%.

There is disagreement in the natural health field on whether glandulars should be used. Some experts feel they are harmless and helpful, while others feel they can lead to dependence. So this is something you want to take into consideration when making a decision. Additionally, people with advanced adrenal fatigue, or those who have adrenal exhaustion, often feel worse when taking glandulars as well as a variety of the other natural supplements that are supposed to give the adrenal glands a boost like ginsing, licorice, dead etc.This has been my experience in this area as well. I have too much norepinephrine, so taking a supplement that stimulates this hormone only makes me feel worse.

Another very important point to keep mind that any adrenal fatigue or exhaustion treatment protocol one uses should be individualized, based on the unique needs of each person. What works for one person, may be harmful for another. It is always recommended that you work closely with a knowledgeable healthcare provider who can help you determine which steps are best for you to take and find the right balance of nutrients and supplements needed for your biochemistry. The sicker you are, the more important this is.

My doctor showed me a great little trick to test for adrenal fatigue. Take your blood pressure while sitting down and record the numbers. Keep the cuff around your arm and stand up. Take your blood pressure again immediately after standing. In a healthy person, the blood pressure will rise when they stand. In a person with adrenal fatigue the blood pressure will drop when they stand.

However, the most common and reliable method for testing the adrenals is with a saliva test. Blood tests are not reliable because they only test for "bound cortisol" while saliva tests for what is free and circulating, which is what we need to know. Many people will text normal on a blood test, but below normal on saliva testing.

Saliva testing can be done very easily with a simple at home test kit. You collect your saliva, mail it back to the lab and they send you your results. Here are the tests I recommend:

Adrenal Fatigue Test -- Price $169.00

The Adrenal Fatigue Test by Neuroscience assesses the presence of adrenal fatigue by measuring levels of the primary stress hormones, cortisol, dhea, epinephrine and norepinephrine. A urine and salvia sample is collected. Saliva is used to test the adrenals and urine is used to test the neurotransmitters involved in the stress response system. You collect your saliva and urine at home and mail it back to the lab in the prepaid package. The results are sent to you directly.

The Adrenal Fatigue Test Measures the Following:
-- Cortisol (morning, noon, evening, and night)
-- DHEA
-- Norepinephrine
-- Epinephrine (adrenaline)

Free 15 Minute Phone Consultation

Hormones and Neurotransmitters

The adrenal glands work in conjunction with hormones and neurotransmitters. When there is depletion or malfunctioning in one of these areas there is usually a problem in the other areas, so it is helpful to measure these levels as well. Adrenal glands need balanced hormones and neurotransmitters to function properly and neurotransmitters are also impacted by hormone levels and adrenal glands. It's a reciprocal relationship where adrenal fatigue is usually connected to neurotransmitter and hormone functioning as well. To restore balance to one, all need to be addressed. The first test below tests for neurotransmitters and adrenal glands, while the last test below assesses adrenal fatigue, hormones and neurotransmitters.

The NeuroAdrenal Test -- Price $325.00

The NeuroAdrenal test is indicated when you wish to assess your levels of neurotransmitters in addition to adrenal functioning or the presence of adrenal fatigue. It too is an easy to perform collection of urine and saliva that you mail to the lab in postage paid envelope. The results as well as treatment recommendations are sent to you. Lab test and recommendations come from NeuroScience, the leading authority in neurotransmitter testing and correction through nutrition. Includes a 15-minute consultation.

The NeuroAdrenal Test Assesses Levels of:

-- Cortisol 4 times in one day
-- DHEA
-- Epinephrine
-- Norepinephrine
-- PEA
-- Dopamine
-- Serotonin
-- Glutamate
-- GABA
-- Histamine
-- Creatinine

Free 15 minute phone consultation

NeuroEndocrine Test -- Price $385.00

The NeuroEndocrine test is indicated for those who desire to assess hormone and neurotransmitter levels in addition to adrenal functioning and/or adrenal fatigue. Simple collection of saliva and urine performed in the privacy of your own home is mailed to the lab. Results and recommendations for treatment are sent to you. Lab test and recommendations come from NeuroScience, the leading authority in neurotransmitter testing and correction through nutrition. Includes a 15-minute phone consultation.

The NeuroEndocrine Test Assesses the Following:

-- Cortisol 4 times in one day
-- DHEA
-- Epinephrine
-- Norepinephrine
-- Dopamine
-- Serotonin
-- GABA
-- Glutamate
-- PEA
-- Histamine
-- Creatinine
-- Estardiol
-- Progesterone
-- Dihydrotestosterone
-- Testosterone

Includes Free 15 minute phone consultation