Adrenal Fatigue: Is It Real? 

Use these tips for adrenal health to regain energy 

Trying to find out the cause of your constant exhaustion can be exhausting. Experts say that part of the solution may involve cultivating your adrenal health. 

Adrenal Fatigue: Is It Real?  Use these tips for adrenal health to regain energy

The pattern goes like this: you feel exhausted and bad, so you open a search engine and type. Its symptoms are so common that everything seems likely to happen, and it will roam one after another to find the problem.

It is easy to rule out certain possibilities, but the symptoms still exist. Through repeated searches, you can read "feeling tired" (yes), "can't sleep" (yes again), and places where you "crave for salty snacks" (oh, man, it's me). Then you will come across a term that covers all of the above: "adrenal fatigue".

Have a glimmer of hope until you discover that "adrenal fatigue" is not a medical term. Rael Cahn, assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of Southern California, said that doctors are increasingly aware of this, and he has studied how yoga and meditation affect cortisol levels and the brain. Kahn said that at present, the label is "still on the periphery." This is not to say that your adrenal health will not affect your fatigue. 

Keys to the Stress Response

The adrenal glands are located above the kidneys. When the amygdala in the brain feels threatened, the adrenal glands release hormones: adrenaline pumps the heart, and if the threatening situation continues, cortisol is secreted to mobilize energy to respond to the threat. At the end of the cycle, cortisol is fed back to the brain to stop the stress response and restore balance.

In addition to our response to stress, cortisol production rises and falls with the rhythm of the day. It is highest in the morning, allowing you to wake up the day before; at midnight, it is decreasing, allowing you to relax. Stress causes cortisol production to rise and fall throughout the day, but in general, when everything is normal, it will fall at night. However, when the adrenal function is "off," it means that the adrenal glands cannot respond correctly to information from the brain, or the brain tells the adrenal glands to secrete the wrong amount of cortisol, "the system may get out of control," says Linda. E. Carlson, Professor of Oncology, The University of Calgary. Although cortisol fluctuations caused by stress do not cause symptoms by themselves, if stress persists for weeks or months, it can cause cortisol-induced problems such as insomnia, weight gain, and fatigue.

Irina Bancos, associate professor of medicine and adrenal endocrinologist at the Mayo Clinic, said that to complicate matters, the symptoms of your adrenal "off" may overlap and are not specific. Trying to diagnose your own problems may cause you to think that your adrenal glands are not working properly. Banks said this may be true, but without a medical diagnosis, "adrenal fatigue" is largely an absurd term.

Zeroing In on Adrenal Issues💔

One of the challenges is that there is no clear adrenal health test for diabetes and blood sugar levels. A potential problem is whether the adrenal glands look like they are all or do they show nothing: they work or shut down.

Bancos said it might be more helpful to observe adrenal health in a range, such as a type 2 diabetes (T2D). Type 2 diabetes affects the glands (pancreas). In this gland, its ability to produce insulin is regulated and cannot meet the needs of the human body. Excessive glucose remains in the blood. Carlson proposed a more accurate term, not "adrenal fatigue," but a disorder of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which has a broader scope and includes problems with the neuroendocrine system that handles stress. Here, Carlson added that the problem that leads to the increase or decrease of stress hormones is not only due to the dysfunction of the adrenal glands, but also the signals that the brain sends to the glands.

 

"When we take the time to stop and listen to our inner experience, we become more coordinated when our body loses balance."

-Michael Mants, Integrative Psychiatrist at the University of Calgary

 

Bancos added another condition, namely adrenal insufficiency, that is, on a daily basis or in response to stress, the production of cortisol is insufficient. She agrees that making a diagnosis can be complicated. For example, if the problem is adrenal insufficiency, the treatment is simple (usually hydrocortisone) and the symptoms can disappear quickly. But there is also some adrenal insufficiency, people may produce normal cortisol in normal activities, but an abnormal response to stress, he said.

 

Bancos added: "It takes time to untie," and many doctors don't have this freedom. Symptoms may be related to more chronic problems, such as sleep apnea, fibromyalgia, anxiety or depression. He said that the discovery of this issue "needs a fairly open and drastic approach by both sides."

 

Off-Balance Due to Stress💗

These experts agree that stress can play a role, and mindfulness can naturally relieve stress. Since cortisol is a stress-triggered hormone, the way people deal with stress can affect any condition. Michael Mantz, a psychiatrist in Santa Barbara, California, said that a common result of adrenal problems is an allergy to irritants such as light, sound, and even food. 

He said that more things are seen as threats: "You become more passive about life itself." Studies have shown that regular mindfulness exercises can support the parasympathetic nervous system and regulate the sympathetic nervous system, thereby reducing our sensitivity to threats. And test it under daily pressure. Manz said: "When we take the time to stop and listen to our inner experiences, we become more comfortable with situations where the body is out of balance and can respond effectively."

 

Symptoms of adrenal fatigue include:💔

•  Even if you sleep well, you will feel tired.
•  You have trouble getting up in the morning, even if you go to bed at a reasonable time.
•  You always feel exhausted or overwhelmed.
•  Difficulty in recovering from illness.
•  Yes, Sweet and salty foods produce delusions.
•  Feel more awake, alert, and energetic after 6:00 pm. M. Than any other time of the day.

 

So, besides quitting your job, selling your kids, and moving to the Caribbean to sunbathe, what else can you do to show your adrenal glands a little love and help them regain shape? Here are four tips:

✌6 Ways to Balance Your Nervous System

1. Breathe

One method is ocean breathing: “When you exhale, you partially close the back of your throat, which gently extends its duration,” Mantz said. It provides two guidelines: Suppose you look in the mirror in the fog or breathe like Darth Vader. Increasing the duration of exhalation can strengthen the parasympathetic nervous system and reduce overactive fight or flight responses.

2. Be Present

Learn to treat thoughts as thoughts, not threats, which means you can get out of panic mode and your adrenal glands will not burn frequently. Carlson said that there are two options for visualizing rivers: the river can be in the water and taken away by the thought, or it can be on the bank and just observe the flow of the river.

3. Scan Your Body

Start from the beginning, all the way to the feet, paying attention to the sensations of all parts of the body. Mantz said this is another way to strengthen the parasympathetic nervous system and keep it in the body.

 

4. Move

Cahn said that physical exercise can help the brain get rid of stress patterns and activate the production of adrenal hormones. But the best way is to keep a moderate pace, because intensity may overload the glands. Continuously monitor your body's response so that it can be adjusted as needed.

 

5. Find Calm

Cahn says that sitting yoga postures and meditation can help you deal with low levels of stress and reduce reactivity so that "the body is more prepared to respond." Studies have shown that practicing yoga helps regulate the sympathetic nervous system and HPA.

6. Sleep Well

Adrenal gland problems usually consume our energy and sleep quality. You can restore the circadian rhythm by getting up and going to bed at the same time every day. Try to spend 15 to 20 minutes in the sun within three hours of waking up: "It's just your body's natural alarm clock," Mantz said. And avoid bright light at least two hours before going to bed. "It's like drinking coffee at 8 o'clock in the evening," he said. "You're the body is exhausted, but your brain is still running and keeping in touch."

Adrenal Fatigue: Is It Real? Use these tips for adrenal health to regain energy

Adrenal Fatigue: Is It Real?

Even if you have enough sleep, do you always feel tired and exhausted? Do you like salty food? Maybe you have seen several doctors, and none of them can tell you what's wrong with you.

If you see natural remedies (an alternative medicine system based on the theory that diet control, exercise, and massage techniques can be used to successfully treat or prevent diseases without the use of drugs) or supplement (non-traditional) doctors, They may tell you that you have adrenal fatigue. However, most traditional doctors say that this situation is not true.

What Is It?

The term "adrenal fatigue" was coined in 1998 by Dr. James Wilson, an expert in natural therapies and alternative medicine. He described it as "a set of related signs and symptoms (a syndrome) that occurs when adrenal function is below the necessary level." He said this is usually related to intense stress and is often accompanied by chronic infections such as bronchitis, flu or pneumonia. Wilson said that people with this disease may not have any physical signs of illness, but they may still feel tired, "gray", and feel tired. Improve through sleep. They also crave salty snacks.

The Theory Behind It😇

The body's immune system reacts faster under stress. The adrenal glands are the small organs above the kidneys that respond to stress by releasing hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline. These hormones are part of your "fight or flight" response. Your blood pressure and heart rate will increase.

According to this theory, if you are under long-term stress (for example, a family member dies or suffers a serious illness), your adrenal glands will be depleted due to cortisol production for a long time. Then there was adrenal fatigue, and there was no approved adrenal fatigue test. A blood test cannot detect a small drop in the adrenal glands.

The recommended treatment for the healthy adrenal function is a diet that is low in sugar, caffeine, and junk food, and "specific nutritional supplements" that include vitamins and minerals:

Is It a Myth?

There is no science to support it. The Society of Endocrinology is the world's largest organization of endocrinologists (people who study and treat patients with diseases related to glands and hormones). Adrenal fatigue is not a real disease. He said that the symptoms of adrenal fatigue is very common, and it can be applied to many diseases or conditions (depression, sleep apnea, fibromyalgia, hypothyroidism, or any other conditions) or originate from daily life.

Society says that certain treatments can be dangerous. He warned that no matter what disease you have, improving your diet may make you feel better, but taking unknown supplements to help your body make extra cortisol (if you don’t need them) can cause your adrenal glands to stop working.

 

What Else Could It Be?

Symptoms such as tiredness, lack of energy, and falling asleep all day can be signs of depression, sleep apnea, fibromyalgia, or any other illness.

 

What Is Adrenal Insufficiency?

Unlike adrenal fatigue, this is a recognized disease that can be diagnosed. There are two forms of this condition, both of which are caused by damage or problems in the adrenal glands, which prevent them from producing enough cortisol. These two forms of symptoms include chronic fatigue, loss of appetite, muscle weakness, weight loss, and stomach pain. You may also have nausea, vomiting, low blood pressure, diarrhea, depression, or dark skin. Adrenal insufficiency is diagnosed by a blood test, which checks if your cortisol level is too low. If you have it, you will need to take hormone replacements.

Adrenal Fatigue: Is It Real? Use these tips for adrenal health to regain energy

What is the adrenal fatigue diet?

The adrenal fatigue diet is a food-based method to improve adrenal stress. Your adrenal glands are located in the kidneys. They produce hormones that help regulate the body.

Adrenal fatigue occurs when your adrenal glands are not working properly. Adrenal fatigue diet promotes:

• Normal functioning of the adrenal glands
•  Healthy blood pressure
• Increases healthy nutrition in the body
• Improves stress level

Outlook💟

The adrenal fatigue diet has been successful in improving energy levels and regulating blood pressure by promoting healthier eating habits and lifestyle changes. This diet also does not require major dietary restrictions that may harm your health. However, you should consult your doctor before changing your eating habits. If you start to experience any bad symptoms or your diet worsens your condition, please see a doctor immediately.