Adrenal fatigue refers to a collection of signs and symptoms that result when the adrenal glands cannot adequately meet the demands of stress. It is characterized by nearly constant fatigue, cravings for salty and sweet foods, having trouble getting up in the morning, and struggling to handle stress.
The adrenal glands produce key hormones including:
When consistently faced with high stress, these glands can become overworked and unable to keep up with the body's demands for these hormones. This results in symptoms like:
While not an officially recognized medical diagnosis, many integrative and functional medicine practitioners believe adrenal fatigue is a real phenomenon. Lifestyle changes focused on stress relief and improved nutrition are typically recommended to support adrenal health for those experiencing persistent fatigue and difficulty handling stress.
Some tips include:
While improving diet, minimizing stress, and making other lifestyle changes, many integrative practitioners also recommend taking cortisol levels throughout the day to look for signs of dysregulation. Common patterns with adrenal fatigue include:
If you are experiencing constant fatigue, trouble handling stress, salt/sugar cravings and other symptoms common with adrenal fatigue, consider being evaluated by a functional or naturopathic medicine practitioner at Revive Wellness. Through lab testing and a detailed history, they can provide an integrative treatment plan tailored to your unique situation.