Health and Healing Blog

Most people don’t realize they are suffering from adrenal fatigue because they do not really know what the symptoms are. The most common symptom is fatigue, simply put you wake up tired and you go to bed tired. We often hear comments like “no matter how much I sleep I’m still exhausted”. This makes life very difficult indeed. Especially when the other hormones start declining also. The best way to diagnose an adrenal issue is to do a comprehensive test utilizing saliva that shows the levels of cortisol in a patient’s body over a 24 hour period. Once the issue is identified it is simply a matter of getting the person on the right protocol to support and rebuild the system.

Adrenal adaptation begins with the adrenal’s attempt to increase production of the stress hormones. The adrenals enlarge and increase their output. The adrenals cannot maintain a high output indefinitely. Therefore they begin to reduce their production and all the functions of the endocrine system begins to slow down. Finally, adrenal exhaustion is the final phase before adrenal failure, when all systems fail and life is threatened. The following are some of the symptoms of adrenal dysfunction: · Digestive problems · Increased serum cholesterol · Severe weight gain or loss · Diarrhea or Constipation · Menstrual problems · Sleep disturbances · Decrease in sexual arousal · Impotence · Hair loss · Increased urination · Chronic nonspecific pain · Sensitivity to smells, light or sound · Hypoglycemic Symptoms · Dark Circles under the eyes · Dizziness upon standing · Poor immune modulation · Brittle hair & nails · Exhaustion · Inability to calm down · Panic attacks or anxiety · Depression · Mental frustration · Memory loss or inability to think · Irritability - rapid mood swings · Chronic fatigue · Bloating & Fluid retention · Bone loss · Low back or sciatica pain · Heart arrhythmia · Inflammation, joint pain · Poor toleration for exercise · Catch colds easily · Sensitive to bright light · Feeling weak and shaky · Poor circulation · Allergies To determine if a person is suffering from adrenal fatigue, we recommend a 24 hour circadian panel (hormone test). This test will check the function of your cortisols over a 24 hour period. Low function can be easily addressed through a custom compounded adrenal cream or a combination of natural supplements that are designed to support the adrenals.