The adrenal glands exist in a space above the kidneys. These little powerhouses produce more than 50 different hormones, including cortisol, estrogen, testosterone, epinephrine and progesterone. The adrenals, while typically capable of producing these hormones in levels required to maintain health in the body, can become overwhelmed in certain situations. Overworked adrenals may stop doing their jobs and decrease the amounts of hormones needed.

After a major life stress such as a death, job loss, birth of a child, financial crisis or major illness, adrenal glands can become sluggish and fail to function properly. Smoking, drugs, poor diet, and excessive chemicals or toxins in the body can also wreak havoc on the adrenals, causing them to limit production of essential hormones.

When the adrenals fail to work as intended, the body no longer receives the essential doses of hormones that it needs and may begin to malfunction in important ways. This is referred to as adrenal fatigue.

Do you Have Adrenal Fatigue?

There are several symptoms of adrenal fatigue that may alert you to the fact that these little glands are not doing the work they used to do. If you feel that you’ve experienced any of these following symptoms, then you may suffer from adrenal fatigue.

• Fatigue: This is a huge complaint among sufferers of adrenal fatigue. Individuals describe waking in the morning feeling tired, even after sleeping for a full eight hours and taking hours to fully wake up. In addition, they note feeling exhausted again in the afternoon hours. And while a normal level of energy may return briefly in the evening hours, many patients admit to being back in bed by 10 p.m.
• Body aches: Often associated with the effects of fatigue, body aches are another common ailment linked to adrenal fatigue.
• Weight loss: Sufferers of adrenal fatigue may experience unexpected or unexplained weight loss as another symptom of the condition.
  

• Lightheadedness: Feeling dizzy or lightheaded may also be a sign that the adrenals are weak and not providing the levels of essential hormones that the body needs to function properly.
• Loss of body hair: Some patients experience a loss of hair on the body linked to the existence of adrenal fatigue.
• Skin discoloration: This is also known as hyperpigmentation, and the condition is sometimes associated with adrenal fatigue.
• More frequent illnesses or longer recovery times: Many individuals with adrenal fatigue seem to get sick more often than what they used to and may require more time to recover after an illness.
• Difficulty relaxing: Although adrenal fatigue is associated with exhaustion, it is also common for sufferers to have trouble winding down at the end of the day. A feeling of restlessness is a frequent complaint.
• Increased blood sugar when under stress: While sufferers rarely detect this symptom without medical intervention, it has been documented that patients with adrenal fatigue may experience higher blood sugar levels when faced with stress, possibly due to the reduced release of hormones such as cortisol.
• Salt cravings: A desire for salt or salty foods is sometimes expressed by sufferers of adrenal fatigue.

Seeking Treatment

Many people are still skeptical about the existence of adrenal fatigue or are uneducated about the causes and symptoms of this condition, so they fail to seek proper medical care for their ailments. Some individuals believe that they are simply overworked, over-stressed or that their complaints are a normal part of the aging process. These people may never seek medical advice and continue to suffer and struggle with their health concerns.

It is important to consult your primary doctor first with any potential questions or concerns about your symptoms and ask for guidance in dealing with them. He may direct you to an endocrinologist who can accurately test your hormone levels and make recommendations for treatment.


Be wary of any alternative treatments because some supplements prescribed for adrenal fatigue may have other harmful side effects. In many cases, your treatment plan will include lifestyle changes to help take some of the stress off of your adrenal glands and allow them to return to a normal level of functionality.

Some of the common recommendations for lifestyle changes are listed below.

• Eat a healthy diet. Make sure your main meals comprise healthy portions of fruits, vegetables and lean meat. Stay away from junk food.
• Watch the ingredients in your foods and eliminate chemical additives and toxins. If you typically eat processed foods, you may be advised to change your diet to a more whole-food or plant-based approach. The harmful additives in many foods should be avoided while healing from adrenal fatigue and on an ongoing basis to maintain optimal health.
• Get plenty of rest. This is a great recommendation for everyone, but for someone recovering from adrenal fatigue, it is a necessity. Make sure you get a full eight hours of sleep each night and take naps as needed during the day.
• Exercise regularly. Devote yourself to a regular exercise routine and stick with it, even when you feel tired. A brisk walk or a gentle yoga class taken regularly is a great place to begin.

If you believe you have any of the symptoms listed in this article, see your doctor and express your concerns. Be candid and honest in your initial interview with the physician and insist on a thorough examination or referral to a specialist if necessary. Don’t downplay any of your symptoms or feel like you’re complaining unnecessarily.

If you encounter resistance from your doctor or feel that you are not being taken seriously, seek a second opinion. In some cases you may need to see a doctor who specializes in adrenal fatigue to get the full attention that your condition deserves. Don’t give up -- seek help until you feel better. There are many professionals in the medical community who are experienced and successful in treating this condition. Help is available, and you deserve to feel better!