Adrenal fatigue - Vital Hormones Clinic

What is adrenal fatigue?

Adrenal fatigue is a term for when the adrenal glands are overworked and unable to produce adequate levels of hormones like cortisol and aldosterone. This can lead to symptoms like:

• Fatigue
• Body aches
• Difficulty concentrating
• Irritability
• Salt cravings

The adrenals can become overworked due to:

• Chronic stress - This overwhelms the HPA axis, which regulates adrenal function
• Infections
• Poor diet
• Blood sugar imbalances

Diagnosing adrenal fatigue typically involves evaluating symptoms and running labs to check:

• Cortisol levels
• ACTH
• Electrolytes
• Glucose

If tests reveal adrenal hormone irregularities, treatment may include:

• Stress reduction techniques - yoga, meditation, nature walks
• Adaptogens - ashwagandha, rhodiola, ginseng
• Improving diet - eating anti-inflammatory whole foods
• Targeted supplementation - B complex, vitamin C, adaptogens

The experts at Vital Hormones Clinic specialize in diagnosing and treating adrenal fatigue through cutting-edge testing and personalized treatment plans utilizing diet, lifestyle, nutraceuticals, and bioidentical hormones when appropriate. "We help patients restore energy, mental clarity, and vitality by nourishing tired adrenals and regulating cortisol," says Dr. Smith.

Common Myths

There are some common myths about adrenal fatigue:

• "It's not a real medical condition" - While some physicians debate this, many integrative doctors recognize and treat adrenal dysregulation. The terminology and diagnostic criteria may vary.
• "Only people with high stress get it" - Infections, blood sugar swings, nutrient deficiencies, and other factors can also trigger it.
• "A few weeks of rest fixes it" - Mild cases may resolve quicker, but moderate to severe fatigue can take 6-12 months to recover from.

The bottom line is supporting weary adrenals requires a comprehensive approach addressing diet, lifestyle habits, mindset, and physiology. Through these interventions, most people see significant improvements.