What is adrenal fatigue?
Adrenal fatigue is a term for when the adrenal glands are overworked and unable to produce adequate levels of cortisol and other hormones. This can leave a person feeling persistently tired, stressed, and struggling to cope with daily life.
Some key things to know about adrenal fatigue:
- Symptoms can include fatigue, body aches, salt and sugar cravings, irritability, anxiety, brain fog, and more. These tend to be worst in the morning and improve during the day.
- It's not an officially recognized medical diagnosis but many healthcare providers acknowledge and treat it.
- Causes are thought to include chronic stress, poor diet, nutrient deficiencies, sleep deprivation, infections, and hormone imbalances.
So what can you do if you think you have adrenal fatigue? Here are some tips:
- Get checked out by a doctor to rule out other issues causing your symptoms
- Reduce stress through yoga, meditation, setting boundaries, simplifying obligations
- Follow an adrenal fatigue diet - nutritious whole foods, limit caffeine/sugar/alcohol
- Support healthy circadian rhythms - regular sleep/wake times, get sunlight, avoid late night screens
- Take adaptogenic herbs like ashwagandha, rhodiola, ginseng
- Consider adrenal support supplements with nutrients like B vitamins, vitamin C, magnesium
I hope this gives an overview of what adrenal fatigue involves, its causes and symptoms, and some treatment options. Let me know if you have any other questions!