Adrenal fatigue is a medical condition which is caused by excessive stress on the adrenal glands. These glands are located on the top of our kidneys, and produce important hormones that help our body work properly. When the adrenals are overwork, it can lead to burnout and fatigue, and low energy levels as well. The condition is often misdiagnosed as there are too many symptoms that indicate another health problem.
Adrenal fatigue has 4 stages and can be only diagnosed by a doctor. The later stages are particularly difficult to resolve, which is why you should catch the problem as soon as possible. Once he diagnoses it, your doctor will put you on an appropriate therapy which will boost the function of your adrenals.
When under stress, the body produces the cortisol hormones which puts everything back into working order, including the adrenals. However, if you’re under constant stress, the excess production of cortisol will negatively affect your adrenals and cause the aforementioned condition. This is exactly why you need to recognize the early signs of adrenal fatigue in order to resolve the problem ASAP and prevent further damage to your body.
Here are the 7 common symptoms of adrenal fatigue:
1. Insomnia
Insomnia is the most common sleeping disorder nowadays, with millions of
people suffering from it around the world. It manifests through the
inability to fall asleep as well as not being able to sleep through the
whole night. Getting 7-8 hours of sleep overnight is crucial for our
health, as it allows the body to repair itself. Adrenal fatigue is one
of the most common causes of insomnia, and can result in low energy
levels, anxiety and irritability. Try going to bed before midnight every
day and make it into a habit. If you can’t fall asleep, just stay calm
in the dark. It will allow your body to produce more melatonin, a
hormone which will help you fall asleep. Other techniques that can help
are yoga and warm baths as well.
2. Improper digestion
When you’re under constant stress, the body won’t be able to digest food
properly, which will result in slow digestion and metabolism. This will
cause problems such as constipation or diarrhea, bloating and weight
gain. In order to boost your digestion, you need to follow a healthy
diet, stay properly hydrated, stay physically active and consume
probiotics more often.
3. Muscle stiffness and pain
Stress won’t allow your body to heal itself and recharge, which will
result in pain and stiffness in your muscles. This can lead to pain and
pressure in the neck, back and jaw, which is why you should stretch more
often. Epsom salt baths work great as well – they will boost your
magnesium levels and help your muscles relax and work properly.
4. Anxiety and depression
The constant pressure we feel thanks to our hectic lifestyle can easily
change our mood far too often and cause anxiety and depression. In order
to prevent these problems, we recommend learning how to relax – you can
try yoga, breathing techniques or even acupuncture.
5. Feeling overwhelmed
Sometimes things are really hard, but sometimes, you’re making your own
life hard without an apparent reason. Feeling overwhelmed by problems
won’t bring anything good for your health – in fact, it is the main
cause for a variety of health problems. In order to relax, you can start
a hobby that you love. Go fishing, hit the gym, play basketball or ride
a bike in order to get your mind off things.
6. Hormonal imbalance
Adrenal fatigue has been known to cause hormonal imbalance which can
lead to a variety of health problems. It might even cause hypothyroidism
(or under-active thyroid). When overworked, all the precursor hormone
material will be redirected for cortisol production and may lead to
hormonal imbalance. When this occurs, you will experience irregular
menstrual cycles, PMS and other problems, so make sure it doesn’t
happen. In order to keep your hormones in balance, stay properly
hydrated and start using adaptogenic herbs. Drinking too much coffee can
make matters worse, so stick to a cup or two per day.
7. Exhaustion after exercise
If you’re often feeling exhausted after exercising, the problem might
lie in your adrenals. Don’t strain yourself in this case – go for light
exercises or yoga in order to relieve the problem. If you want to lose
weight, eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly as well.