Are you feeling constantly tired? Do you feel that everything in your day is a chore? Do you get irritated, moody or bothered easily by others? Do you feel tired even after long hours of sleep? Have you been using caffeine and/or any other stimulants to make it through the day? Are you getting sick pretty often? Do you find yourself craving specific foods, such as sugary or salty foods? If you answered yes to any these questions, then you might suffer from something called adrenal fatigue.
What is adrenal fatigue?
Adrenal fatigue is a combination of symptoms that develop when a dysfunction of the adrenal glands is present. When this happens, the adrenal glands are working below optimal levels and depending on the severity of the dysfunction, the symptom presentation will vary from patient to patient. This dysfunction is associated with high levels of intense and/or prolonged stress, acute or chronic illness, injury, environmental stressors, poor diet and lifestyle, among others.
Adrenal dysfunction presents with multiple symptoms that can range from extreme fatigue, cravings for salty or sugary food, higher energy in the evening, anxiety, depression, dizziness, insomnia, inability to handle stressful situations, dry skin, low blood pressure, low blood glucose, weight gain, poor circulation, respiratory complaints to low libido, among others.
Unfortunately, conventional medicine does not recognize adrenal fatigue as a diagnosis and instead it is incorrectly labeled as depression, fibromyalgia, anxiety, etc. making it detrimental for patients’ health because many will go untreated for a very long time until someone recognizes the actual problem and addresses it. We, alternative doctors, know that adrenal fatigue is not a “made up” concept; it is a real dysfunction that needs to be addressed because it is the root problem of many ailments. These glands are responsible for the production of multiple hormones that are essential for body function and whenever a dysfunction is present, there’s going to be an imbalance and dysfunction of the whole system.
Adrenal fatigue is more common than you think and we can do a lot to help. There are tests that can be done to determine the status of the adrenals and multiple treatment options. The goal is to get them working at an optimal level so your body can be restored and go back to balance. Treatments will vary per patient; remember, we treat the whole person and not just symptoms so every treatment is customized to what the body needs to function normally again.
*Remember to always contact your healthcare provider before taking any supplements to determine what is best for you.*
Dr. Yarilis Vazquez, ND
Naturopathic Doctor- SOPHIA Natural Health