Adrenal Fatigue Is a Fallacy
- mclapham9
- 11 minutes ago
- 3 min read
What is Adrenal Fatigue?
Adrenal fatigue is a popular, but controversial, term used to describe a set of symptoms related to a perceived deficit of adrenal gland function. Advocates of the term “adrenal fatigue” believe the underperformance of the adrenal glands is secondary to chronic stress or prolonged illness (1).
Adrenal fatigue is not a recognized medical condition
The term “adrenal fatigue” was first used in 1998 and described a syndrome that was believed to arise because of the under functioning of the adrenal glands. The theory behind this term is long periods of unrelenting stress leads to a disruption in the adrenal gland’s ability to produce cortisol. Cortisol is a hormone produced by the adrenal glands and is involved in the body’s stress response, metabolism and the immune system (1).
The symptoms felt to be associated with adrenal fatigue included (1):
Persistent fatigue
Body aches
Sleep disturbance
Brain fog
Craving salty or sweet foods
Difficulty recovering from stress
Established, respected mainstream medical organizations and hospitals, such as the Endocrine Society and the Cleveland Clinic, do not recognize adrenal fatigue as a valid medical diagnosis. Blood testing cannot detect minute fluctuations in cortisol, the hormone produced by the adrenal glands. Also, the symptoms attributed to adrenal fatigue can be found in other recognized medical conditions such as:
Depression
Sleep apnea
Hypothyroidism
Addison’s disease (a disease caused by the underproduction of adrenal gland hormones)
Cushing syndrome (a disease caused by the overproduction of cortisol)
Arbitrarily grouping symptoms under an unsupported conclusion such as adrenal fatigue may delay the proper diagnosis and treatment of medically recognized and very treatable health conditions (1,2).
Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) Axis Dysregulation
Persons experiencing chronic sleep disturbance, infections, chronic fatigue, chronic stress and exposure to environmental toxins may be experiencing what is known as hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis dysregulation.
HPA axis is how the brain and adrenal glands communicate with each other. The hypothalamus is a structure in the brain whose primary function is to keep your body in balance. This state of balance is called homeostasis. The hypothalamus interacts with the autonomic nervous system and/or hormones to keep the body in homeostasis (3).
The pituitary gland sits below the hypothalamus gland in your brain. The pituitary gland makes different hormones and regulates other endocrine glands including the adrenal glands (3). The adrenal glands are glands that sit on top of your kidneys. These are the glands that make cortisol (3).
Any alterations in the communication pathways between these three structures may lead to symptoms across many body systems such as hormonal imbalances, gastrointestinal tract issues and fatigue (3). The HPA axis can become overactive or underactive which may result in immune system dysfunction, mood disorders, obesity, diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure or memory impairment (3). There is currently no direct line treatment for HPA axis dysregulation. However, researchers are currently studying the causes and impacts of HPA axis dysregulation (3).
What to do about your symptoms
First and foremost: if you are experiencing excessive fatigue, sleep disturbances, mood disorders, memory issues, body aches and any other symptoms that are persistent and influencing your day-to-day functioning, you need to be evaluated by a healthcare provider. A thorough evaluation by a licensed healthcare provider will assist the identification of treatable causes and development of an appropriate plan of care to improve your health.
Lifestyle modifications to Improve Your Health and Well-Being
In the meantime, incorporate interventions which may help improve your energy levels and overall well-being. These interventions include (4, 5, 6):
Eating a balanced diet emphasizing plant-based foods, whole grains and lean proteins
Avoiding processed foods and sugar
Limiting your intake of caffeine and alcohol
Quitting nicotine and vaping
Eating regularly and avoid skipping meals to keep your blood sugar levels stable
Maintaining adequate hydration
Making consistent, quality sleep a priority
Exercising regularly; moderate physical activity, such as brisk walking, totaling 150 minutes a week and resistance training sessions at least twice a week
Managing stress with the use of meditation, mindfulness, deep breathing or engagement in hobbies
Remaining in touch with family and friends as social connections have been found to boost immunity and mental health
A Brief Recap
Adrenal fatigue is not a recognized medical diagnosis. However, there are medically recognized diseases which may affect the functioning of the adrenal glands including HPA dysregulation. These disorders require a thorough medical evaluation for diagnosis and the development of an effective treatment plan.
If you are experiencing symptoms such as chronic fatigue, body aches, memory issues, mood disorders and sleep disturbances which affect your day-to-day activities, you need to be thoroughly evaluated by a healthcare provider. In the meantime, begin implementing lifestyle changes to improve your health and overall wellbeing.
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Assessed and Endorsed by the MedReport Medical Review Board