What Causes Adrenal Fatigue?

Do you often feel tired? Do you have fluctuating energy levels, cravings for salty and sweet foods, or frequent cases of sickness? It is possible that you are suffering from adrenal fatigue. What exactly is adrenal fatigue? What causes it? How can a functional medicine doctor help? Read this blog post to discover the answers.

What Is Adrenal Fatigue?

Your adrenal gland produces a number of different hormones, which serve a variety of functions in your body. One of those hormones, cortisol, is part of how your body reacts to stress — in fact, along with adrenaline, it plays a big role in your “fight or flight” response.

When a person is continually stressed out, the adrenal gland can overproduce cortisol, which, over time, can adversely affect how the adrenal gland functions. Eventually, you might end up with a shortage of cortisol, which can result in several unpleasant symptoms, such as problems with sleep, food cravings, low blood pressure, and more.

Many mainstream medical doctors do not accept adrenal fatigue as an official diagnosis. However, they do recognize adrenal insufficiency, who can be diagnosed with blood tests that measure hormone levels. Adrenal fatigue is simply a milder form of adrenal insufficiency. It is more difficult to detect, but it is just as real.

What Causes Adrenal Fatigue?

Chronic stress is thought to be a major cause of adrenal fatigue. For example, if your career places a lot of pressure on you, you may be at risk. Grief and past trauma can also adversely affect your adrenal function.

What you eat can also play a big role in how well your adrenal gland functions. For example, consuming excessive amounts of sugar can cause widespread inflammation throughout the body, thereby worsening symptoms of adrenal fatigue. Other simple carbohydrates, as well as beverages that contain alcohol or caffeine, can also have an impact on adrenal function.

How to Feel Better

If you are suffering from adrenal fatigue, it probably means that your adrenal gland is healthy. It is simply overworked. The solution to the problem, then, is to give your adrenal gland some well-deserved rest. A holistic doctor can work with you to formulate a plan that gets you on the road to recovery.

You may need to make some major changes to your diet, such as cutting out processed foods and temporarily abstaining from caffeine. You might also need to adjust your lifestyle in a way that allows you to spend more time relaxing. In some cases, mental health services from a qualified professional may be recommended as well.

Adrenal fatigue can mess with your quality of life. Fortunately, there are things you can do to start healing!

Meet the Doctor

Dr. Derek Murphy is a holistic physician who believes in helping patients improve their overall wellness through natural, conservative, and evidence-based treatments. If you believe that you may be suffering from adrenal fatigue, he would be pleased to consult with you. Contact our office at 407-319-7541.