Table of contents:
- What is adrenal fatigue?
- How do the adrenal glands cause symptoms of fatigue?
- What causes adrenal fatigue?
- Psychological factors
- Disease factor
- Symptoms of adrenal fatigue
- How to avoid and overcome frequent fatigue due to adrenal fatigue?
Fatigue is a condition in which the body cannot work according to its function. This can be influenced by many factors such as diet, stress, activity, and disease in a person. However, you can also often get tired if there is a disturbance in the adrenal glands that makes them unable to work according to their function.
What is adrenal fatigue?
The term adrenal fatigue was introduced in the early 90's, and is defined as a state of fatigue resulting from the adrenal glands' response to physical and mental stress over a long period of time. However, this theory is not supported by research evidence that shows a stress response causes adrenal fatigue.
Today, the organization of endocrinology, "The Endocrine Society", states that adrenal fatigue is not a standard medical term, and they propose the term adrenal insufficiency. This condition of adrenal insufficiency occurs not due to the influence of pressure, but due to the production of adrenal hormones that do not meet the normal limits or body needs, which then causes the effect of fatigue.
How do the adrenal glands cause symptoms of fatigue?
The adrenal glands, also known as the adrenal cortex, play a role in producing various hormones adrenaline and noradrenaline, especially the hormones aldosterone and cortisol which have very important functions. The hormone aldosterone plays a role in regulating blood pressure and balancing potassium and sodium levels in the blood. While cortisol plays a role in regulating metabolism and blood sugar.
If the function of the adrenal glands is disturbed, the production of these hormones will decrease and there will be several disorders of body functions such as metabolic disorders, disorders of sodium and glucose distribution, and blood pressure disorders. Adrenal gland disorders do not occur directly, but are influenced by other factors such as disturbances in coordination with the pitutary glands in the brain. Any disturbance in the pitutari gland will trigger adrenal fatigue which affects the function of the adrenal glands and can cause hormonal balance.
What causes adrenal fatigue?
Psychological factors
Impaired function of the adrenal glands which are affected by the pitutary glands can also be caused by the body's response to stress. This results in a hormonal imbalance such as excess secretion of the hormone cortisol but decreases the secretion of other hormones.
Disease factor
Although it tends to be rare, the adrenal glands may not function optimally if you experience several disorders such as:
- Imbalance of hormone secretion by the adrenal glands such as too much stress hormone secretion occurs for too long or it can also occur if you are suffering Cushing's syndrome
- The development of a tumor or cancer in the adrenal glands
- Infection of the adrenal glands
- There are genetic disorders in the brain and adrenal glands
- Autoimmune diseases such as Addison's disease
- Congenital like congenital adrenal hyperplasia, enlarged glands that cause disruption of adrenal hormone production
Symptoms of adrenal fatigue
Despite their different theoretical backgrounds, both the terms adrenal fatigue and adrenal insufficiency share several symptoms, including:
- Feeling tired all the time
- Muscles feel weak
- Decreased appetite
- Mental disorders such as stomach, nausea to diarrhea
- Low blood pressure
- Depression and irritability
- Craving salty food
- Low blood sugar levels
- Headache
- Irregular menstrual cycle
The problem of adrenal fatigue is difficult to spot because it has symptoms that can be caused by chronic fatigue conditions and other ailments. In addition, there is no standardized test to detect someone with adrenal dysfunction. However, fatigue can be overcome immediately by recognizing stress factors, nutritional status, activity and lifestyle as well as a person's history of illness.
How to avoid and overcome frequent fatigue due to adrenal fatigue?
Fatigue and some of the symptoms of adrenal fatigue can be improved by implementing a number of lifestyle changes caused by adrenal fatigue, including:
- Reduce consumption energy drink and coffee at the same time when you feel tired, and prioritize getting enough sleep if you have lost sleep.
- Reduce consumption of processed foods because it will be more difficult to digest. Cooked food is better to eat when you experience fatigue.
- Reduce consumption of sweet foods like snacks, because they generally have less amounts and types of nutrients. Instead, consume food sources rich in fiber, minerals, fat and protein, green vegetables, avocado, chicken, oily fish or nuts.
- Take supplements which can help the adrenal glands function such as fish oil (EPA / DHA), magnesium, zinc and various vitamins B5, B12, C and D3.
- Manage stress by relaxing or forgetting stress for a moment, stopping alcohol and cigarette consumption, and getting enough sleep because it is needed by the brain to think, regulate hormone secretion, and respond to stress better.
If it doesn't work and you have special consideration of your health condition or a history of diseases that cause adrenal gland disorders, consult a doctor immediately. Several conditions that cause adrenal fatigue such as tumor, infection, genetic or birth defects require further treatment.
