Adrenal Fatigue Symptoms
Adrenal fatigue, a subject of considerable controversy, is not yet accepted as a medical diagnosis, according to the Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). There are, however, tens of thousands of patients who blame a wide variety of symptoms on this condition, which is described as a mild form of adrenal insufficiency by those who argue that it is a legitimate illness.
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Normal Adrenal Function
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The two adrenal glands, which are located at the top end of your kidneys, produce hormones that are essential to normal body function. These include sex hormones and cortisol, which is widely known as the "stress hormone." Overproduction of cortisol results in a condition known as Cushing's syndrome, while Addison's disease is caused by underproduction of cortisol. Those who argue for recognition of adrenal fatigue as a legitimate medical condition claim that it is characterized by an insufficiency of cortisol that is not severe enough to be diagnosed as Addison's but significant enough to cause real health problems.
General Malaise
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Dr. James L. Wilson, Ph.D., a doctor of both chiropractic and naturopathic medicine, is the author of "Adrenal Fatigue: The 21st Century Stress Syndrome." He argues that people suffering from adrenal fatigue are likely to feel tired for no particular reason, have difficulty getting up in the morning and rely heavily on caffeine and sugar to supply the fuel they need to keep functioning. Wilson says that this condition is likely to befall "anyone who experiences frequent, persistent or severe mental, emotional or physical stress."
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Other Symptoms
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Complicating the debate about the legitimacy of adrenal fatigue as a medical condition is the lengthy list---and diverse nature---of symptoms attributed to the condition. In addition to the general fatigue and malaise described by Wilson, other alleged symptoms include sleeping difficulties, sensitivity to light, a craving for salty and/or sweet foods, slow recovery from injury or illness and problems with digestion. And the list goes on to include menstrual problems, low libido, hypotension, compromised immune function, allergies, arthritis, changes in appetite and irritable bowel syndrome.
Neurological/Psychiatric Symptoms
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Adrenal fatigue is also blamed for a number of neurological and psychological symptoms, including depression, difficulty concentrating, fearfulness, anxiety/panic attacks, irritability, significant memory lapses, quickness to anger and impatience.
What to Do?
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Since the jury is still out on the issue of adrenal fatigue's legitimacy, take your various physical and mental complaints to your doctor and let him find the best way to address them. Avoid self-medicating with the various remedies touted---particularly online---for this somewhat amorphous medical condition. In his overview of the subject for MFMER, Todd B. Nippoldt, M.D., writes: "Unproven remedies for so-called 'adrenal fatigue' may leave you feeling sicker, while the real cause---such as depression or fibromyalgia---continues to take its toll."
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