Symptoms of Adrenal Support in Menopause
Adrenal support is not a disorder that will cause symptoms, but instead refers to treating adrenal fatigue during menopause. Adrenal fatigue can cause health problems and will require treatment. Adrenal support refers to supporting the adrenal gland to prevent and treat the symptoms of adrenal fatigue.
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Menopause
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Menopause refers to the end of menstruation. The ovaries stop producing female sex hormones, primarily estrogen, which can cause hot flashes and night sweats, mood swings, a racing heart, urine leakage, a dry vagina, forgetfulness and stiff joints. Adrenal fatigue causes additional symptoms to these.
Adrenal Fatigue
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The adrenal glands are the only source of testosterone in the female body. During and after menopause, they also become the only source of the female sex hormones estrogen and progesterone. As the adrenal glands work to keep up estrogen and progesterone levels in the body during menopause they can become exhausted. This can increase the adverse symptoms of menopause, and may also cause morning fatigue, dizziness, poor sleep, a restless mind, a burst of energy between eight and nine in the evening and salt cravings.
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Risks
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Adrenal fatigue will cause the symptoms of menopause to worsen, which can make the adrenal glands work even harder to relieve them, causing more fatigue and steadily worsening menopause symptoms. The adrenal glands are the body's way of responding to any form of stress, and adrenal fatigue can lead to feelings of being overcome with stress.
Treatment
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Northwestern Health Sciences University states that the best way to support the adrenal glands, and so treat adrenal fatigue, is to alter the diet to balance blood sugar, as well as to eat five small meals a day, keeping meals high in fat and protein at the beginning of the day, and meals low in fat and protein toward the end of the day.
Considerations
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Adrenal fatigue can also occur while not undergoing menopause. If you experience the symptoms of adrenal fatigue you should contact your doctor immediately, especially if you are also going through menopause.
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References
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