Posted by Dr. Della Parker on May 16, 2017
Do you feel fatigued and stressed? If you’re exhausted and can’t seem to catch-up on sleep, you could be suffering from adrenal fatigue. Adrenal fatigue occurs when the adrenal glands are overworked. The adrenal glands produce many hormones including cortisol, the stress hormones. Too much stress leaves you stuck in fight or flight mode which wreaks havoc, inflammation and eventually disease in the body!If you’re experiencing any of the symptoms below, it may be due to adrenal fatigue. If so, you’re not alone, join my Adrenal Fatigue, Free Health Talk on May 24, 2017, for more information.
1. Difficulty Getting Out of Bed
Sure we all hit the snooze button once or twice in the early morning light, but the physical lethargy common to adrenal fatigue can leave people almost completely disabled in bed if left untreated.
When the adrenal glands are fatigued they have a hard time regulating cortisol and adrenaline levels in the body, making deep sleep nearly impossible. You may think you slept 8 hours, but your body may have been pumping with adrenaline and never actually had time to rest.
2. Inability to Handle Stress
Late stage adrenal fatigue can leave both the mind and body deplete of energy. Any emotional or physical stress can seem like a mountain of pain for those dealing with adrenal exhaustion.
When the adrenals become overworked they struggle to release enough of the hormones used to combat stress. Irritability, feelings of apathy, anxiety and even depression can be indicative of adrenal problems.
3. Craving Salty Foods
As I mentioned, the adrenal glands sit on top of our kidneys and work in conjunction with them to regulate fluid and mineral excretion. Consequentially, when these glands become overworked, they excrete less aldosterone and are unable to properly absorb nutrients.
The body will begin to crave high salt foods in an effort to replace the sodium that is not being absorbed by the kidneys and adrenal glands. If you find yourself suddenly craving high salt foods it could be the first sign of onset adrenal fatigue.
4. Higher Energy at Night
Normally our cortisol levels reach their peak in the mid morning and slowly decline as the day progresses. When first struggling with weak adrenal glands, our body will often mass produce cortisol later in the day in an effort to combat fatigue, making you feel wired at night and further negatively impacting healthy sleep habits.
5. Prone to Colds
Maintaing a balanced level of cortisol in the body is extremely important to immune function. As a natural anti-inflammatory, cortisol can help fight infection and reduce unnecessary swelling in the body. Too much or too little can open the body up to disease and infection. If you find yourself routinely fighting a cold, you may be suffering from adrenal fatigue.
Feeling fatigued and stressed? Don’t miss Dr. Della Parker’s FREE health talk May 24th to learn how the adrenal glands work and how to support their function for disease prevention and to get your energy back.
SRC: Click to read more about adrenal fatigue.
Contact Us
Looking for a Portland Naturopathic Doctor?Get the latest Holistic Health news from Stellar in your inbox