Adrenal fatigue, a condition thought to keep you tired

Continuing to feel tired, of course interferes with your routine. It could be that this is not ordinary fatigue and is a sign of adrenal fatigue (adrenal fatigue). Actually, what is it adrenal fatigue ?

What is that adrenal fatigue ?

According to Todd D. Nippoldt, MD as quoted from the Mayo Clinic page, adrenal fatigue is a term for a set of common symptoms, such as body aches, fatigue, sleep disturbances, and sleep problems.

Even so, according to the Harvard Health Publishing page, this condition has not been fully recognized by endocrinologists as a health condition.

Moreover, there are many health conditions that cause similar symptoms.

That decision is also supported by a 2016 report in the journal BMC Endocrine Disorder that reviewed 58 studies on adrenal fatigue.

The report shows that all the studies that have been conducted still have limitations. For example, tests to determine the level of cortisol (stress hormone) in saliva to make a diagnosis do not show much difference.

As many as 61% of the saliva test results from all studies showed no measurable differences. Whether it's cortisol levels in saliva in healthy people or in people who are thought to have adrenal fatigue.

Why does the term appear adrenal fatigue ?

Although it has not been established as a disease, there is nothing wrong if you know about adrenal fatigue.

The term "adrenal fatigue" was first popularized in 1998 by James Wilson, PHD, an alternative medicine expert. This condition refers to a disturbance in the adrenal glands above the kidneys.

The adrenal glands are responsible for producing hormones the body needs, one of which is the cortisol hormone, also known as the stress hormone. So, when you are stressed, these glands will be very active in producing the hormone cortisol.

One theory states that causes fatigue adrenal is a condition of prolonged stress. Prolonged stress causes the adrenal glands to work continuously. This organ fatigue is what says the body is tired.

Besides the body feeling tired without stopping, other symptoms that are believed to occur due to adrenal fatigue include:

• Body aches
• Weight loss without cause
• Low blood pressure
• Mild headaches
• hair loss
• Skin discoloration
• Brain fog
• Mood (mood) is easy to change
• Cravings to eat sweet or salty foods
• Digestive problems, such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or stomach pain

Then, maybe I got hit adrenal fatigue ?

When a person experiences extreme fatigue accompanied by other symptoms, the doctor will prioritize several other conditions rather than adrenal fatigue (adrenal fatigue).

Doctors are more likely to diagnose some of the following conditions if similar symptoms appear, including:

• Depression
• Sleep apnea (breath stops for a moment while sleeping)
• Fibromyalgia (a disorder in the brain that affects pain signals)

To relieve symptoms of suspected adrenal fatigue, your doctor may focus more on making healthy lifestyle changes. Lifestyle changes to reduce symptoms include:

• Improve sleep hours so that sleep quality is better
• Increase nutritious food, which is rich in vitamin C, vitamin B, and magnesium
• Reorganizing daily routines so that the body does not get tired
• Go to counseling and learn to deal with stress, such as breathing exercises and visualization

To make the diagnosis of the disease clearer, your doctor may ask you to do a series of medical tests before finally diagnosing you with a certain condition.