The adrenal glands are responsible for producing hormones that the body needs to sustain life, according to Medline Plus. Adrenal fatigue means the adrenal glands do not function well enough to maintain optimal hormones output. Michael Lam, M.D., and author of "How to Stay Young and Live Longer," notes that the symptoms of adrenal fatigue are very broad, nonspecific and sometimes debilitating. MayoClinic.com notes that adrenal fatigue describes a group of symptoms that include fatigue and sleep issues, psychological problems, digestive problems and other bodily symptoms.
Fatigue
Although the name refers to a fatigue of the adrenal glands, in terms of their ability to function properly, fatigue is a keynote symptom. The fatigue experience during adrenal fatigue is not relieved by sleep. Lam notes that the fatigue is experienced particularly as a lack of energy in the mornings and in the afternoon between 3 to 5 pm and that difficulty getting up and feeling lethargic for much of the day are not uncommon.
Pychological Issues
Psychological issues that can arise from adrenal fatigue include confusion, sometimes described as a mental fogginess. Lam notes that other symptoms include nervousness and mild depression. Other symptoms include a decreased ability to handle stress and absent mindedness, according to project AWARE, or the Association of Women for the Advancement of Research and Education.
Digestive Problems
Dyspepsia, or an upset stomach, is another symptom of adrenal fatigue, notes Lam. Additionally, alternating diarrhea and mild constipation are other key signs and symptoms, according to project AWARE. Food allergies or insensitivities are other symptoms, which can exacerbate diarrhea and constipation.
Other Symptoms
There are a variety of signs and symptoms that can manifest in the body and may be indicative of adrenal fatigue. Lam notes that the tendency to gain weight, frequent flus and other respiratory diseases, reduced sex drive, body aches and pains, palpitations, hypoglycaemia or low blood sugar and low body temperature are some symptoms that may accompany adrenal fatigue. In addition, salt cravings and muscle weakness are not uncommon, notes project AWARE.
Considerations
The Mayo Clinic notes that the term adrenal fatigue is not an accepted medical diagnosis, although it may be referred to in popular books and alternative medicine. Mayo Clinic cautions that accepting a medically unrecognized diagnosis can be dangerous due to the possibility that the real cause for symptoms might be related to another cause that requires treatment and not to adrenal fatigue.
