The phrase adrenal fatigue as a medical diagnosis is a controversial expression in 2010. In fact, MayoClinic.com says adrenal fatigue is not an acceptable medical term. Understanding the function of the adrenal system and the symptoms of a dysfunctional adrenal gland will aid in giving an explanation of the syndrome some people call adrenal fatigue.
Step 1
Discuss the variety of functions cortisol affects within the body. The hormone's primary purpose is to help the body deal with stress. Additionally, cortisol plays a role in maintaining blood pressure, normalizing the body's inflammatory response, controlling blood glucose and regulating metabolism, according to the National Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases Information Service. Since cortisol levels are important to so many systems within the body, it is easy to understand why low cortisol levels can cause such widespread symptoms.
Step 2
Outline the symptoms a person may experience. Adrenal fatigue is a term associated with fatigue, body aches, nervousness, problems sleeping and vague digestive disorders. Other complaints may include nausea, vomiting, low blood pressure that falls even further when standing, and irritability or depression.
Step 3
Discuss how chronic stress causes the adrenal glands to overproduce cortisol, the fight-or-flight hormone. The adrenal glands become exhausted from working too hard, and production of cortisol drops. The body systems that depend on cortisol become imbalanced, and symptoms begin to emerge.
Step 4
Explain how to get a diagnosis. An appointment with a conventional physician can shed light on the cause of the symptoms. A doctor may order blood tests to measure the amount of hormones and determine if the adrenal glands are functioning properly. Proponents of adopting adrenal fatigue as an acceptable medical term claim laboratory testing is not as sensitive as the human body in detecting slight changes in hormones. Suggest a visit to a naturopathic physician, who is a doctor who is board certified but takes a holistic approach to healing. Members of the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians treat adrenal fatigue.
Step 5
Review other diseases more commonly accepted by the medical community. Addison's disease is a condition called primary adrenal insufficiency, where the body cannot produce enough of the hormone cortisol and sometimes cannot produce enough of the hormone aldesterone. One in 100,000 people suffer from Addison's disease, according to the National Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases Information Service. Secondary adrenal insufficiency describes a much more common condition.
References
- Mayo Clinic: Addison's Disease
- National Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases Information Service: Adrenal Insufficiency and Addison's Disease
- American Association of Naturopathic Physicians: What is a Naturopathic Doctor?
- National Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases Information Service: Adrenal Insufficiency and Addison's Disease
