From disturbing sleeping patterns to inducing carbohydrate cravings, adrenal fatigue can result in a wide variety of symptoms. Most relate to the the fluctuations in levels of adrenal hormones such as cortisol and DHEA, both of which play an important role in the maintenance of blood sugar levels, balancing of moods and the regulation of the immune system.
Adrenal Fatigue
Dr James Wilson, a physician and the author of "Adrenal Fatigue: 21st Century Stress Syndrome," explains how adrenal fatigue often occurs following a period of excessive stress. Normally starting with a severe crash in energy levels, the condition requires a removal of the original stressors and a wealth of support to the adrenal glands.
Cortisol
Low cortisol levels remain the most common characteristic of adrenal fatigue. This steroid hormone, produced in the adrenal cortex, helps the body to maintain balance following stressful situations. Dr. Michael Lam, a U.S. practitioner familiar with adrenal fatigue, notes how the body adapts to low cortisol levels by producing more epinephrine; this adaption, while useful in maintaining blood sugar levels, regularly results in anxiety and irritation in the sufferer.
DHEA
DHEA, or dihydroepiandrosterone, to use its full name, works in conjuction with cortisol in coordinating the body's response during stressful situations. Just like cortisol, it originates in the adrenal cortex. Although many patterns may exist, DHEA often raises during early stages of adrenal fatigue as the body attempts to compensate for poor cortisol production before falling in later stages.
Hormone Replacement
When either cortisol or DHEA levels show up as low on tests, sufferers may feel better by taking hormones orally in tablet form to bolster such shortages. A typical replacement dosage of hydrocortisone, chemically identical to cortisol, may come in at between 5 and 20 mg per day. Dr Lam notes how 25 to 50 mg of DHEA often creates a noticeable response in women, although the changes appear less obvious in men.
Drawbacks
Many practitioners advise caution when using hormone replacement in adrenal fatigue. Dr. Lam points out that many individuals can suffer negative responses when using exogenous hormones. Dr. Wilson remains equally unconvinced, explaining that using hydrocortisone can inadvertently replace the function of the adrenal glands and cause atrophy of these vital glands; such adaption may result in a long-term dependency on the hormone replacements.
References
- DrLam.org; Adrenal Fatigue
- "Adrenal Fatigue: 21st Century Stress Syndrome"; Dr James Wilson; 2002.
- Dr. Lam: Adrenal Fatigue and Hormone Replacement
