Adrenal fatigue is characterized by lack of energy brought on by chronic stress. Physical and emotional stress are associated with the condition. “Adrenal fatigue may be aggravated by exercise, especially if a workout session is long or intense,” says Paul Anderson, N.D., a naturopath in Seattle who sees patients with adrenal fatigue. A rapid heart rate after exercise could be a sign that your body is overproducing stress hormones in response to an intense workout session, Anderson notes. Modifying your workout routines and other lifestyle changes may help ease adrenal fatigue and rapid heart rate after exercise.
Description
According to the Mayo Clinic, adrenal fatigue is theorized to occur when the adrenal glands are unable to keep pace with the demands of constant stress. As a result, they aren’t able to produce enough hormones to keep the body energized and feeling good. Other symptoms of adrenal fatigue include insomnia, depression, anxiety, memory problems and exercise injuries, Anderson says. However, the Mayo Clinic notes that adrenal fatigue isn’t an accepted medical diagnosis and most western physicians don’t recognize or treat it. You may need to see a naturopath or homeopathic doctor for a diagnosis, says Anderson, who is chair of clinical sciences at the Bastyr University School of Naturopathic Medicine in Seattle.
Function
The adrenal glands are located on the top of each kidney and produce essential hormones, including the stress hormone cortisol. The adrenal glands also produce adrenaline in response to stress, Anderson adds. These stress hormones elicit the “fight or flight” response, increasing your heart rate and giving you a burst of energy to deal with the stressful situation. But for some people, the adrenal glands may become overworked due to stress and produce too much or too little cortisol leading to adrenal fatigue, according to Anderson. The adrenal glands can’t tell the difference between emotional stress, such as a work deadline, and physical stress, such as excessive exercise.
Solution
If you suffer from adrenal fatigue, avoid intense cardiovascular workouts, such as stationary biking, running, long bike rides and boot camps, advises Alice Burron, M.S., an exercise physiologist and wellness coordinator at the Cheyenne Regional Medical Center in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Stick with walking, low-intensity aerobics classes, water aerobics and other mild workouts. Be sure to stretch and cool down afterwards. “That will help the body recover from the stress of working out,” Burron says. Eat frequent, healthy meals — hunger and poor nutrition can contribute to stress. Finally, incorporate stress management into your life. Anderson suggests learning meditation, yoga or tai chi. Practice them regularly to keep stress under control. He also suggests getting a massage after working out to de-stress.
Considerations
Research shows that exercise reduces the risk of heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis and some cancers. Even if you feel too exhausted to exercise, physical activity will help your overall health and promote energy, Burron says. Just 20 minutes of walking or other low-intensity exercise four times a week can be enough to help you feel better, according to Burron. Be sure to avoid anything that is competitive, however, since the stress of competition can aggravate adrenal fatigue. Plus, many symptoms of overtraining and excessive exercise can be similar to those of adrenal fatigue, which could make you feel worse.
Warning
If your exhaustion, depression and other symptoms of adrenal fatigue continue or worsen, it's smart to get checked out by a medical doctor or endocrinologist to determine if there's another medical cause. According to the Mayo Clinic, fibromyalgia or depression could mimic some symptoms of adrenal fatigue. Plus, malfunctioning adrenal glands may be due to other conditions. Addison's disease occurs when the adrenal glands produce too little cortisol, while Cushing's syndrome is due to too much cortisol. Medline Plus indicates that tumors can also cause disorders in the adrenal glands. A consistently rapid heart rate should always be checked out by a doctor or a hospital. Any change from a normal heart rate could indicate a medical condition, according to Medline Plus.
References
- Mayo Clinic: Adrenal Fatigue: What Causes It?
- U.S. National Library of Medicine: Adrenal Gland Disorders
- U.S. National Library of Medicine: Pulse
- Paul Anderson, N.D., Naturopath; Chair of Clinical sciences, Bastyr University School of Naturopathic Medicine, Seattle
- Alice Burron, M.S., Exercise Physiologist; Wellness Coordinator; Cheyenne Regional Medical Center; Cheyenne, Wyoming
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