Treatment involves taking corticosteroids, a drug that mimics cortisol, for the rest of your life to replace the hormones that your body is not producing. Your endocrinologist will order tests periodically to ensure that your hormone levels are normal.
Treatment usually involves corticosteroid (steroid) replacement therapy for life. Corticosteroid medicine is used to replace the hormones cortisol and aldosterone that your body no longer produces. It's usually taken in tablet form 2 or 3 times a day.
The most common symptoms are fatigue, muscle weakness, loss of appetite, weight loss, and abdominal pain. Adrenal insufficiency can be caused by autoimmune disease or suddenly stopping steroid medicines used to treat other conditions, among other causes.
Primary adrenal insufficiency is most often caused when your immune system attacks your healthy adrenal glands by mistake. Other causes may include: Cancer. Fungal infections.
Although there's no cure, primary adrenal insufficiency can be managed effectively by taking cortisol and aldosterone replacement hormones, with the goal of stabilizing hormone levels and relieving signs and symptoms.
Symptoms said to be due to adrenal fatigue include tiredness, trouble falling asleep at night or waking up in the morning, salt and sugar craving, and needing stimulants like caffeine to get through the day. These symptoms are common and non-specific, meaning they can be found in many diseases.
Adrenal fatigue is a process during which the body releases cortisol, a hormone that helps regulate sugars and fats, and some studies have shown that adrenal fatigue and cortisol play a role in a vicious cycle of weight gain.
When cortisol levels drop excessively this is known as adrenal exhaustion. If this occurs, blood sugar levels may decrease, causing hypoglycaemia, linked to weight loss and a low stress tolerance.
Typically, the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis recovers after cessation of glucocorticoids, but the timing of recovery can be variable and can take anywhere from 6–12 months.
The ACTH stimulation test is the test used most often to diagnose adrenal insufficiency. In this test, a health care professional will give you an intravenous (IV) injection of man-made ACTH, which is just like the ACTH your body makes.
Stage 4 (Burnout/Crash)
Our adrenal glands have ceased to function, and little can be done to restore our bodies homeostasis. During the final stage of burnout and individual can suffer from lack of sex drive, depression, restlessness, anxiety and little to no interest in surroundings.
The most serious complication of adrenal insufficiency is called adrenal crisis. If not treated right away, adrenal crisis can cause death. Your body needs much more cortisol than usual during times of physical stress such as illness, serious injury, or surgery.
Patients who have a confirmed diagnosis of primary adrenal insufficiency should undergo glucocorticoid replacement therapy—typically with hydrocortisone (cortisol), the glucocorticoid hormone naturally produced by the adrenal glands.
Focus on a diet that is rich in fruits, vegetables, and lean protein sources, with plenty of calcium and vitamin D. You may also need to increase your salt intake. Avoid foods high in sugar and saturated fat and limit or avoid processed meats, refined grains, soft drinks, and fried foods.
Adrenal stress alters your hormones, setting your body up to pack on extra pounds. A telltale sign of weight gain caused by adrenal stress is midsection weight gain. Stress-related belly fat is so difficult to lose once it appears because adrenal stress continuously “feeds” this fat, keeping it locked in place.
Too little cortisol may be due to a problem in the pituitary gland or the adrenal gland (Addison's disease). The onset of symptoms is often very gradual. Symptoms may include fatigue, dizziness (especially upon standing), weight loss, muscle weakness, mood changes and the darkening of regions of the skin.
Adrenal belly fat appears as a “ponch” right below the natural waist. It's often referred to as a “spare tire” or a “muffin top.” Even if you feel like you're doing everything right: you're exercising, you're making healthy food choices, etc.
Stress and the adrenal glands
Reduced or inappropriate cortisol outputs can lead to physiological changes, and can cause unwanted symptoms such as anxiety, depression, fatigue, indigestion, weight gain, reduced tolerance to stress and irregular sleep cycles.
Stage 1: Alarm
This first stage is characterized by an increased output of cortisol and adrenaline in response to stress. The body's response is called the “fight or flight” response. As the stress continues, the adrenal glands start to become taxed due to the increasing demands by the body for cortisol production.
A: Unlike adrenal fatigue, adrenal insufficiency is a real condition recognized by the medical community. The autoimmune form of the condition occurs when your immune system incorrectly attacks the part of the adrenal glands that produce the stress hormones cortisol and aldosterone.
The adrenal glands, on top of the kidneys, release the hormone during times of stress, and it can dilate the pupils, making it tough for your eyes to focus and causing light sensitivity and blurred vision when you're anxious.
Perform simple, low-intensity movement. Get up and go for a walk for a half hour in the morning—just get low-level general movement. This will help with mental performance too. Perform daily stress-management, self-care activities, such as deep breathing, meditation, prayer, and journaling.