Adrenal fatigue is thought to occur when the adrenals have been overworked to a degree that they can no longer secrete levels of cortisol that are adequate for optimal function. Potential stressors include environmental and dietary influences, as well as anxiety and emotional stresses.
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.
Many people question whether a total and complete Adrenal Fatigue recovery is possible. The answer is yes in the vast majority of cases, but only if done right. Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome often takes a decade or more to develop. It is important to allow the body time to recover.
Recovery from adrenal fatigue can take anywhere from 3 months to 3 years. Each individual has a unique set of symptoms and an individual response to treatment. The recovery process depends upon the stage and severity of the adrenal exhaustion.
Dry or Wet Eyes
Studies show that stress, a major factor in the development of adrenal fatigue, could cause dry eyes. This may result from poor sleep quality. But this very issue could also cause an increase in tear secretion.
The adrenal fatigue theory suggests that prolonged exposure to stress could drain the adrenals leading to a low cortisol state. The adrenal depletion would cause brain fog, low energy, depressive mood, salt and sweet cravings, lightheadedness, and other vague symptoms.
If left untreated, adrenal crisis can cause death. Adrenal crisis occurs mainly in people with primary AI. People in adrenal crisis need an injection (shot) of glucocorticoids (medicines that replace cortisol) right away. Then they need to go to the hospital immediately for more treatment.
The adrenal glands get fatigued from the high cortisol demand and can cause other hormone imbalances. This can lead to a whole range of symptoms and problems in your body. A foggy brain and memory and concentration problems can occur very early in AFS.
Cortisol levels may be high at night, leading to insomnia. As the condition progresses, you will start to feel more stressed and tired, with fluctuating sleep patterns. You may wake up at 3 a.m. unable to fall asleep again, and suffer through exhaustion all day, until you reach another peak in cortisol in the evening.
Cortisol is normally highest during the day, and slowly decreases through the day, with lowest levels at night before going to sleep. However, when the adrenals are weak, cortisol levels in the morning tend to be low. This results in difficulty waking up, feeling groggy, and having low energy in the mornings.
The short answer is, yes, you should incorporate some level of physical activity even if you have adrenal fatigue. However, that will look different for each person. Exercise, especially high-intensity exercise, is stressful on the body and it causes your body to release cortisol.
To achieve optimum hydration for adrenal fatigue recovery, it is important to bath the body internally with ample water balanced with electrolytes. About one quart (32 ounces or four glasses of 8 ounces each) of pure filtered water per day for every fifty pounds of body weight is the recommended minimum.
Hydrocortisone (Cortef), prednisone (Rayos) or methylprednisolone (Medrol) to replace cortisol. These hormones are given on a schedule to act like the changes in cortisol levels the body goes through over 24 hours. Fludrocortisone acetate to replace aldosterone.
In its early stages, adrenal insufficiency can be hard to diagnose since symptoms come on slowly. Your health care professional may suspect it after reviewing your medical history and symptoms. The next step is blood testing to see if your cortisol levels are too low and to help find the cause.
Adrenal Fatigue Symptoms
fatigue, particularly upon waking, with intermittent “crashes” throughout the day. poor stress response and mood regulation. cognitive issues or “brain fog” increased energy levels in the evenings.
Addition of magnesium glycinate 600-1000 mg orally or transdermally.
The Benefits of Magnesium for Adrenal Fatigue
Supporting the adrenal glands will not only help with the rebalancing of the Cardionomic circuit, it will improve your health overall and also give you some relief from the frequently debilitating adrenal fatigue symptoms, such as depression, anxiety, and brain fog.