Stress and Adrenal Fatigue

Let’s face it: it takes you a long time to feel awake in the mornings.  No matter how early you go to bed at night, it seems like an effort to wake up with the alarm clock in time for work.  Sure, you experience a sudden rush of energy just before lunch time – but before you know it, you’re feeling exhausted again.  This pattern continues in waves, where every few hours you receive a surge in energy, only to encounter a sudden and debilitating crash.

It’s not your schedule that’s making it tough to stay awake, nor is it the stress of your day-to-day job.  In fact, there’s a name for this condition – and despite the fact that it affects a large number of Americans, it’s still relatively unknown within medical fields.  This condition is known as “adrenal fatigue,” and it’s number one cause is – you guessed it – stressed.

When we experience stress, our adrenal gland – which is responsible for helping us get the energy we need to tackle a tough project or power through a busy day – pumps out cortisol, which provides a stimulating effect.  However, the adrenal gland wasn’t designed to program in such a way, which is why people who feel chronically stressed are more likely to suffer from adrenal fatigue.  The gland becomes so overworked by the constant stress that it starts to decrease in function.  This causes cortisol levels to significantly drop, making it difficult for individuals to feel alert and awake at normal times.

Unfortunately, adrenal fatigue isn’t eliminated by just catching up on your sleep.  In order to reverse the debilitating long-term effects of adrenal fatigue, it’s important for individuals to learn how to manage their stress levels, with steps including:

• Leading a fulfilling life outside of work
• Managing projects at work in a healthy and productive manner
• Eating a healthy and well-rounded diet
• Getting plenty of exercise (at least three hours of cardio each week)
• Engaging in fun activities with positive people

If you’re feeling stressed and fatigued consider having your cortisol levels measured through a simple saliva test.  Dr. Le can diagnose and treat adrenal hormone insufficiency through medication as well as supplements to help support the adrenal gland.

Stress-induced fatigue typically follows a pattern where patients consistently don’t sleep well. This often leads to a craving of sugar to keep them going. These patients often have low blood sugar and can even have low blood pressure, which is the final stage of adrenal fatigue.

There are also a number of alternative treatments that can treat adrenal fatigue.  If you think you have adrenal fatigue – or would like to know more about your treatment options – visit Dr. Nhi Le at the Fountain of Youth Medical Center in Victoria, TX today. We serve the entire Texas gulf coast, from Corpus Christi to Port Lavaca to Houston, as well as San Antonio and Austin.

To schedule your consultation please fill out the form in the top right corner or call 361-576-9100.