Stress and Fatigue Management - Adrenal Fatigue

Tired of Feeling Tired? Adrenal Fatigue Might Be the Culprit.

Adrenal Fatigue is one of the most under-diagnosed syndromes in this country. Patients will often go from doctor to doctor trying to find out why they feel exhausted and sick. They are either told that there is nothing wrong with them, or that they are hypochondriacs.

What are Adrenal Glands?

The adrenal glands are walnut size glands that sit on top of each kidney. The adrenal glands produce hormones that help us deal with stress by increasing production of cortisol, adrenaline and other hormones. In other words, the task of your adrenal glands is to rush all your body's resources into "fight or flight" mode. When healthy, your adrenals can instantly increase your heart rate and blood pressure, release your energy stores for immediate use, slow your digestion and other secondary functions, and sharpen your senses in response to emotional or physical stress, injury, infection, inflammation, allergies or hormonal decline.

What is Adrenal Fatigue?

If stress is chronic, the adrenal glands become fatigued and fail to efficiently produce cortisol, a hormone fundamental to optimal health - without cortisol the body cannot sustain life. When the adrenal glands are fatigued, they do not supply the body with enough cortisol. The body does what it can to get by, but with negative consequences on your health.

If you are experiencing the following symptoms, then you may have adrenal fatigue:

• Morning fatigue and lethargy
• Emotional stress
• Sleep difficulties
• Low blood pressure and blood sugar
• Joint pain
• Low libido
• Infertility
• Allergies
• Recurrent infections
• Chronic pain or physical stress
• Lightheadedness (including dizziness and fainting)
• Nausea
• Muscle pain
• Alternating constipation and diarrhea
• Hair loss
• Irregular menstrual cycles
• Hypothyroidism
• Difficulty concentrating or remembering
• Mild depression

If the adrenal gland is under stress and unable to produce the proper amount of cortisol, then the thyroid gland and the sex organs become stressed. All of the hormones produced by the thyroid gland, ovaries, testicles and adrenal glands work together in synergy. If we have the proper amount of these hormones in our cells, then our body will be healthy and well. If we produce too little of these hormones, then our cells function poorly and we become unhealthy and ill. It is this decline in hormone production that causes aging and leads to a host of degenerative problems.

What Can Indigo Do to Treat Adrenal Fatigue?

We can test for adrenal fatigue with a simple saliva test. If your hormone levels are found to be out of balance, daily supplements may be necessary to maintain a proper physiological hormone balance. As long as your hormones are supplemented appropriately, they will only have positive effects.

Remember that the aging process is caused by the gradual and ongoing decline of our various hormone levels. If we want to remain healthy and well, we must maintain our hormones within the physiological range that we experienced when we were younger, healthy and full of vitality.

Health Insurance

Indigo MedSpa does not participate directly with insurance companies. We strive to be an advocate for our patients, and our philosophy is such that the patient and physician should be the ones deciding what is best for the patient, not someone working at an insurance company. Although we do not accept insurance as payment, our services may be covered by your insurance company. To help with your reimbursement process, our Indigo staff will provide you with an encounter form at each office visit. You may submit these to your insurance company for direct reimbursement to you. To set up your consultation with Dr. Stephen PreFontaine, click on the link below or call 616.336.7662.