The term “adrenal fatigue” is used to describe a collection of symptoms that are said to be experienced by people suffering from long-term mental, physical or emotional stress. It can begin in any phase of life due to tensions that may become difficult for our bodies to handle.
The adrenal glands are small organs above the kidneys that deal with the stress we may face in our lives through cortisol—a stress managing hormone. When these glands become unable to keep up with the body’s needs for these hormones, adrenal fatigue occurs.
Symptoms of Adrenal Fatigue
The symptoms of adrenal fatigue are tiredness, insomnia, cravings for salty or sugary foods, and requiring stimulants like caffeine to survive the day. These symptoms are common but non-specific, meaning they can be found in many diseases. They also can occur as part of an everyday, busy life.
Maybe for some time now, you have been feeling quite unwell. Perhaps you feel incredibly tired, lethargic, or even find it extremely difficult to have a good night’s sleep. If you have been going through stressful situations frequently lately, you may have adrenal fatigue.
Why Does Adrenal Fatigue Occur?
Adrenal fatigue may be related to prolonged physical, emotional, and mental stress. As a result, this can give rise to various health issues, including inflammation, tiredness, poor sleep quality, or even blood sugar spikes. Experts believe that adrenal fatigue is caused when the adrenal glands become incapable of meeting the body’s demands of a never-ending fight or flight response attributed to chronic stress. When you are exposed to distressing circumstances, your adrenals respond by delivering cortisol to assist your body in preparing for a hazardous dilemma. However, prolonged stressful situations and circumstances cause your adrenals to become worn out. This makes them incapable of responding to such conditions.
Three Stages of Adrenal Fatigue
Adrenal fatigue presents itself in the following three stages:
First Stage:
The first stage is triggered by an extended stimulus to the adrenal organs, which can cause an increase in cortisol levels in the blood circulation system. Other essential hormones like testosterone, progesterone, and estrogen will become impaired at this stage. This, eventually, will toss into kilter the normal functioning of your immune system and even your metabolic rate.
Second Stage:
The second stage is characterized by decreased cortisol and DHEA levels. You might begin to encounter symptoms like depression, insomnia, anxiety, weight reduction, recurrent infections, memory loss, etc.
Third Stage:
However, stage three of adrenal fatigue happens once the adrenal glands become incapable of producing cortisol, while other hormonal imbalances might occur. At last, you will begin experiencing constant fatigue, making you unable to execute everyday activities and work-related tasks.
16 Steps to Fight Adrenal Fatigue
1. IV Vitamin Therapy for Adrenal Fatigue
IV vitamin therapy or IV infusions help patients effectively recover from the disturbing symptoms of adrenal fatigue in a convenient and trouble-free way. If you’re leading an extremely stressful lifestyle, you may be unable to do the things which maintain your overall health and wellness. If you suffer from adrenal fatigue, your nutritional health will not be so good. This is where IV vitamin therapy comes to the rescue. An IV vitamin therapy delivers an ideal combination of vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients to your bloodstream. It helps reverse any deficiencies you might be facing due to adrenal fatigue. Moreover, your overworked adrenals require you to be in good shape to begin rapid healing. All the essential nutrients will speed up the entire healing process.
2. Do Not Delay Your Breakfast
Eat your breakfast within an hour after waking up in the morning so that your sugar levels do not drop precipitously.
3. Avoid Processed Foods
Stress has several sources, including eating processed foods often, which your body has a hard time processing as well. By avoiding them from your diet, you’re supporting your adrenal glands in returning to their natural state.
4. Avoid High Impact Exercise
Doing low-impact exercises is essential when you’re suffering adrenal fatigue. Say no to high-impact exercise as it can cause another form of stress on the body, making it even harder for your adrenals to repair themselves. Low impact exercises include yoga, Pilates, or light cardio.
5. Breathe In Fresh Air
Taking a walk in nature and breathing in the fresh air are excellent stress management techniques. Walk barefoot on the cold grass and take slow deep breaths. It will help you relax.
6. Take Vitamin B
Vitamin B can help balance hormones and reverse adrenal fatigue symptoms in the body.
7. Get Sufficient Sleep
Not getting enough sleep is another major stressor on the body as it can cause your cortisol levels to rise. As a result, your adrenal glands will have to work harder. Getting more sleep will reduce levels of cortisol and balance your adrenal levels.
8. Take Proteins
Proteins are essential for your body to relax. These contribute to reduced cortisol levels and less stress, which help fight adrenal fatigue.
9. Avoid caffeine
Caffeine is one of the most significant triggering factors of adrenal fatigue. It increases your cortisol levels, causing your adrenals to produce more cortisol, leading to adrenal fatigue.
10. Take Magnesium
Magnesium supports the health of the adrenal glands, balances hormone production levels, and lessens the effects of adrenal. Eat more and more magnesium-rich foods like fatty fish, avocado, legumes, and leafy greens,
11. Organic Veggies
Eating organic green leafy, purple, and orange veggies contributes to the adrenal glands’ overall health as they contain antioxidants, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. So it’s essential to consume at least six servings of them in your diet.
12. Drink Half Your Body Weight
Hydration is critical for keeping your endocrine system healthy. Therefore, ensure to consume about half of your body weight in ounces of filtered water per day. For instance, if you weigh 150 pounds, make sure to drink at least 75 ounces of water.
13. Epsom Salt Bath
Taking an Epsom salt bath helps on multiple levels by repairing and healing your adrenals. Laying down in a relaxing Epsom salt bath a few times a week will relax your stress levels, and reduce the production of cortisol, hence reducing the risk of adrenal fatigue.
14. Massage, Meditate and Relax
Stress is the most significant cause of adrenal fatigue. Therefore, relaxing becomes crucial more than anything else. Use essential oils to massage your belly. Take deep breaths and meditate to cause your stress levels to drop off and your adrenals to heal themselves.
15. Do Not Skip Meals
Make sure to not skip meals and eat after regular intervals. It’s important because not eating regularly lead to adrenal stress. Keep in mind to always eat your meals and slowly chew them thoroughly before swallowing.
16. Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy
Adrenal fatigue is a real problem that can severely affect your quality of life. While using stress-coping techniques (breathing, mindful meditation), reducing sugar and caffeine intake, and getting more exercise will help improve your adrenal glands functioning, the best treatment for adrenal fatigue is rebalancing normal hormone levels through bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT).
BHRT balances unbalanced levels of hormones, including cortisol, norepinephrine, and adrenaline, to help you naturally overcome adrenal fatigue and regain your overall health and well-being. In addition to this, bioidentical hormone replacement therapy provides a supportive environment in which your adrenal glands can recover.
If you have adrenal fatigue, you do not need to wait another day to learn more about the benefits of BHRT. Harbor Compounding Pharmacy provides a variety of bioidentical hormone replacement therapies that are specifically designed to treat adrenal fatigue. Feel free to visit our pharmacy, or you can book an appointment to get started on your quest for optimal health and wellness right away.