Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsAdrenal Fatigue SymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatment
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Adrenal Fatigue Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
The termadrenal fatiguewas coined to describe symptoms of fatigue, insomnia, salt and sugar cravings, and more that occur when a person is exposed to chronic stress. The theory is that such stress impacts the adrenals (glands that make stress hormones) so that they “burn out” and fail to produce a sufficient amount of hormones such as cortisol.While most experts do not accept that adrenal fatigue is a “real” disease, these symptoms areveryreal to those who experience them.
Adrenal fatigue can almost seem like a welcome label for frustrating symptoms some have long sought to find a reason for, but accepting it as an answer without further investigation may result in missing a diagnosis that can have similar characteristics, such as sleep apnea, an autoimmune condition, or primary adrenal insufficiency (a recognized condition that can be life-threatening if not caught).
Verywell / Emily Roberts
The Theory
The adrenal glands are two small glands that are located on top of both kidneys. These glands are made up of two parts, each of which secretes different types of hormones in response to physical or emotional stress:
Cross-section of an adrenal gland.
The theory is that chronic stress or severe acute stress wears down the adrenal glands so that they produce fewer stress hormones when stressors continue.
While primary adrenal insufficiency is a known medical condition associated with low levels of these hormones, the theory claims that adrenal fatigue is a milder form of the condition that just can’t be diagnosed based on conventional lab tests.
According to the theory, some people are more likely to develop adrenal fatigue than others, including single parents, shift workers, people who are unhappily married, those who have stressful jobs, people who have chemical dependency issues, and people who work all the time to the exclusion of play.
Controversy
Those who support a diagnosis of adrenal fatigue claim that it often occurs in response to chronic stress, but that it may also occur with acute stress such as respiratory infections.
Adrenal fatigue not being officially recognized leaves the reality that people have very real symptoms that are leading to suffering. Those with these symptoms deserve compassion, a thorough workup looking for recognized (but often overlooked) medical causes, and a thoughtful treatment plan.
Primary Adrenal Insufficiency vs. Adrenal Fatigue
Primary adrenal insufficiency is confirmed with a combination of diagnostic tests (such as an ACTH stimulation test) and imaging tests (such as computed tomography, or aCAT scan) of the adrenal glands.
In contrast, when the termadrenal fatigueis used, it refers to a condition with some of the symptoms of adrenal insufficiency (though milder) but with normal laboratory tests.
Differential Diagnoses
Other conditions that may cause symptoms sometimes incorrectly diagnosed as adrenal fatigue include:
The Process of Differential Diagnosis
Next Steps
If your healthcare provider has evaluated you for other potential conditions and nothing is found, you may wonder where to turn. Keep in mind that not having a diagnosis does not mean that your symptoms are “in your head.” Some conditions are challenging to diagnose. For example, the average person who is diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder has been seeking treatment for over four years and has seen four or more healthcare providers.
If you have symptoms consistent with adrenal fatigue, it’s important to find a healthcare provider who is aware that this is not an accepted medical diagnosis, but who also acknowledges your symptoms and the impact they have on your life.
Though these signs of when to seek the advice of a new healthcare provider apply regardless of what you’re facing, they are especially relevant when you have a challenging set of symptoms, such as those that define adrenal fatigue:
When Your Doctor Fires You or Dismisses Your Concerns
There are no guidelines for the treatment of adrenal fatigue symptoms. Many practitioners recommend healthy lifestyle measures that are beneficial to everyone:
“Adrenal support supplements” deserve special caution. A 2018 study looked at 12 supplements that were marketed as adrenal support formulas.All of these products contained at least one steroid hormone (such as cortisol, cortisone, or androstenedione), as well as small amounts of thyroid hormone.
The researchers noted that long-term use of these products (several months or more) may lead to diabetes, weight gain, andosteoporosis.In addition, due to the way feedback loops function in the body, these supplements could actually lead to adrenal impairment and an adrenal crisis.
It’s important to note that if treating apparent adrenal fatigue means that other potentially treatable conditions go overlooked and undetected, the presumption of this diagnosis (and proceeding with its treatment) could be detrimental.
A Word From Verywell
If you are experiencing these symptoms, remember that while adrenal fatigue is not a formal diagnosis, thereisa reason behind why you’re feeling the way you do. Commit to doing what you can, in working with your healthcare provider, to find it. Though that may take time, and you may need to experiment with different treatment approaches along the way, you deserve to feel better.
4 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Seaborg, Eric.The myth of adrenal fatigue.Endocrine News.Cadegiani FA, Kater CE.Adrenal fatigue does not exist: a systematic review.BMC Endocr Disord.2016;16(1):48. doi:10.1186/s12902-016-0128-4National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms and causes: what are the symptoms of adrenal insufficiency?Akturk HK, Chindris AM, Hines JM, Singh RJ, Bernet VJ.Over-the-counter adrenal support supplements contain thyroid and steroid-based adrenal hormones.Mayo Clin Proc.2018;93(3):284-290. doi:10.1016/j.mayocp.2017.10.019
4 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Seaborg, Eric.The myth of adrenal fatigue.Endocrine News.Cadegiani FA, Kater CE.Adrenal fatigue does not exist: a systematic review.BMC Endocr Disord.2016;16(1):48. doi:10.1186/s12902-016-0128-4National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms and causes: what are the symptoms of adrenal insufficiency?Akturk HK, Chindris AM, Hines JM, Singh RJ, Bernet VJ.Over-the-counter adrenal support supplements contain thyroid and steroid-based adrenal hormones.Mayo Clin Proc.2018;93(3):284-290. doi:10.1016/j.mayocp.2017.10.019
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Seaborg, Eric.The myth of adrenal fatigue.Endocrine News.Cadegiani FA, Kater CE.Adrenal fatigue does not exist: a systematic review.BMC Endocr Disord.2016;16(1):48. doi:10.1186/s12902-016-0128-4National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms and causes: what are the symptoms of adrenal insufficiency?Akturk HK, Chindris AM, Hines JM, Singh RJ, Bernet VJ.Over-the-counter adrenal support supplements contain thyroid and steroid-based adrenal hormones.Mayo Clin Proc.2018;93(3):284-290. doi:10.1016/j.mayocp.2017.10.019
Seaborg, Eric.The myth of adrenal fatigue.Endocrine News.
Cadegiani FA, Kater CE.Adrenal fatigue does not exist: a systematic review.BMC Endocr Disord.2016;16(1):48. doi:10.1186/s12902-016-0128-4
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms and causes: what are the symptoms of adrenal insufficiency?
Akturk HK, Chindris AM, Hines JM, Singh RJ, Bernet VJ.Over-the-counter adrenal support supplements contain thyroid and steroid-based adrenal hormones.Mayo Clin Proc.2018;93(3):284-290. doi:10.1016/j.mayocp.2017.10.019
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