Adrenal exhaustion – what should you know?
Everyone is well aware of the kidneys, but not everyone realizes the importance of the small structures located at the top of each kidney. This refers to the adrenal glands. Stress wreaks havoc on the body and has a destructive effect on the adrenal glands, among other things, which over time can become so overloaded that they eventually “burn out.” One of the main symptoms of exhausted adrenal glands is chronic fatigue, regardless of the number of hours slept. The list of symptoms is much longer, and it is worth getting acquainted with it because adrenal burnout is becoming more and more common and affects even young people. Continuous stress, stress, sleep deprivation, poorly balanced diet, lack of balance between work and rest – many factors contribute to adrenal exhaustion.
Adrenal exhaustion – what should you know?
New diseases appear from time to time, but in many cases, the symptoms are the same, so it is difficult to clearly determine the root cause of the problem. Making a diagnosis requires not only a detailed medical history but also appropriate tests. It should also be remembered that symptomatic treatment is only temporary masking of the problem, and to solve it, it is necessary to eliminate its source. Unfortunately, this is not easy, and every disease puts a strain on the body and contributes to fatigue. Many people struggle with chronic lack of energy, not even realizing that it may be due to adrenal exhaustion. If the adrenal glands are not functioning correctly, the whole body will be affected, and life will be less comfortable. Daily functioning will be severely hampered, depending on the degree of adrenal burnout – they are essential for hormone production, health, and well-being.
Numerous disorders occur without functioning adrenal glands that affect water and electrolyte balance, hormones, and the immune system. The body becomes increasingly susceptible to the destructive effects of stress, inflammation develops, and the overall condition of the body decreases. People struggling with adrenal burnout have trouble getting up in the morning, even if they allocate many hours to sleep. This is because the body is under chronic stress, in constant fight or flight mode, and therefore has no chance to regenerate—the level of stress hormones, namely cortisol and adrenaline, increases. There is no possibility of rest even during sleep, the secretion of hormones and neurotransmitters is disrupted, so you have to struggle with constant fatigue during the day. With adrenal burnout, any additional stress factors begin to overwhelm you more and more; this applies to even the smallest of difficulties.
As malfunctioning adrenal glands lead to an imbalance in the body’s salt-to-water ratio, there is a constant craving to eat something salty. A characteristic symptom of adrenal exhaustion is fatigue in the morning and an increase in energy in the evening, as cortisol levels rise. With properly functioning adrenal glands, the highest cortisol levels occur in the morning, gradually leveling off and dropping in the evening. Unfortunately, with adrenal burnout, this process is disrupted, and it is during the evening hours, the increase in this hormone occurs. If there is a constant need to reach something stimulating, you should consider whether this is not due to adrenal exhaustion. This may also be indicated by a greater susceptibility to infections. Burned-out adrenal glands hurt the functioning of the immune system, and its weakening increases the risk of conditions and the development of multiple diseases. This is due to dangerous cortisol levels in the blood. Symptoms of adrenal exhaustion include allergies, bone loss, concentration problems, decreased libido, muscle weakness, irritability, cravings for sugar, hair loss, weight gain, feeling constantly overwhelmed, and dizziness.
Why the adrenal exhaustion?
Lack of energy to live and several unpleasant symptoms accompanying adrenal exhaustion make it impossible to function normally. If you do not take appropriate steps to solve the problem that has arisen, you have to reckon that further symptoms will appear, and multiple diseases will develop. The body will become more and more overloaded and eventually can not stand. There are many causes of adrenal fatigue, but the main one is stress, especially chronic stress. Negative thoughts and emotions, harboring grudges against others, sleep deficit, poorly balanced diet – highly processed foods, nutritional deficiencies also have a destructive effect on the adrenal glands. Lack of exercise and movement and too much physical exertion with insufficient rest and recovery also contribute to adrenal burnout.
How to help yourself with adrenal exhaustion?
It is essential in case of adrenal burnout to have a well-balanced diet. Caffeine, refined sugar, processed foods, hydrogenated vegetable oils should be avoided. It will be important that the diet is nutrient-dense, rich in micro and macro elements. It is worth including in your diet as many fresh vegetables and fruits as possible, healthy fats – it is best to take foods in their natural form, which is the least processed. It is also worth reaching for dietary supplements, especially DHA and EPA acids, B vitamins, zinc, magnesium, adaptogenic herbs: ashwagandha, Rhodiola Rosea, rosavin, ginseng. Reducing stress levels will be significant – at least eight hours of sleep, relaxation techniques, daily exercise, eating regular meals, avoiding negative emotions and people.
