About Adrenal Fatigue

What is adrenal fatigue?

Adrenal fatigue is a collection of signs and symptoms, known as a "syndrome," that results when the adrenal glands function, but not at their optimal level*. Most commonly associated with intense or prolonged stress, it can also arise during or after acute or chronic infections, especially respiratory infections such as influenza, bronchitis or pneumonia.* As the name suggests, its paramount symptom is fatigue that is not relieved by sleep.* However, it is not a disease or as readily identifiable as diabetes or a growth on the end of your finger. You may look and act relatively normal while experiencing adrenal fatigue and may not have any obvious signs of physical illness, yet you live with a general sense of unwellness, tiredness or "gray" feelings.* People whose adrenals are fatigued often have to use coffee, colas and other stimulants to get going in the morning and to prop themselves up during the day.*

This syndrome has been known by many other names throughout the past century, such as non-Addison's hypoadrenia, sub-clinical hypoadrenia, neurasthenia, adrenal neurasthenia, adrenal apathy and adrenal fatigue. Although it affects millions of people in the U.S. and around the world, conventional medicine does not yet recognize it as a distinct syndrome.*

Adrenal fatigue can wreak havoc with your life.* In the more serious cases, the activity of the adrenal glands is so diminished that you may have difficulty getting out of bed for more than a few hours a day.* With each increment of reduction in adrenal function, every organ and system in your body is more profoundly affected.* Changes may occur in your carbohydrate, protein and fat metabolism, blood sugar balance, energy production, fluid and electrolyte balance, cardiovascular function, sleep patterns, mood, menstrual and menopausal symptoms, and even sex drive.* Many other alterations can take place at the biochemical and cellular levels in response to, and to compensate for, the decrease in adrenal hormones that occurs with adrenal fatigue.* Your body does its best to make up for under-functioning adrenal glands but, in the process, can create other problems.*

The following are the most commonly asked questions about adrenal fatigue. Just click on the question in blue for an answer. There is also additional information throughout this website about many aspects of adrenal fatigue. For a comprehensive explanation of how stress and adrenal fatigue can affect your health and what you can do to support your adrenal glands, protect your health, handle stress better, and improve your overall energy see Dr. James Wilson's book, Adrenal Fatigue: The 21st Century Stress Syndrome.*