The Endocrine Society, the world's largest organization of endocrinologists (people who research and treat patients with diseases related to glands and hormones), flatly says that adrenal fatigue is not a real disease. The suggested treatments for healthy adrenal function are a diet low in sugar, caffeine, and junk food, and “targeted nutritional supplementation” that includes vitamins and minerals: Blood tests can't detect a small drop in adrenal production. There’s no approved test for adrenal fatigue. They increase your blood pressure and your heart rate.Īccording to the theory, if you have long-term stress (like the death of a family member or a serious illness), your adrenal glands burn out from prolonged production of cortisol. These hormones are part of your 'fight or flight' response. Your adrenal glands, which are small organs above your kidneys, respond to stress by releasing hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. Your body's immune system responds by revving up when you’re under stress. Wilson says people with it may not have any physical signs of illness but still may feel tired, 'gray,' and have fatigue that doesn’t get better with sleep.

He describes it as a 'group of related signs and symptoms (a syndrome) that results when the adrenal glands function below the necessary level.' He says it’s usually associated with intense stress and often follows chronic infections like bronchitis, flu, or pneumonia. The term 'adrenal fatigue' was coined in 1998 by James Wilson, PhD, a naturopath and expert in alternative medicine. Yet most traditional doctors say this condition isn’t real. If you see a naturopathic (a system of alternative medicine based on the theory that diseases can be successfully treated or prevented without the use of drugs, by techniques such as control of diet, exercise, and massage) or a complementary (non-mainstream) medicine doctor, they might say that you have adrenal fatigue.

Do you feel tired and worn out all the time, even though you're getting plenty of sleep? Do you crave salty foods? Maybe you've been to several doctors and none of them can say what's wrong with you.

Adrenal gland hyperactivity