Are you struggling with overwhelming exhaustion that doesn’t seem to have a cause? Do everyday stresses seem like too much? Exhaustion, stress and low energy can be signs of many disorders, but one you may not have considered is adrenal fatigue.
At Age Management Center, we are always helping patients learn more about their bodies, hormones, and metabolic processes. Therapies like hormone replacement, vitamins, supplements, and traditional medications, all have their place in treating patients holistically. If you are struggling with adrenal fatigue, know that you are not alone, and that over-the-counter medications may be doing more harm than good.
Adrenal Fatigue
It’s not a well-known condition, so here’s a brief overview. When your adrenal glands are functioning well, their job is to fight the everyday stress we’re exposed to. They do that by producing cortisol and other hormones to mediate the body’s stress response and keep us functioning in tip-top shape. But, if they’re not functioning well, the body is less able to produce cortisol effectively. Simply put, your glands act like worn-out keys on the keyboard.
This misfiring can be caused by either underactive or overactive adrenal glands. In both cases, the glands fail to produce stress-handling hormones in the correct amounts, at the correct times. Adrenal fatigue can result in reduced energy, physical and mental fatigue, and inability to handle stress.
Signs and Symptoms
Adrenal fatigue typically comes in three stages. Oftentimes, people dealing with adrenal fatigue chalk up their difficulties to overwork, stress at work or home, or normal aging.
During the first stage of adrenal fatigue, your adrenal glands fire on all cylinders to keep up with stress, and the high cortisol levels begin to affect the body. That can lead to symptoms like insomnia, abdominal weight gain, and insulin resistance.
The second stage shows cortisol levels peaking early in the day, then dropping off in the evening. This often results in people feeling tired all day for no tangible reasons. Finally, in the third stage, when cortisol levels remain consistently low all day, patients report constant exhaustion and low energy, with less ability to function in their daily lives.
Common symptoms associated with one or more of these stages of adrenal fatigue are:
- Low blood pressure
- Fatigue
- Body aches and pains
- Loss of body hair
- Skin hyperpigmentation
- Weight changes
- Feelings of heightened stress
- Weakened immune system
- Trouble sleeping
- Lack of libido
Treatments
At our offices in Portland, Maine and Jupiter, Florida, we offer treatments for adrenal fatigue that are tailored to each patient. We use a range of treatments, including: hormone replacement therapy, prescription medications, diagnostic testing, herbal medicine, vitamins and supplements, and biologic injections. Our treatments aim to regulate and restore healthy adrenal function. We will help track your cortisol levels so we can identify what is working, and we will focus on restoring you to overall metabolic health.
The specifics vary depending on your medical history, health, and past conditions, but we love getting to know each patient and helping them meet their individual health goals. We see patients from across the country, so feel free to contact us with any questions.
