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| {{Adrenal fatigue}} | | {{Adrenal fatigue}} |
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| == Overview == | | ==[[Adrenal fatigue overview|Overview]]== |
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| Adrenal Fatigue is a condition of the body in which the adrenal glands are exhausted and unable to produce adequate hormones, notably [[cortisol]], the stress hormone of the body.
| | ==[[Adrenal fatigue historical perspective|Historical Perspective]]== |
| This condition is currently widely unrecognized by the medical community. However, this fact accompanied by many people suffering gave rise to an industry of supplements and treatments for this syndrome. General practitioners and psychologists routinely mistake symptoms of adrenal fatigue for other illnesses, especially mental. Therefore the patients must be very careful in locating a helpful practitioner to help them in their recovery, before spending their time and money on various supplements and treatments.
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| There is large confusion regarding the relation of this syndrome to another very misunderstood syndrome, chronic fatigue syndrome. The two may have common symptoms and it is difficult to distinguish.
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| == Causes == | | ==[[Adrenal fatigue classification|Classification]]== |
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| Adrenal fatigue is not typically caused by one source, rather a host of lifestyle factors that contribute to adrenal fatigue as a whole. Such contributing factors include: stress (physical and emotional), poor diet, lack of exercise, significant use of stimulants (caffeine, nicotine, amphetamines), lack of refreshing sleep, lack of relaxation, illness, being overworked, being post-surgery, as well as other stressors. | | ==[[Adrenal fatigue pathophysiology|Pathophysiology]]== |
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| Adrenal stress tends to occur suddenly after a serious illness or stressful point in life. | | ==[[Adrenal fatigue causes|Causes]]== |
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| ==Diagnosis== | | ==[[Adrenal fatigue epidemiology and demographics|Epidemiology and Demographics]]== |
| === Symptoms ===
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| Persons suffering from adrenal fatigue often suffer from chronic fatigue, sleep disorders, trouble getting out of bed in the morning, depression, low energy, cannot recuperate/regain energy levels, lack of endurance, decreased libido, weight gain/loss, and trouble handling stress(physical/emotional).
| | ==[[Adrenal fatigue risk factors|Risk Factors]]== |
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| == Treatment == | | ==[[Adrenal fatigue differential diagnosis|Differentiating Adrenal fatigue from other Diseases]]== |
| === Naturopathic Treatment ===
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| According to various 'specialists', usually naturopaths, adrenal fatigue can be treated and reversed with proper lifestyle changes and dietary considerations. By leading a lifestyle more conducive to a healthy lifestyle, avoiding stressful situations, and eating a balanced diet, the adrenal glands can supposedly repair themselves and return to proper functioning.
| | ==[[Adrenal fatigue natural history|Natural History, Complications and Prognosis]]== |
| There is wide acceptance among the supplement-makers of adrenal fatigue that is most important nutrients that are deficient are [[vitamin C]], [[pantothenic acid]], [[vitamin B5]].
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| Of the herbal remedies it is worth mentioning [[licorice]], that has a known effect of slowing down the breakdown of cortisol. This keeps more cortisol in the body, thus relieving some symptoms of adrenal fatigue.
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| The naturopathic treatment is known as a "long road", with lots of ups-and-downs, and the way to recovery is long and difficult. However, naturopaths consider this more "healthy" since it is based on healing the body, rather than simply replacing the missing hormones.
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| === Drug Treatment === | | ==Diagnosis== |
| | | [[Adrenal fatigue staging|Staging]] | [[Adrenal fatigue history and symptoms|History and Symptoms]] | [[Adrenal fatigue physical examination|Physical Examination]] | [[Adrenal fatigue laboratory tests|Laboratory Findings]] | [[Adrenal fatigue CT|CT]] | [[Adrenal fatigue MRI|MRI]] | [[Adrenal fatigue ultrasound|Ultrasound]] | [[Adrenal fatigue other imaging findings|Other Imaging Findings]] | [[Adrenal fatigue other diagnostic studies|Other Diagnostic Studies]] |
| Of great importance to treatment of adrenal fatigue is the adrenal hormone cortisol.
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| It is generally recommended that in severe cases of adrenal fatigue, the patient should consume low-doses of cortisol for quick relief of symptoms. This also supposedly (never proven) allows the adrenal glands time to heal themselves, and then the person can wean himself off cortisol.
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| The problem is that most practitioners rely on blood sampling of cortisol to detect adrenal insufficiency. By performing blood draws for cortisol measurement, or even performing one of the dynamic tests, such as ACTH stress test, adrenal fatigue is very commonly missed and not diagnosed. Only the severe cases are given relief by cortisol, and the rest are usually told "they are fine". To correctly identify adrenal fatigue, one must diagnose by performing a cortisol saliva test on 4 samples taken at different time of the day.
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| If there are other hormonal deficiencies, they should be corrected as well using either HRT or supporting nutrients (this includes a malfunctioning thyroid gland, and the sex hormones).
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| The medical treatment (using cortisol mostly) is known to be quick and efficient, with no noticeable side effects. However most medical doctors dread this treatment as "dangerous". This results from the fact that cortisol is usually given in very high doses (~300mg/day) to relief various serious illnesses, resulting in very serious side effects. The doctors believe that giving low dosages (~20-30mg/day) would bear the same side effects, it will only take longer. However, in various research texts it has been shown that low dosages of cortisol (<40mg/day) or low dosages of prednisone (<10mg/day) bear no long-time or short-term side effects in the patients, even at long term treatment (see reference at the end). However as knowledge of this treatment and its safety get wider publicity and acceptance it will probably become the rule, rather than the exception.
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| == Criticisms == | | ==Treatment== |
| | [[Adrenal fatigue medical therapy|Medical Therapy]] | [[Adrenal fatigue surgery|Surgery]] | [[Adrenal fatigue primary prevention|Primary Prevention]] | [[Adrenal fatigue secondary prevention|Secondary Prevention]] | [[Adrenal fatigue cost-effectiveness of therapy|Cost-Effectiveness of Therapy]] | [[Adrenal fatigue future or investigational therapies|Future or Investigational Therapies]] |
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| As of 2008, adrenal fatigue is not an accepted medical diagnosis in the US. It has gained popularity primarily through alternative-medicine books; Which claim to offer cures for this ''disorder'', which is allegedly ignored by the mainstream medical community.
| | ==Case Studies== |
| | [[Adrenal fatigue case study one|Case#1]] |
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| The term '''adrenal fatigue''' may also refer to:
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| * [[Addison's Disease]]
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| * [[Hypoadrenia]]
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| * [[Chronic fatigue syndrome]]
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| == References == | | == References == |