| As with most illnesses, the symptoms can come | | | | Adrenal fatigue occurs when the body can no |
| on gradually and build over time. Some people are | | | | longer cope with the stress. Inside the body, the |
| more susceptible to stress related illnesses than | | | | adrenal hormones that have been pumping at high |
| others. Stress is the number one cause of adrenal | | | | levels now drop to very low levels. Once in this |
| fatigue; however, many individuals may have this | | | | stage the body can no longer tolerate stress of |
| condition but not realize they have a problem or | | | | any kind, mental and physical exhaustion occur |
| that there is something that can be done about it. | | | | and can lead to illness and collapse. |
| Anyone that is overworked has mental or | | | | So how can you know if this is starting to happen |
| physical stress, marital problems, or a slew of | | | | to you? |
| other issues should pay attention to their body in | | | | There are some self-examinations and painless lab |
| order to detect symptoms of adrenal fatigue. | | | | tests that can help you learn if you have adrenal |
| Symptoms of adrenal fatigue include nervousness, | | | | fatigue. |
| weakness, irritability, low body temperature, low | | | | The Adrenal Fatigue Test is a urine and saliva test |
| blood pressure, apprehension, excessive hunger, | | | | you can collect at home and send to a lab. It |
| difficulty gaining weight, indigestion, craving for | | | | measures adrenaline, cortisol, DHEA, and |
| sweets, inability to concentrate, feelings of | | | | Norepinephrine. |
| frustration, lack of energy, mental depression, | | | | The easiest self-exam is done by pressing on the |
| moments of confusion, poor memory, | | | | adrenal glands that are located above the kidneys. |
| unexplained hair loss, inflammation, | | | | If you feel pain, then you more than likely have |
| lightheadedness, heart fluttering, insomnia, | | | | adrenal fatigue. |
| headaches, dizziness that occurs upon standing, | | | | The Ragland’s sign or blood pressure test |
| poor resistance to infections, alternating diarrhea | | | | is another easy test to take at home. You will |
| and constipation, to name a few. | | | | need a blood pressure kit. Take your blood |
| As with most illnesses, the symptoms can come | | | | pressure while sitting, then stand up and take |
| on gradually and build over time. Some people are | | | | your blood pressure again. The top number, |
| more susceptible to stress related illnesses than | | | | (systolic) should have gone up by 8 to 10 mm. If |
| others. If the stress level in a person’s life | | | | this number dropped instead of rising, you more |
| stays constant, the body begins to work harder | | | | than likely have adrenal fatigue. |
| to fight off the stress by secreting hormones | | | | The last self-exam you can do at home is the |
| that increase the blood sugar levels to ensure the | | | | pupil dilation exam. You can do this exam by |
| body has enough energy. Excess stress | | | | standing in the bathroom facing the mirror. While |
| hormones put a strain on the body’s | | | | looking into the mirror, shine a flashlight into one |
| cardiovascular system, causes weight gain around | | | | eye. The eye should contract, if the pupil stays |
| the middle, and increases blood sugar and blood | | | | the same or dilates; this is another sign of adrenal |
| pressure. | | | | fatigue. |