Do You Feel Constantly Tired & Stressed?

Are you experiencing any of these stress-related symptoms?

• Constant fatigue, for no obvious reason
• Bursts of energy late in the evening
• A weak immune system
• A feeling of being overwhelmed
• Cravings for sweet or salty food
• Difficulty getting out of bed in the morning
• Insomnia, difficulty staying asleep

Did you know that all of these can be caused by the under-functioning of your adrenal glands and endocrine system? You might be one of millions of people who have experienced stress or trauma, and who are now suffering from a condition named Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome.

What is Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome?

Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome can cause all of the symptoms listed above, and it is becoming more and more prevalent in our over-stressed modern society. We call it a syndrome because it usually occurs as a collection of individual symptoms. Any of these symptoms, taken by themselves, might point to an alternate illness, but taken together they clearly suggest Adrenal Fatigue.

You will find many different definitions of Adrenal Fatigue, but very few of them manage to describe the complex systems and relationships within the body that play a role in this condition. This definition is a much more suitable description:

Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome is a group of diverse symptoms that present due to the under-functioning and depletion of key neurotransmitters and hormones produced by the adrenal glands, HPA axis, thyroid gland, and often reproductive glands.

As you can see, Adrenal Fatigue is much more complicated than simply 'tired adrenal glands'. But here's the good news. Taking the first steps towards better health is relatively easy. Make a few simple adjustments to your diet and lifestyle, and you could start to feel better within weeks.

Adrenal exhaustion…The new epidemic

If you want to see how many people suffer from Adrenal Fatigue, just take a look around you. How many of your friends and family complain of being continually tired or having a weak immune system? You probably know moms or dads who spend long hours at work but don't get any rest at home. You might see other friends drinking several large coffees a day, yet still experiencing almost constant fatigue.

There are many ways to exhaust your adrenal glands and endocrine system, and most are connected to the stresses forced upon us by modern life. The burdens that we place on ourselves today, in terms of our time management and our finances, are totally different from those faced by previous generations. In the 1960s a one-income family could afford a nice house and a very comfortable life. That seems almost inconceivable for most families today, who have to stretch their budgets, work long hours and earn two incomes just to keep their heads above water.

Time pressures and financial constraints are far from the only factors in this modern epidemic. Other triggers for Adrenal Fatigue include our high-sugar diet, the rise of pesticides and chemical pollutants in our foods, the rise in food intolerances, and our sedentary lifestyles. Combine these factors with hormonal decline (which many of us are experiencing earlier and earlier these days), and you have a recipe for fatigue, sickness and loss of vitality.

So how widespread is Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome? Some practitioners believe as many as two-thirds of Americans have suffered from some degree of adrenal exhaustion. But while some of us can bounce back relatively quickly from a period of stress or trauma, others find it more difficult. Left untreated, Adrenal Fatigue can gradually worsen until simple everyday tasks become a challenge. That's why it is important to address the cause of your Adrenal Fatigue early, and begin a restorative treatment to rebuild your health, vitality and energy levels.

Have you spoken to your regular doctor?

Adrenal Fatigue is a syndrome, meaning that it encompasses multiple systems and aspects of your health. This also makes it a very difficult condition to diagnose for a typical MD, whose training is typically focused on more acute conditions. In other words, MDs are great when you have an acute condition that sends you to hospital, but they're not so helpful when faced with multiple symptoms and general complaints of feeling 'tired and unwell'.

Did you know that MDs receive less than one day of nutrition training during their entire 4 years at medical school? A 2006 study found that the average MD received only 23.9 hours on this vitally important subject. Modern healthcare has drifted away from promoting things like nutrition, emotional wellness, and exercise, and has become almost exclusively focused on treating acute, life-threatening conditions. Again, that's not so helpful if you are suffering from a condition like Adrenal Fatigue.

There are other reasons why doctors (and even some naturopaths) are unable to make a diagnosis of Adrenal Fatigue. The requisite lab tests are rarely covered by insurance, and are often difficult to interpret for an inexperienced doctor. It takes a skilled and experienced practitioner to determine what your 'optimal' ranges should be, rather than the wide 'normal' ranges suggested by the lab.

Treating Adrenal Fatigue requires lifestyle changes, for example an improved diet and exercise routine, along with appropriate supplementation and even some emotional counseling. Even if your MD is willing to go through these steps with you, the limitations of our overcrowded healthcare system make it impossible for him or her to do so. Modern healthcare aims to get patients in and out of the clinic as quickly as possible, and it encourages the use of prescription medicines to treat symptoms, rather than attempting to diagnose and treat the underlying problem.

Take your first steps to better health and vitality

Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome is a very real condition, but navigating your way through all the treatment options can be difficult. Individuals with Adrenal Fatigue tend to bounce between family doctors, endocrinologists, psychotherapists and more. They are often prescribed drugs like sleeping pills and antidepressants by well-meaning doctors who simply can't figure out what is wrong with them. But the truth is that treating Adrenal Fatigue involves much more than prescribing drugs. It requires a combination of experience and knowledge of both conventional and alternative medicine.

An integrative approach, combining conventional and alternative medicine, is ideal for a condition like Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome. Integrative medicine combines the best of these two disciplines, emphasizing holistic treatment rather than just zeroing in on a single symptom. This means focusing more on things like prevention, diet and lifestyle choices, and less on prescription drugs that simply act as 'band-aids' for your condition.

The right lifestyle adjustments, like improvements to your diet or proven stress reduction techniques, can have an enormous impact on those who suffer from Adrenal Fatigue.

In The Adrenal Fatigue Solution, we have included everything you need to know about diet, stress management, exercise, supplementation, hormone replacement and much more. It gives you all the tools you need to get the right tests, identify what might be causing your fatigue, and begin restoring your energy levels one step at a time. You will also learn how to prevent your Adrenal Fatigue from reoccuring. Full recovery may take some time, but once you start on the right path you should begin to see your energy levels improving within weeks.