Are you getting at least seven hours of sleep but always feel tired, worn out and generally unwell? Are you craving and eating sugary and salty foods
that you know are not good for you? Does it sometimes seem like you can’t concentrate or forget things more easily than usual? Have you been to your primary care physician for treatment and been told you just need to eat more healthy foods and get more sleep?
If so, you are not alone.
What is Adrenal Fatigue?
Adrenal fatigue is a relatively new medical condition first investigated by prominent chiropractor and naturopath Dr. James Wilson. When many of his patients began complaining of being tired all the time, having low energy and feeling stressed, Dr. Wilson determined that adrenal glands overstimulated by physical and/or emotional stress may be
causing inconsistent levels of stress hormones, specifically cortisol and adrenaline. In addition, Dr. Wilson discovered that patients with adrenal fatigue do not have enough dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), another adrenal gland hormone responsible for regulating energy, mood and memory.
Located above your kidneys, the adrenal glands release numerous hormones essential for your overall health and well-being. Addison’s disease is a recognized medical condition referring to inadequate production of adrenal gland hormones. A rare, chronic disorder, Addison’s disease is more serious than adrenal fatigue and involves severe reductions in glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids, two important steroid hormones regulating blood pressure and immune system response to illness.
What are Signs of Adrenal Fatigue?
In addition to overwhelming fatigue and low energy, adrenal fatigue may cause:
- Body aches/pains/weakness
- Dizziness/vertigo/lightheadedness
- Brain “fog” (inability to concentrate or focus on completing tasks)
- Problems with short-term memory
- Craving salty or sweet foods
- Depression and anxiety
- Difficulty recovering from illnesses
To diagnose adrenal fatigue, your chiropractor will evaluate your medical history, ask when you first started noticing symptoms and consider if any other medical problems may be causing signs of adrenal fatigue. When all other health issues are ruled out, chiropractors will start treating adrenal fatigue with several, effective chiropractic techniques meant to restore normal functioning of the adrenal glands.
Is Adrenal Exhaustion the Same as Adrenal Fatigue?
Adrenal exhaustion simply means your adrenal glands are too stressed to produce hormones essential for your general health. This is one of the reasons why you need sugar and caffeine to increase your energy level, why you suffer recurring infections and why you feel “down” all the time. Adrenal exhaustion and adrenal fatigue have the same symptoms and require the same chiropractic treatments to relieve these symptoms.
Chiropractic Adjustments for Adrenal Fatigue
Physical and mental/emotional stress may cause the spinal vertebrae to move out of position and press against nerves that reach into all parts of your body. A subluxation (vertebral misalignment) irritating and inflaming nerves supporting the adrenal glands can negatively impact adrenal gland functioning. Additionally, a subluxation affecting the cervical (neck) spinal vertebrae can inhibit the body from adapting to stress without throwing the endocrine system into a dysfunctional state. Cervical nerves extend into brain regions that control sleep patterns, emotions, cognition and immune system functioning.
Adjustments remove subluxations to restore and optimize your nervous system, nerve signaling and, more importantly, strengthen adrenal glands so that your hormone levels return to normal. As part of your adrenal fatigue treatment plan, your chiropractor will also educate you on how nutrition and exercise complement chiropractic adjustment therapy.
Call Pinto Chiropractic in Greenwood Village Today
Part of your chiropractor’s patient care plans is to maximize the health of your nervous system, musculoskeletal system and internal organs, including the adrenal glands. Chiropractors also provide assistance with managing stress to help you avoid suffering adrenal fatigue and other conditions associated with subluxations that can reduce your quality of life.