What is Adrenal Fatigue and How Can BHRT Help?
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Adrenal glands are located above your kidneys and help to regulate your blood pressure, electrolytes, immune system, and your metabolism. Needless to say, when these glands are not functioning the way they should, it can cause many health issues. In fact, this imbalance can lead to diseases such as Cushing’s syndrome, Addison’s disease, or adrenal fatigue.
If this sounds like you, you’re not alone. Let’s take a look at adrenal fatigue and what you can do to restore balance in your body.
What is Adrenal Fatigue?
When you hear the term “adrenal fatigue,” you most likely think of being tired or even exhausted. In the medical world, it’s commonly used to explain insomnia, fatigue, headaches, or nervousness. It does mean something is abnormal with your adrenal glands.
Abnormal adrenal glands lead to endocrine disorders and other organ issues. For example, cortisol is a hormone that the adrenal glands produce. If you have an overproduction of this hormone it can lead to Cushing’s syndrome. If you don’t have enough, you may have adrenal fatigue.
What Causes Adrenal Fatigue?
If your adrenal glands aren’t functioning normally, it means something is wrong with your adrenal glands. There are two common reasons why you have this problem.
Chronic Stress
Chronic stress is a common cause of adrenal fatigue. The cortisol hormone is also called “the flight or fight” hormone. If you have chronic stress, the hormone may overproduce or underproduce. This becomes difficult for your adrenal glands to keep up with the dysfunction.
The longer you’re in a stressful state of life, the lower your adrenal levels are. If your levels are low for too long, it results in adrenal fatigue symptoms such as bodily fatigue and impaired cognitive function.
Bodily Infections
Another cause of adrenal fatigue is chronic or acute bodily infections. If you deal with infections like influenza, bronchitis, or pneumonia, you’re likely at risk for adrenal fatigue. The more your body has to work to fight the infection, the harder your other organs have to work.
Your body’s immune system works harder when you’re sick or under stress. Your adrenal glands also respond by releasing cortisol to fight infections or stress. People who have recurring infections such as these often deal with adrenal gland issues.
What Are The Signs of Adrenal Fatigue?
One of the most common signs of adrenal fatigue is weight gain. When your adrenal glands work overtime to fight sickness and stress, it may overproduce cortisol. Overproduction leads to weight gain. Other common signs of adrenal fatigue include:
- Low blood pressure
- Craving salty or sugary foods
- Insomnia
- Joint pain or body aches
- Poor circulation throughout the body (you may feel cold a lot)
- Hair loss
- Urinating too often
These are just a few of the most common signs. Other people may have dry skin or experience dizzy spells. When you have adrenal fatigue, it means your body isn’t producing the right amount of stress hormones your body needs. Therefore, many people with this issue depend on caffeine or extra naps to get them through the day.
One of the most common signs of adrenal fatigue is weight gain.
Do I Have An Issue With My Adrenal Glands?
You may not know you have an issue with your adrenal glands. Many people with adrenal fatigue go about their day without anyone knowing they’re unwell. The hormones from your adrenal glands help you deal with the physical and emotional stress each day. If they’re unbalanced, it can affect your awareness and even physical strength.
If you deal with chronic fatigue and or mild depression it may cause you to eat poorly just to get enough energy. Sugary snacks and excessive caffeine will further harm your body.
Adrenal Fatigue Treatment
If you think you’re dealing with adrenal fatigue, the good news is there is treatment. The first step is to talk to your doctor about your symptoms. Make sure you’re open and honest with your doctor. This will help them prescribe the right treatment for you.
Change Your Diet
Medications are not the only answer to treating adrenal fatigue. While the medications will help your symptoms, they may not help the source of the problem. You can start by changing your diet and removing all foods with additives and preservatives. Eat clean and cut out caffeine.
Include Exercise
Exercising can do wonders for your overall health and wellness. However, if you deal with chronic fatigue, you may not feel like exerting yourself. Exercise can help your adrenal glands function properly. Try walking each day or doing light exercise and see it helps. There are times, however, that nutrition and exercise aren’t enough. You need something more.
How BHRT Can Be Used as Treatment
What Is BHRT?
Bioidentical hormones are man-made hormones that act closely to the human hormones in your endocrine system. They come from natural resources such as food or plants. While they still undergo chemical processing, they are more natural than synthetic hormones.
These hormones are often used to treat menopausal women. Many women use these instead of other alternative because they work more naturally.
How Does It Work?
Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT) balances your endocrine hormones that are out of balance. It increases adrenaline, cortisol, and norepinephrine to restore balance in your system. Once it starts working, it improves sleep, awareness, and fatigue symptoms.
Your doctor may prescribe these hormones in forms such as a pill, patch, gel, cream, or injection.
How Can I Get Started?
Do these signs of adrenal fatigue sound all too familiar? Talk to your doctor right away to see if BHRT treatments might help your body recover. With BHRT, you can get back to loving your life again.
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