Are You Just Tired or Is It This?......

​Being tired is something we all deal with – a simple part of life that we cannot escape.  But how do you know when your tiredness is normal or something you should pay more attention to? Adrenal fatigue affects a significant number of people in various ways, and you could be dealing with it right now without even knowing. 
 
Unsure of what the adrenal glands do, or where they even are?  Don’t worry – you aren’t alone.  The adrenal glands are located above the kidneys and they are responsible for producing important hormones.  When the adrenal glands are unable to work as efficiently as they should, problems arise.  This is common with people who are struggling with stress of all kinds – mental, emotional, physical.  When the adrenal glands aren’t functioning properly, the glands aren’t producing important hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline.  When this happens, the body feels the effects in various ways. 

Here are a few ways to notice if you may be struggling with adrenal fatigue…

• Difficulty getting out of bed.  Insufficient sleep is one of the leading causes of adrenal fatigue. Without quality and adequate sleep, the adrenal glands will collapse. A patient suffering from adrenal fatigue often wakes up in the morning feeling extremely tired regardless of the amount of sleep they had.

 

• High level of fatigue.  High levels of tiredness or fatigue each day isn’t something to take lightly. Although aging can cause a significant drop in energy levels, there is still a distinct line between normal tiredness and something more.  If you can’t get any relief from your exhaustion, no matter how much sleep you get or how well you eat, be sure to see your medical professional.

 

• Inability to handle stress.  It’s true that many people seem incapable of handling stress well. Some people seem to suddenly be incapable of handling stress when they were once very good at it. When you begin to feel a sudden change in your ability to manage stress, seek the attention of your medical professional and let them know about your change in stress.

 

• Uncontrolled craving for salty foods.  Keep a close eye on your cravings. If you crave salty foods regularly or have a new craving for salty foods that you can’t kick, your body may be telling you you’re your adrenals are suffering.  When your adrenal glands are depleted, your sodium levels drop, causing the craving for a substitute – salty foods.

 

• Excessively energy in the evenings.  A person with adrenal fatigue may have too much energy in the evenings.  Cortisol levels are high early in the morning, drop during the day, before peaking again in the evening. Often, this can lead to having trouble sleeping at night.

 
Other symptoms you should watch out for include:

• joint pains
• low libido
• dizziness
• dark circles forming under the eyes

 
If any of this sounds like something you’re dealing with, please be sure to see your medical professional and let them know about what you’ve been going through.  The health of our adrenal glands are crucial in our overall wellbeing, so treating them well is of utmost importance.