Article archive / February 1, 2012
Originally published: . Volume 3, No. 6. Source pages: 13.
Adrenal fatigue (stress-induced subclinical adrenal insufficiency) may be an overlooked contributor to mood disorders. Patients may be suffering with adrenal fatigue if they complain of: fatigue, insomnia, poor blood glucose regulation, shakiness between meals, irritability, headache, cravings for sweet or salty foods, reliance on caffeine to get through the day, inability to cope with stress, and weight gain (especially around the middle). The adrenal glands determine the output of important hormones such as cortisol, and catecholamines such as norepinephrine, and epinephrine, responsible for the “fight or flight” response.
With chronic, high stress, patients can deplete their adrenal reserves, decrease their cortisol output, and suffer with the symptoms described above. Adrenal exhaustion is a common finding in our fast-paced, driven American culture, particularly in patients who seem to “run themselves ragged,” or “are always stressed.” A patient’s cortisol levels throughout the day can be measured using a salivary test.
When adrenal fatigue is detected, many clinicians give nutritional supplements to raise cortisol levels. Adequate rest and measures to balance blood sugar are also recommended to improve adrenal function and restore the patient’s stress response and blood sugar regulation. When adrenal function is improved, patients report increased energy levels, better sleep-wake cycles, improved mood, and higher endurance, even with high stress situations. Assessing adrenal function with a simple saliva test may be a useful adjunctive tool in the diagnosis and treatment of mood disorders.
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.