Adrenal Fatigue, also known as Hypoadrenia, Non-Addison's Hypoadrenia, Subclinical Hypoadrenia, Adrenal Neurasthenia, and Adrenal Apathy. Adrenal Fatigue is where the adrenal glands are exhausted and unable to function normally. The adrenal glands release steroid hormones which are extremely responsive to changes in inner physical, emotional and psychological environment. Because of their responsive nature, the hormones are susceptible to becoming unbalanced from any number of factors. Too much stress, physical exertion, environmental and/or psychological stress can deplete the adrenal glands, which leads to a decrease in adrenal hormone manufacturing such as cortisol.
The range of severity are from extremely low, near zero, to almost normal. Addison's Disease is extremely low adrenal function which can result from either severe stress, or from auto-immune disease. If left untreated, this form of adrenal fatigue may involve structural and physiological damage to the adrenal glands. This can be life-threatening. In order to function, many people will have to take corticosteroids in order to function.
The extreme high-end of adrenal function is called Cushing's Disease, where circulating levels of cortisol are high. Two common causes of this disease are the use of prescription steroid drugs as well as excessive secretion of ACTH, or Adrenal Corticotrophic Hormone, from the pituitary gland.
These are two levels of adrenal conditions, but what if you are suffering from a form of adrenal fatigue that lies in between the scope of Addison's and Cushing's Disease? And what are some of the signs you are suffering from Adrenal Fatigue?
You don't have to have Addison's or Cushing's Disease to have Adrenal Fatigue. There are many different levels of adrenal function and one way to determine where you stand it so talk to your doctor, or nutritionist, about the three different tests in which your adrenal function is measured. The three different adrenal tests are: saliva, urine, and blood tests.
The Saliva Hormone Test measures the amounts of various hormones. It has many advantages over other lab tests, involving blood and urine tests, in determining adrenal hormone levels. Saliva testing is easy, accurate and reliable. Numerous studies confirmed the test's accuracy with indicating the level of hormones within cells, which is where the hormones are utilized. Saliva testing is also the best lab test for detecting sluggish adrenals. It is the only test that measures the amount of the hormone inside the cells.
The Saliva test is simple and can be done a couple of different ways. You can carry a small vial with you and through certain times of the day, you spit into the vial and cap it. You can refrigerate the vials when you are done, but you don't need to. Then you mail the vials to a lab for them to run the test. It may take a few weeks to get the results.
Another way to take saliva samples is to place a small, tubular shaped sponge under your tongue until it is saturated. Then place the wet sponge into the round vial it came in and cap it. You will do this about four times in one day. Your first sample will be taken from 6:00AM-8:00AM (within one hour after waking); your second sample from 11:00AM-12:00PM; your third sample from 4:00PM-6:00PM; your fourth sample from 10:00PM-12:00AM. This saliva test will show your cortisol levels throughout the day. It will also show your insulin levels, and in females, your progesterone levels.
You can refrigerate your samples for up to three days, but you should send the vials out to the lab as soon as you are finished with taking saliva samples. If you can't send them out right away, send them out within three days.
Blood tests, on the other hand, do not reveal the hormones inside bodily tissues, or those available to the tissues. Blood tests only work on measuring the hormone Aldosterone and cortisol, and sex hormones. From your medical history, clinical presentation, and the results from your blood and urine tests, a trained eye will be able to put the pieces together and form a picture of your adrenal function.
Another blood test, known as the ACTH Challenge Test, detects Adrenal Fatigue by evaluation adrenal reserves and responsiveness. In this test, circulating cortisol levels are measured first then a substance that stimulates the adrenal output of hormones, ACTH, or Adrenal Corticotrophic Hormone, is injected. After the substance is administered, cortisol levels are measured again to see how well the adrenals responded to the stimulating injection. Cortisol levels should be double, but if they are not, or even rise only slightly, Adrenal Fatigue will likely be suspect. Usually, this test is only done if cortisol levels in the blood are found to be low by some other reason.
