A useful way to determine adrenal fatigue is to combine the ACT Challenge Test with the 24-Hour Urine Cortisol Test. The 24-Hour Urine Cortisol Test measures the overspill of hormones from the blood. With these combined tests, the Urine Cortisol Test is given before and after the ACTH Challenge Test. The results are then compared. With the second test, if the cortisol isn't at least double, Adrenal Fatigue is exists.
If you are not sure about the tests, or even if you think you may have adrenal fatigue because you are not feeling well, I would suggest making a list of your symptoms and then compare them with the symptoms of Adrenal Fatigue. A few symptoms of Adrenal Fatigue are: difficulty waking up in the morning, fatigue that is not relieved by sleep, craving sweet and salty foods, lack of energy, daily tasks take more effort, decreased sex drive, decreased ability to handle stress, need more time to recover from stress, illness and trauma, light-headed when standing up, mild depression, less enjoyment or happiness with life, increased PMS in women, your symptoms increase if meals are skipped or inadequate; forgetfulness, thoughts are less focused, decreased tolerance where you are more irritated with people; don't wake up until 10AM, lows between 3-4PM, feel better after 6PM and after evening meal; decreased productivity where it takes you longer to complete tasks.
Be sure to remember that these symptoms are not a definite diagnosis of Adrenal Fatigue, but merely suggest its presence. As a rule, if you are experiencing more than three of the above symptoms, you may have Adrenal Fatigue.
Adrenal Fatigue can be caused by too much stress that doesn't abate (marital, financial, emotional, family, work and psychological stress), death of a loved one, lack of relaxation, allergies, over exertion, smoking, caffeine, fear, negative attitudes and beliefs, lack of sleep, poor eating habits, sugar and white flour products, toxins, infections and a few others.
Not everyone can tell they are under stress. It is good to remember that all stress adds up and has a cumulative affect on your body. There are also other conditions related to Adrenal Fatigue such as abnormal, even erratic blood sugar levels in the form of Hypoglycemia. With Adrenal Fatigue (Hypoadrenia), many people experience allergies more often, have Arthritic pain and decreased immune response. Women tend to have more Premenstrual tension and more difficulty during Menopause.
Mental states can also be altered from low adrenal function, and people with Adrenal Fatigue may show increased fears, anxiety, depression, increased confusion, difficulty in concentration and even less accurate memory recall. They are more easily frustrated and have less tolerance. If their hormones are imbalanced, the likely-hood of insomnia increases.
Should these symptoms remain untreated, foundations may be laid for seemingly unrelated conditions such as Respiratory infections, allergies, Rhinitis, Asthma, frequent colds, Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Hypoglycemia, adult on-set diabetes, auto-immune disorders and Alcoholism.
If you think you may have Adrenal Fatigue, talk to your doctor about being tested. Be warned, however, that most doctors only know about the tests for Addison's and Cushing's Diseases. Unfortunately, medicine only recognizes Addison's Disease as Hypoadrenia, so your doctor may not offer any understanding or sympathy on this matter due to their own uncertainty.
Should you find your doctor is lost in regards to the Adrenal Fatigue you are talking about, that doesn't mean he/she will be unable to help you. If they are unable, you can easily talk to your chiropractor, or nutritionist about the test for Adrenal Fatigue. No chiropractor, or nutritionist? No problem. You can order the test yourself and send it off to a lab. However, once you have the results, you may find it hard to interpret the results unless you take them to your healthcare provider.
Adrenal Fatigue can be prevented, but if you already have it, gain all of the knowledge you can about it and find someone to talk to. Most of the time, Adrenal Fatigue can be cured with supplements and a recovery plan of reduced stress, increased relaxation, enjoyable activities, exercise (though you may feel too tired), and a balanced diet. Depending on your body and how well you adhere to the recovery plan, it may take up to three years for your body to fully recover.
