Even if you have a busy lifestyle, it is not normal to feel constantly tired and overwhelmed. If you experience either or both of these chronic states, you may suffer from adrenal fatigue. Adrenal fatigue can greatly affect your quality of life, but its symptoms may mimic other conditions. After a definite diagnosis, adrenal fatigue treatment can begin in Manhattan. Speak with an experienced gynecologist as soon as you can about the harm you have suffered to prepare a potential plan of action.
Stress is a part of everyone’s life, but obviously more so for some than others. Too much stress affects everyone at one time or another, and may lead to lesser forms of adrenal fatigue. Constant and prolonged stress, however, can cause hormones to go haywire, affecting various parts of the body.
The adrenal glands, located above the kidneys, produce stress hormones, such as cortisol, for use when the body needs them. Cortisol and similar hormones control waking and sleeping, blood pressure, and excretion, as well as suppress inflammation. When the adrenal glands cannot keep up with the body’s demands for stress hormones, adrenal fatigue may ensue.
Constant fatigue is a primary indicator of adrenal fatigue, but far from the only one. Other possible indicators, which encompass changes in both physical and emotional health and habits, include:
Excess consumption of caffeine and sugar may also indicate adrenal fatigue, as an affected person may unconsciously attempt to self-medicate. Adrenal fatigue is diagnosed from blood, urine or saliva tests. Once a definite diagnosis is made, an individual adrenal fatigue treatment plan can be formulated by a Manhattan doctor.
All adrenal fatigue treatment plans are holistic and designed to address the various factors contributing to the condition. Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy can relieve many of the symptoms of adrenal fatigue and start the patient on the road to wellness. During treatment, hormone levels can be regularly monitored, and dosage levels adjusted as needed.
Along with bioidentical hormone therapy, lifestyle changes may be necessary. This can include a special diet to eliminate adrenal fatigue, focusing on protein, healthy fats, foods with a low glycemic index, and proper hydration. It also usually means avoiding sugary and processed foods. Eating healthy foods on a regular schedule—for instance, without skipping breakfast—is also a critical component of treatment.
Complementing the right foods with the right supplements, which the doctor can discuss with individual patients, is key as well. These may include B vitamins, magnesium, and coenzyme Q-10, along with herbs that help the body deal with stress. An exercise plan can also reduce stress, as can taking up meditation.
How long it takes a patient to recover from adrenal fatigue depends on the stage at which they were diagnosed. Those in the early stages may experience a relatively quick recovery, but anyone who has reached the higher levels can expect the process to take at least six months.
Recovery also depends upon compliance. If the patient does not change their dietary and exercise habits or address the major stress issues in their lives, recovery can take much longer—if it occurs at all. However, for those who do follow the doctor’s orders and do their best to reduce life stresses, recovery for even the more severe levels of adrenal fatigue may take place faster.
For all Manhattan services, Dr. Edward Jacobson consults and practices out of his home office in Greenwich, Connecticut. If you are experiencing adrenal fatigue symptoms, call Dr. Jacobson today and schedule a consultation.