Adrenal Fatigue Case Studies

Sally, a 32 year old mother of 3 small children came to our office complaining of anxiety and an inability to sleep through the night. She was having trouble falling asleep, and staying asleep. In fact, the smallest noises or movements would arouse Sally from her sleep, making it difficult to feel rested the following day. Sally was a 3rd grade teacher with many work related stressors, so rest was a necessity for her to function fully while at work.

On further interview, Sally revealed that she was also frequently suffering from symptoms very closely related to adrenal fatigue; namely, she had irritability, headaches, loss of sexual libido, difficulty concentrating with poor recall, PMS and irregular cycles.

Due to all of the many symptoms suggesting an adrenal stress disorder was the underlying mechanism, she was asked to complete a salivary hormone test to determine her cortisol diurnal rhythms. The Adrenal Stress Index (ASI) was used to measures Sally's salivary levels of cortisol throughout the day to determine the health of her adrenal glands.

Sally's results showed us:

Morning cortisol levels 37 (normal 13-24)
Noon cortisol levels 13 (normal 5-10)
Afternoon cortisol levels 7 (normal 3-8)
Evening cortisol levels 5 (normal 1-5)
Total cortisol burden 62 (normal 23-42)

This Adrenal Stress Index test revealed that Sally was experiencing symptoms of increasingly elevated cortisol levels throughout the day. Her elevated evening cortisol levels were the main reason for her insomnia.

This ASI pattern is typical for an acutely stressful event, and the Early Stages of Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome.

In these acute early phases, the adrenals still have plenty of reserves and are able to produce excess hormones in response to the offensive stressor. The adrenals do this at the expense of progesterone, the precursor to the production of cortisol. To learn more on how the body produces hormones through a cascade of naturally occurring reactions, visit the Youthful Aging Center online.

Sally received adrenal support through the appropriate supplements to nurture the glands, stabilize the blood sugars and down regulate the hyper responsive sympathetic nervous system that is causing so many of her symptoms.

We have posted more case studies to show how Adrenal Fatigue and Adrenal Exhaustion presents in people's lives.

If you think that you may be suffering from symptoms of Adrenal Fatigue, get tested and treated early before the condition aggravates leading to damage to your adrenal glands. This condition is reversible, but like all glands of the body, exhaustion takes many months to years for a full recovery.

The following lists demonstrates the usual symptoms and stressors related to this condition. Use it as a checklist for your own life situation.

Chronic stress leads to adrenal exhaustion and finally to the symptoms commonly defined as the Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome, left unchecked it leads to Adrenal Exhaustion.

The symptoms of severe adrenal fatigue and exhaustion include:

• Pain/spasm in upper back &

• neck muscles
• Loss of libido
• Poor memory
• Light headed when standing
• Headaches
• Irritability/moodiness
• Alcohol intolerance
• Tenderness in low back
• Dry/thin skin
• Scanty perspiration
• Slow wound healing
• Cold intolerance

• Weakness
• Nervous/anxious
• Chronic inflammation
• Palpitations
• Weight gain
•  Low blood pressure
• Sweet/salt cravings
• Unexplained hair loss
• Muscle wasting
• Poor concentration
• Frustration/confusion
• Low body temps
• Slow recovery from work outs

Stress comes in many forms, including:

• Anger - Fear
• Worry/Anxiety
• Depression
• Guilt
• Overwork
• Physical and Mental strain
• Excessive exercise
• Sleep deprivation
• Light-cycle disruption
• Late hours
• Surgery
• Trauma/Injury
• Noise Pollution
• Inflammation
• Pain
• Toxic exposure
• Infections
• Chemicals - Heavy metals
• Electromagnetic fields
• Radiation
• Geophysical
• Malabsorption
• Maldigestion
• Illness
• Low blood sugar - Poor diet
• Nutritional deficiencies
• Inhalant Allergies
• Food Reactions
• Molds
• Temperature extreme

For more information on how adrenal fatigue contributes to and coexists with anxiety disorders check out this article.