Adrenal Fatigue – Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

By Peterhutch

Adrenal fatigue is a label applied to a collection of nonspecific symptoms, such as body aches, fatigue, nervousness, sleep disturbances and digestive problems. The term often shows up in popular health books and on alternative medicine Web sites, but it isn't an accepted medical diagnosis.

Causes of Adrenal Fatigue

As mentioned earlier, sugar and refined carbohydrates are the main cause of adrenal fatigue. Sugar includes honey, maple syrup, fructose, dried fruit, fruit juice and just about anything that is sweet. Refined carbohydrates are grains that have been ground up or have had the bran removed. This include products like bread even whole wheat bread, noodles, corn chips, white rice and pretty much anything that comes in a package. Refined foods are broken down by grinding and concentration.

Proponents of the adrenal fatigue diagnosis claim this is a mild form of adrenal insufficiency caused by chronic stress. The unproven theory behind adrenal fatigue is that your adrenal glands are unable to keep pace with the demands of perpetual fight-or-flight arousal. As a result, they can't produce quite enough of the hormones you need to feel good.

Adrenal Fatigue Symptoms

People with adrenal fatigue experience extreme physical exhaustion and they don't have an explanation as to why (such as a strenuous workout). This isn't just everyday tiredness it is extreme exhaustion.

You Gain Weight Easily - Especially Around the Middle

People with adrenal fatigue often notice they gain weight very easily. They especially notice the extra weight around the middle - and it's very hard to lose it.

You Have Difficulty Rising In The Morning

Those with adrenal fatigue often find they feel tired when getting up in the morning - even with a full night's sleep. They often need stimulants like caffeine and sugar to 'get going' both in the morning and throughout the day.

Physically - The physical symptoms of adrenal fatigue are exhaustion not relieved by rest, food cravings, lethargy and longer recovery times for illnesses. Healing begins by strengthening our body especially the adrenal glands. Build yourself back up physically with healthy eating, vitamin and minerals supplements (especially vitamin C, B complex and fish oil), rest and relaxation, light exercise, DHEA and adrenal glandular supplementation.

Emotionally - Loss of self esteem, depression and denial are the emotional signs of adrenal exhaustion. Building self-esteem, relieving depression and dealing with buried negative emotions can revive your positive feelings.

Treatment for Adrenal Fatigue

L-Theanine

L-theanine is an amino acid found in green tea that produces a calming effect in the brain. It works by increasing gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) that is a relaxer and creates a sense of well-being. L-theanine may be taken to help modulate mood and relieve stress in many health conditions (Abe et al. 1995; Kobayashi et al. 1998; Juneja et al. 1999).

Licorice

Licorice (Glycyrrhiza) works by blocking the breakdown of hydrocortisone in the liver. the hydrocortisone level then becomes higher, and this slows down the production of ACTH (adrenocorticotrophic hormone) from the pituitary gland, giving the adrenals a much-needed rest. Licorice is a highly prized medicinal in Chinese medicine. Glycyrrhiza may be taken in a variety of ways, including as a tea. Licorice can the be tapered off when adrenal gland function is restored.

Source: http://www.articlesbase.com

Chronic Fatigue -- The Facts You Should Know

By Heather Colman

There is significant concern about Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, also known as CFS. In fact, there are criteria patients must meet in order to be diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Receiving the diagnosis may be difficult for some patients because the guidelines for diagnosing are very specific. The fatigue must have been present at least six consecutive months and the corresponding symptoms must have developed after the fatigue. A clear definition of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, its symptoms, and treatment options will help sufferers get a clearer understanding of the syndrome.


What is Chronic Fatigue?

The basic definition of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome does not make sufferers feel much better. The syndrome is unexplained and is marked by weakness, fatigue, muscle pain, lethargy, trouble sleeping, and even fever and swollen lymph nodes. There is no known cause for the fatigue that is present in an individual that has no relation to over-exertion and is not rectified by rest.


Symptoms :

Some of the symptoms associated with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome have been discussed. However, there is a very long list. There are a variety of symptoms that patients are very aware of and then there are other symptoms only doctors seem to notice. Regardless, when the symptoms are present for a period of time for no apparent cause and seem to have no remedy then Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is a frequent diagnosis.

Some of the frequent symptoms of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome include:

- Muscle Aches

- Persistent Fatigue
- Intermittent Fatigue
- Depression
- Tiredness
- Headache
- Swollen Lymph nodes
- Depression
- Memory Loss
- Weakness
- Difficulty Concentrating
- Achy Joints

Frequently Chronic Fatigue Syndrome begins during periods when individuals have been sick, under a tremendous amount of stress, or for no apparent reason at all. Many individuals have noted that after bouts with the flu, mono, a cold, bronchitis, hepatitis, and other similar illnesses CFS arises. Unfortunately, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome persists for months, sometimes coming and going and other times constantly affecting the patient. Other illnesses begin to clear up after a few days or weeks, but Chronic Fatigue Syndrome sticks around with no clear cause.


Diagnosing Chronic Fatigue :

Doctors find it very difficult to diagnose Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. The reason why is because so many of its symptoms are symptoms of other illnesses. This is why many doctors like to see patients with the same symptoms that began after the fatigue for at least six months before giving a diagnosis. Obviously, sufferers of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome find the lack of an early diagnosis difficult to bear on top of their symptoms. However, doctors like to rule out diseases like Lupus and Multiple Sclerosis, as well as other diseases, before diagnosing Chronic Fatigue.

Additionally, researchers and doctors are becoming more aware of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and are more likely to make an earlier diagnosis based on fewer symptoms than ever before. That is not to say that Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is easy to diagnose, because it is not. However increased awareness and new definitions are helping doctors and patients of Chronic Fatigue each and every day.


Treatment Options

The treatment options for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome are varied and include alternative as well as prescription alternatives.

Some of the alternative care management options for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome include avoiding stress and undertaking light exercise. Other treatment options that work for some individuals include massage, aquatic therapy, chiropractic therapy, yoga, self hypnosis, tai chi, and even acupuncture. Psychotherapy has also proven helpful to sufferers of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome because it helps sufferers learn to cope with their symptoms.

Prescription treatment options for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome have not been approved by the FDA. There are however other prescription medications that are used to treat the symptoms presented with Chronic Fatigue. Frequently, the primary use of the medicine is secondary and its side effects are what benefit Chronic Fatigue sufferers. Medicines like antifungals, antidepressants, antivirals, cardiac drugs, antihistamines, immunoglobulins, corticoids, anti-inflammatories, and anti-convulsants among others are frequently prescribed to CFS sufferers.

Do You Have CFS?

If you are worried you have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or have some of the above stated symptoms for months on end then you should make an appointment with your physician. It is a good idea to keep a journal of your symptoms, when they began, and if new ones appear. This will help your doctor make the proper diagnosis and help receive some relief from your symptoms sooner.

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Source: http://www.articlesbase.com

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

By Rich jammes

Experts say that fatigue is not just a physical experience – it is also psychological. It is defined as a state that usually follows a period of mental or physical activity (or both). When you experience fatigue, you have a hard time working efficiently, if at all. You also feel weary and irritable.

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a far more severe condition than regular fatigue. Its symptoms can include intense pain, weakness of muscles, deterioration of brain function, disturbances in the digestive system, depression, hypersensitivity, and more. In the worse cases, people with chronic fatigue syndrome can suffer from various cardiac and respiratory troubles. Patients with chronic fatigue syndrome usually have very little stamina to handle life's challenges.

Chronic fatigue syndrome has many various symptoms, and they should be identified early in order to find a remedy that works for you. People with chronic fatigue syndrome usually experience overpowering mental and physical exhaustion that cannot be relieved by rest or sleep. When a person shows these symptoms for six months or more, then he or she is diagnosed as having chronic fatigue syndrome.

Causes of Fatigue

1. Usually the muscles fatigue when the workout or the exercise is new to the body muscles. As the muscles and the body is not used to the new exercise the body muscles gets stressed.

2. When your lungs are in desperate need of oxygen after the workout but they are not supplied with enough oxygen the muscles start to fatigue.

3. If your skin has continuously sweated and you did not have enough intake of water or any liquid the muscles and the body starts to fatigue.

4. At times the muscles also fatigue if they reach their physical limit of the workout, which means that the muscles get exhausted due to the workout and the exercise which in turn causes the muscles to fatigue.

5. Muscle fatigue can also be caused because of calcium flow inside the muscle cells. At times tiny leaks of calcium in the muscle cells, which weakens the muscle contraction also causes the fatigue. The calcium that is leaked from the muscle cells stimulates an enzyme that directly attacks the muscle fibers and this damage of muscle fibers cause the fatigue.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

No single cause of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) has been found so the exact cause of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is unknown, healthcare practitioner will try to rule out other conditions that cause fatigue such as food allergies, viral infections and adrenal gland dysfunction. The symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) are at least 6 month of disabling chronic fatigue which symptoms may include difficulty sleeping, lack of concentration, joint and muscle pain, mild fever, swollen lymph nodes and short term memory loss.

Changing the diet may help with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), avoid salt, sugar, stimulants such as tea, coffee, chocolate, alcohol and eat little and often carbohydrates and fruit. Some individuals suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) found that exercise helped. This exercise has to be gradual and in very small amounts, one study found that an exercise of 30 minutes consisting of 3 minutes walking and 3 minutes resting was beneficial.

Treatment

Antibiotics and antifungal products. The same antibiotics used to remedy lyme disease and mycoplasma virus are sometimes prescribed to patients suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome. The same is the case for antifungal drugs that are primarily used to treat yeast and fungus infections – they can be used, together with a low-carbohydrate diet, to treat chronic fatigue syndrome in some patients.

Food supplements. Food supplements or ‘immune enhancers’ may help the chronic fatigue syndrome patient rebuild stamina. They are also used to cure viral infections that may be causing the fatigue in the first place.

Hormones. Doctors prescribe hormones for chronic fatigue syndrome patients who fall within a hormonally imbalanced category. They can be given steroids and thyroid hormones.

Source: http://www.articlesbase.com