Are You Stressed or Experiencing Fatigue? Find Out Why!

Continued exposure to stress in every day life takes a physical toll on the body which can lead to illness. Cortisol is a stress hormone produced by special glands located above the kidneys and is released in large amounts when exposed to stressful situations. In small amounts, this hormone plays important roles in the maintenance and functioning of the body, but has damaging effects in larger amounts.

Symptoms of Stress

You might know you are under a lot of tension because your body produces certain symptoms. These include:

• Headache
• Nausea
• Muscle tightness or pain
• Chest pain or constriction
• Fatigue
• Trouble sleeping

Continued exposure to pressure can put excessive strain on the body and may lead to issues such as adrenal fatigue.

Adrenal Fatigue

Also known as adrenal insufficiency, this condition occurs when the glands do not produce enough necessary hormones and chemicals, such as cortisol, to keep the body functioning properly. It is believed that this condition is caused by long term exposure to stress. Symptoms of this condition include:

1. Fatigue
2. Trouble sleeping
3. Aches and pains
4. Digestive problems

It is important to note that if fatigue is your main symptom, you can order blood tests to rule out other conditions before attempting to self treat any illness. Some common medical conditions that you might be tested for include anemia, thyroid problems, and diabetes. Testing for these might include blood tests, urine tests, or other testing methods. Learn about adrenal fatigue

Blood Testing for Adrenal Insufficiency

The most commonly used tests are those that check cortisol levels and levels of DHEA-S in the blood. If either of these hormones are too low or too high, it might signal problems or dysfunction in your glands. The ACTH and aldosterone tests are also frequently used in combination with the other two tests.

For a more accurate picture of adrenal health, you can also check blood levels of other hormones and chemicals. These include checking estradiol or estrogens, progesterone, and both free and total testosterone levels. A deficiency or excess in any of these might signal glandular dysfunction that needs to be treated.