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There are five main types of fatigue on top of the “I’m not getting enough sleep” kind.
Each has it’s own underlying causes and therefore each needs to be managed differently – this is the excellence that is natural medicine – receiving individualised care for your specific situation.
While medical research has found no evidence for “adrenal fatigue” we do see exhaustion as a result of burnout as a real phenomenon. The adrenal glands sit on top of the kidneys and, as their name implies, produce adrenaline (also known as epinephrine) and cortisol.
The excitatory chemical adrenaline is produced in acute stress situations – it’s chief functions are to raise the blood pressure, increase the heart and breathing rate and prime the muscles for action – which involves the diversion of blood from the skin and digestive system. It’s a great system – designed for short-term use followed by a period of recovery.
Another chemical called cortisol is also made in the adrenal gland. It is normally produced in a cyclical fashion in the body – typically rising early in the morning to help you get out of bed. An early sign of “adrenal fatigue” is difficulty getting up even after a good nights sleep. The adrenals also stimulate increases in blood sugar levels and problems with blood sugar control can be linked to adrenal fatigue.
When a person is under continuous or prolonged excessive stress, these effects are continuous giving rise to burnout – which may also be associated with heart problems, digestive issues, poor skin, mood problems and so on. Sometimes the mess that people get into is referred to as “burnout” or having a “nervous breakdown”.
If you suspect you have any degree of adrenal fatigue, an appointment is strongly recommended. Your naturopath will work with you to develop a programme to halt and reverse this condition before it deteriorates further.
Adrenal failure or Addison’s Disease is the most extreme form of adrenal exhaustion. It comes on gradually, usually after a long period of deterioration – from months to years or even decades. This is a medically managed condition and is treated with supplemental cortisone (e.g., prednisone).
Watch an educational video on Adrenal Fatigue here.
Chronic fatigue is not well understood by most medical doctors and if you are suffering from it, you may feel unvalidated or you may have even been told “it’s all in your head”.
Chronic fatigue is a classified as severe, incapacitating exhaustion lasting six months or more, that isn’t explained by other conditions (such as anaemia), nor improved by rest. It may also be exacerbated by physical or mental activity. Typically, 10 minutes of moderate exercise would be enough to cause an acute exacerbation of fatigue, compared to a normal and perhaps tired person, who is typically invigorated by moderate exercise. It is also very common in people with fibromyalgia.
Chronic fatigue causes a dramatic decline in both activity level and stamina, often causing the sufferer to have to stop work completely.
Symptoms include:
In addition to the eight primary defining symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome, a number of other symptoms have been reported by some patients. The frequency of occurrence of these symptoms varies among patients.
These symptoms include:
A number of these conditions can also be attributed to other health issues. During your initial appointment, your practitioner will assess your overall health with a view to ascertain the cause of your problems and implement a strategy to get you on the road to recovery.
Getting good nutrition is key to many types of fatigue. Here are a few of the ways specific nutrient deficiencies can contribute to low energy:
By working with one of our qualified practitioners, you can be assured that any dietary inadequacies are detected and strategies given to you to correct them.
Support for getting you through your stressful time, recovering faster and ensuring your long-term well-being is just a phone call away.
House of Health Ltd