Have you ever had someone ask you how your adrenals are? You probably haven’t because it is not the sort of question we ask anyone. The health of our adrenals is so important, yet is often overlooked. They may be small, but these vital organs are responsible for producing hormones that play a crucial role in managing our stress, metabolism, and overall wellness.
Understanding the causes and recognizing the telltale symptoms of poor adrenal health is very important to our wellbeing. However, most of us do not even know what to look out for, which is why most people are unaware until certain symptoms eventually become worse.
In about 8 or 9 out of every 10 cases of adrenal insufficiency, the cause is an autoimmune disease, which is a disease that occurs when the body’s immune system, which is meant to protect the body from harmful invaders, mistakenly attacks its own tissues and organs.
In the case of adrenal insufficiency, the immune system targets and damages the adrenal glands, leading to their reduced ability to produce hormones. This type of adrenal insufficiency, caused by an autoimmune disease, is referred to as primary adrenal insufficiency or Addison’s disease.
Secondary adrenal insufficiency is a more common form of an adrenal health issue where the adrenal glands cannot make enough cortisol because a triggering hormone produced in the pituitary gland is also low.
Symptoms of Poor Adrenal Health
Poor adrenal health can be the result of a variety of causes, and unfortunately are similar to many other health issues!
Here are some of the common symptoms which can indicate a problem with your adrenal glands:
Fatigue and Lack of Energy
Constant tiredness and lack of energy, even after a good night’s sleep, is a classic sign of adrenal fatigue. You may wake up feeling tired and also have trouble falling or staying asleep.
Stress Intolerance and Mood Changes
Difficulty in handling stress and feeling overwhelmed by day-to-day demands can indicate adrenal dysfunction. Depression, anxiety, irritability, and mood swings can all be linked to adrenal insufficiency.
Low Blood Pressure
People with adrenal insufficiency may experience lightheadedness, dizziness, and fainting due to low blood pressure. You may not know you have low blood pressure either, so watch out for the lightheadedness symptoms!
Hypoglycemia or Low Blood Sugar
Cortisol helps regulate blood sugar levels, and its deficiency can lead to hypoglycemia.
Salt Cravings
Adrenal insufficiency can lead to low levels of aldosterone, a hormone that helps regulate salt and water balance. This can result in salt cravings.
Digestive Problems
Nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and constipation can be related to adrenal gland problems. Gastrointestinal symptoms can occur due to the body’s inability to manage stress and inflammation effectively.
Darkened Skin on Certain Areas
This is known as hyperpigmentation and is a classic sign of adrenal insufficiency. It occurs due to an increase in melanin production and is often seen in areas of the skin exposed to sun or pressure.
Loss of Body Hair
Decreased production of the adrenal hormones can lead to hair loss on the body. Body hair grows in a cycle – there’s a growing phase, an in-between phase, and then a resting phase. Androgens, the hormones in your body, help keep the growth phase going strong. They’re the signal for your hair to keep growing thick and coarse in those special spots like the underarms too.
But sometimes, things can get a bit out of whack. If your adrenal glands aren’t working as they should, the hair growth cycle might go out of sync. The hairs might become lighter and finer, and their growth phase might get shorter, and in some cases, hair in those areas might even stop growing completely.
Loss of Appetite and Weight Loss
Hormonal imbalances can affect appetite regulation. Weight loss can also occur due to a combination of decreased appetite and the body’s impaired ability to use energy.
As we said, many of these symptoms can relate to other health problems, which is why it can be hard to know if you have a problem with your adrenals. So if you or someone you know is experiencing a combination of these symptoms, it’s crucial to seek medical attention for a proper diagnosis.
Whatever you do, do not self-diagnose as adrenal insufficiency, particularly an adrenal crisis, requires immediate medical intervention. You can’t treat it yourself.
Symptoms of adrenal insufficiency tend to be common and many cases are left untreated, so don’t let that be you. If it progresses into acute adrenal crisis, this can become a serious medical emergency that is life-threatening. Understanding the causes and symptoms can help you be more aware of your current health. So if common symptoms appear, check with your doctor.
