Compare your symptoms to our list to see if you need to see an endocrinologist to check your adrenal glands .
If lately you have been feeling sluggish all the time, this, of course, may be due to the fact that you are very tired and have not had a rest for a long time. But in some cases, feeling incredibly tired indicates a health problem, such as so-called «adrenal fatigue.» This term is not an official medical diagnosis, but is used to describe a group of related symptoms that occur when the adrenal glands are not functioning properly.
Basic signals to check the health of the adrenal glands< /strong> 1. Appetite has changed
If you are struggling with stress now, loss of appetite and weight in general is quite common. But if you notice that your Food desires have changed, and weight changes too drastically — this may indicate problems with the adrenal glands.
A clear symptom can also be heavily salted food. On the one hand, low blood sugar leads to a decrease in energy, and this can cause sugar cravings. On the other hand, the love for highly salty foods is due to a decrease in mineralocorticoids in the kidneys — hormones that affect carbohydrate metabolism.
2. Lower than normal pressure
Low blood pressure, or hypotension, can also be caused by adrenal fatigue. This leads to the fact that you are more likely to experience weakness in the whole body, dizziness or even fainting.
If you have not experienced cardiovascular disease before, and low blood pressure usually does not peculiar — it makes sense to undergo an additional examination.
3. Mood changes too often
Adrenal fatigue can be accompanied by psychiatric symptoms such as mood problems, deterioration in cognitive ability and concentration. Even depression without obvious external causes, anxiety and fog in the head are signs of adrenal fatigue, so you should not write off all such disorders only on what is happening in your head.
< strong>4. Muscles and joints ache
Adrenal fatigue can also cause your body to feel weaker than usual. Low levels of cortisol in the adrenal glands lead to muscle weakness as well as pain in the muscles or joints, so keep these symptoms in mind.
5. Sleep is disturbed
Adrenals overworked leads to sleep problems that are not like normal fatigue. Difficulty falling asleep, frequent nightmares, difficulty getting up in the morning, and daytime sleepiness —if you have already adjusted your sleep schedule, and these symptoms persist, it's time to see a specialist.
6. Hyperpigmentation of the skin
Problems with the adrenal glands can also lead to skin problems. Some patients experience increased dark spots on the skin—this is due to the increased melanin synthesis that occurs with adrenal fatigue. Given the fact that any unusual change in skin color is an important reason to visit a therapist, do not delay in making an appointment.