Adrenal Insufficiency
Adrenal glands produce a number of hormones that are essential to a body functioning optimally.
Addison’s Disease
Adrenal insufficiency (Addison’s disease) refers to inadequate production of one or more of these hormones as a result of an underlying disease.
Signs & Symptoms
A person suffering with Adrenal Insufficiency may display some or all of the following symptoms: Fatigue; body aches; unexplained weight loss; low blood pressure; lightheadedness; loss of body hair and hyperpigmentation.
Testing for Adrenal Insufficiency
Adrenal insufficiency can be diagnosed by blood tests and special stimulation tests that show inadequate levels of adrenal hormones which can be carried out at Meyer Clinic.
Adrenal Fatigue
Adrenal fatigue is associated with a collection of non-specific symptoms, such as body aches, fatigue, nervousness, sleep disturbances and digestive problems.
There is evidence to suggest it is a mild form of adrenal insufficiency caused by chronic stress – the adrenal glands are unable to keep pace with the demands of perpetual fight-or-flight arousal. As a result, they are unable to produce enough of the hormones a person needs to feel well.
DUTCH Testing
Dried Urine Testing for Comprehensive Hormones (DUTCH) may be recommended for individuals who are suffering with adrenal burnout. This hormone urine test is a particularly effective way to understand how your hormones are affecting your health. More specific than blood tests, the DUTCH test looks at a combination of hormones over a 24-hour time-frame. Results can be used to direct and enhance treatment.
Hormone Therapy
For many sufferers of Adrenal Insufficiency, hormone replacement therapy can be an effective treatment. Bioidentical hormones are almost identical, at a molecular level, to the hormones that we produce. As adrenal insufficiency is often caused as a result of hormone imbalance this therapy can go a long way to arresting and even reversing the symptoms of adrenal insufficiency while restoring the body’s energy levels.
Nutritional Therapy
The foods we eat can have a huge impact on adrenal insufficiency: They can be the first line of defence or a major trigger of fatigue. Meyer Clinic’s leading Nutritional Therapist Dominique Ludwig can work with you to make changes to your lifestyle and food habits by creating a bespoke adrenal-supportive eating plan that can improve health and boost energy levels.