Adrenal fatigue is more common than you may think. However, before I explain more, you may be asking yourself, “What are the adrenals?” They are glands that look like pointed hats or a triangle with a roundish top. There are two of them, and they sit on top of each of your kidneys.

The adrenal glands are responsible for making cortisol, aldosterone, and androgens (DHEA and testosterone). All are produced in the cortex part of the adrenals. In the adrenal medulla part of the adrenals, adrenaline, noradrenaline and small amounts of dopamine are produced.

The adrenal glands are also responsible for the following:

• Stress response
• Metabolism
• Blood sugar levels
• Blood pressure
• The balancing of salt and water
• Sexual development both before & during puberty
• Balancing of sex hormones (including estrogen & testosterone)

Some symptoms of adrenal dysfunction are (though you don’t need to have every symptom):

• Fatigue or weakness
• Unexplained weight loss or gain
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea or vomiting
• Depression
• Diarrhea
• Dizziness or fainting when standing from a seated or lying position
• Joint pain
• Either high or low blood pressure
• Low glucose in blood
• Irregular or absent menstrual periods (not related to menopause)
• Craving of salt or salty foods
• Darkening of the skin, especially on scars, lips, skin folds, and joints

The adrenal glands work together with both the thyroid gland and gonads (ovaries in females and testis in males). If one of those glands (adrenals, thyroid, or gonads) weakens, the other two will try to compensate for it. This can only happen for a limited amount of time before the other two glands are negatively affected and begin to weaken as well.

Making it more complicated, many of the symptoms that develop when any of these three glands become imbalanced tend to overlap. That’s why it’s so important to get a comprehensive evaluation from a doctor who is also well-trained in hormone balancing.