Treating adrenal fatigue includes improving nutrition, replacing key nutrients, supplementing with antioxidants, reducing stress, and beginning a controlled exercise program. Before you can treat the condition, though, you need to recognize the symptoms that suggest you have adrenal fatigue.Recognizing the symptoms of adrenal fatigueIt’s hard to recognize the symptoms of adrenal fatigue for what they are.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a debilitating inflammatory arthritis that can cause adrenal fatigue and typically occurs in middle-aged individuals, but it can occur in people as young as their 20s and 30s. This deforming type of arthritis needs to be actively treated because, when full blown, it causes erosion of the joints.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), more commonly known as just lupus, is an autoimmune disease that can cause adrenal fatigue. It is commonly found in women in their late 30s to early 50s. This condition can affect multiple organs, including the heart, kidneys, joints, and lungs. The cause of SLE isn't known; however, because it's an autoimmune disease, it involves the formation of auto-antibodies — antibodies that attack the person.

One risk factor for adrenal fatigue is acidosis, when the blood becomes too acidic. Two factors that can contribute to acidosis are kidney disease and lung disease. Kidney disease The kidneys and the adrenal glands play an important role in eliminating excess acid from the body. Diseased kidneys, especially in the latter stages of kidney disease, have difficulty eliminating the excess acid from the body, which leads to acidosis.

Adrenal insufficiency, also known as Addison's disease, is an autoimmune condition. Though the features overlap, it is different than adrenal fatigue. Autoimmune diseases like Addison's disease and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) occur when the body develops antibodies against itself. The most common cause of Addison's disease is the production of antibodies that are directed against the adrenal glands.

If your doctor is evaluating your adrenal health, the doc will likely order and evaluate blood and urine tests to measure your cortisol levels. (Cortisol has anti-inflammatory properties, helps regulate blood glucose levels, and helps regulate blood pressure.) Just because a blood or urine test comes back normal doesn't mean that adrenal fatigue isn't present.

Diet plays an important role in managing adrenal fatigue. You need to know which foods to add to your diet and which foods to avoid. The foods listed here can acutely stress out an already fatigued adrenal gland. They may provide a short-term energy boost, but cause you to crash later in the day. Foods high in sugar Anything with high-fructose corn syrup Caffeinated beverages Energy drinks Carbonated beverages, especially colas (even if they’re caffeine-free) You also want to avoid any foods to which you have a sensitivity or allergy.

The health of your intestine is directly connected to the development of adrenal fatigue. Your intestine contains trillions of bacteria, which form an ecological community often referred to as an intestinal microbiome. These bacteria communicate with each other. They’re also important in regulating your immune system.

Work is one of the leading sources of stress in people’s daily lives, and stress is a key trigger of adrenal fatigue. The initial question is why your job is causing so much stress. Do you dislike your job? Is your boss driving you nuts? Do you like the job but hate the commute? After identifying why your work stress level is high, you can address the sources of stress and ease your adrenal fatigue.