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I doubt you know anyone who at some point in time has not complained about being plain old worn out, tired, just beat. Maybe you yourself wonder where the constant energy you found you could muster in middle school just isn't there anymore.

Perhaps one of the least recognized disorders in modern medicine is adrenal fatigue.  How many times have you asked your doctor why you're so tired and gotten the simple shrug of the shoulders? "Not sure, but we can run a blood test to check it out," they might suggest. Assuming your doctor is even willing to go that extra step before suggesting you just get more sleep, drink more caffeine, or worse, take a stimulant drug like an antidepressant or ADD medication, few if any standard tests ever look to the likeliest culprit - your adrenal glands.

Tiny, pea-sized glands that sit on top of each kidney, your adrenals are the lifeline of your body. When they're healthy you have the get-up-and-go to start your day, perform whichever tasks your daily regimen requires of you, and have enough left over for exercise, fun, and family time as well. But when they're out of kilter, so follows your energy, your focus, and your health in general.

The adrenals have been studied in detail as far back as the 1930's. Volumes of medical studies have been sparked by the work of Dr. Hans Selye who coined the General Adaptation Syndrome, a process by which the body breaks down in the presence of ongoing physical, mental, environmental, and emotional stress. Research has evolved over the years to identify four distinct patterns, ranging from healthy adaptation to full-on burnout. Where we exist in our lives is somewhere in between the two.

The three principle chemicals or hormones the adrenals release are cortisol, adrenalin, and DHEA. The body needs each of these in the proper balance for healthy function.  Factors that cause the adrenals to over or under produce these hormones can be many. Consider this brief list:

• Unresolved stress
• Toxic chemical exposure
• Major life upheavals (e.g. divorce, loss of a loved one, financial stress, changing residence or employment)
• Processed foods
• Prolonged illness or surgery
• Conventional cancer treatments
• Exposure to chronic viruses (e.g. HIV, Hepatitis C, Epstein-Barr)
• Poor sleep (can be both a cause and a result of the problem)

Proper evaluation is key. I recommend an Adrenal Stress Index, best done using saliva sampling, to properly assess your current adrenal health. Once the problem is identified any number of natural approaches to bring the adrenals into balance may be used. Consult with a physician who specializes in functional endocrinology to get the proper care you need in this area.

How many of the above or more life issues may cause your adrenals to malfunction is a highly individual issue.  Have you ever heard the phrase, "a strong constitution"? Genetics play a huge part in why some of us get sick and others don't.  Some of it is luck perhaps, but we are all dealt a certain deck in life. What we do with those cards is up to us.