Adrenal Burnout Syndrome

Adrenal burnout syndrome is a medical condition in which the adrenal glands begin to experience underactivity or decreased function. This syndrome may also be referred to as adrenal exhaustion or adrenal insufficiency. It is often considered to be a milder form of Addison's disease, yet it differs in a few ways. Addison's disease is a condition in which the adrenal glands function at a severely decreased level.

Signs and Symptoms

• Patients with adrenal burnout syndrome experience symptoms very differently and this condition has several degrees of severity. The most common symptom of this condition is severe fatigue. Patients will feel exhausted even after sleeping for eight or more hours. The other symptoms of adrenal burnout syndrome include impaired digestion, getting sick more often, craving sweet foods, appetite changes, low blood pressure, low blood sugar, depression, fluctuating weight and difficulty concentrating.

Cause

• The most common cause of adrenal burnout syndrome is extreme stress. This stress can be emotional, physical or a combination of both. Those who work long hours, have a lot of additional responsibility and do not sleep much are at the highest risk.

Who is Affected?

• Age is not a factor when it comes to who can experience adrenal burnout syndrome. Though adults are more prone to developing this condition, children can develop it as well. Teenagers are also experiencing this condition more often due to the many activities that teens tend to take on such as class work, after school activities and work. Peer pressure can also play a role.

Diagnosis

• Diagnosing adrenal burnout syndrome can be difficult because there are no exact tests that can be performed to diagnose it. The typical tests include discussing the patient's symptoms and ruling out other conditions such as depression. A laboratory test called hair mineral analysis can also be performed. Some doctors will test the patient's urine, blood and saliva to check their hormone levels to try and detect this condition.

Treatment

• The method used to treat adrenal burnout syndrome will ultimately depend on the patient and the specific cause. Most patients benefit from reducing their stress level. In addition to reducing their stress level, eating a proper diet, exercising and making sure all of their vitamin and mineral levels are normal can also be greatly beneficial. It is important to remember however that those suffering from this condition will not be cured overnight. It almost always takes a minimum of two years to fully recover from adrenal burnout syndrome, and in some cases, much longer.