In August 2010, the Hormone Foundation and Endocrine Society published and distributed their “Myth Against the Fact” sheet of adrenal fatigue, where they state:
“Adrenal fatigue is not a real medical condition. There are no scientific facts supporting the theory that long-term mental, emotional, or physical stress depletes the adrenal glands and causes many common symptoms. Supplements and vitamins to “treat” adrenal fatigue may be unsafe.
What is adrenal fatigue? According to proponents, this is a non-adaptive state in which the production of the adrenal glands is significantly reduced in response to repeated and chronic psychological stress; The resulting state of “hypoadreia” then makes the body unable to perpetuate an adaptive chronic battle or flight response or establish a suitable stress response to acute stressors. As one of the main proponents of this term said: “The adrenal glands simply cannot keep up with the demands placed on them.” So, if adrenal fatigue is not accurate or useful, what medical professionals, whether they are ordinary or alternative, should get from applying and promoting this diagnosis? The reasons are different and include everything from misunderstanding and misinformation to personal financial gain.
As a doctor who has practiced both conventional and integrative medicine for more than ten years, I can tell you that the description attributed to adrenal fatigue does not sufficiently describe the complexity of our stress response systems. While the adrenal glands play a role in how we feel from day to day (whether energetic or exhausted), as we have already established, the term “adrenal fatigue” is incorrect at best, according to the Mayo Clinic (one of several medical institutions that disagree with this concept), the term adrenal fatigue is used by some alternative medicine practitioners who argue that adrenal fatigue is too mild to be selected with standard analysis blood. Mayo continues to argue that proponents of this “unchecked term” claim that it is a mild form of adrenal insufficiency, which makes the patient unable to produce enough stress hormones to ensure an adequate fight or reaction to the flight. ”
Consider other opinions on this topic by other reputable medical institutions:
"Adrenal fatigue is a useless diagnosis ... claims of significant improvement after some intervention, most likely fraud."
Dr. Paul Roche, President of the American Institute of Stress
“Is adrenal fatigue really real? Yes and no ... Like many things in this arena, this is a grain of truth, surrounded by a lot of hype and merchants of quick corrections. ”
Dr. Brent Bauer, Mayo Clinic Clinical Program and Integrative Medicine
"Adrenal fatigue" is not a real disease. There is no scientific evidence to support the theory that long-term mental, emotional, or physical stress depletes the adrenal glands and causes many common symptoms ... Supplements and vitamins made to “cure” adrenal fatigue may not be safe. By taking these supplements when you do not need them, you can stop working on your adrenal glands and put your life in danger. "
Endocrinological Society
If we look at the roots since the appearance of this mammoth tree, we will find them grounded in the despair of millions of people with chronic exertion, depression and fatigue, because any traditional medicine has no answer. The level of frustration is always high, and patients often leave their health care provider’s office in despair when they are told that all their test results are in the normal range. and that the antidepressant prescription is fine.
There is a gap between traditional and integrative medicine on stress and stress diseases. The “black-and-white” mentality of my workout strengthened with few exceptions, but rarely provided an excellent idea of how “Symptom is equal to a drug; and there is no disease without a patient’s test results that go beyond statistically derived reference ranges My integrative medicine allowed me to cover all shades of gray that exist between black and white.
My long-term research on this topic has provided clear evidence that low cortisol states exist and contribute to the formation of disease. In fact, up to 25% of all stress-related bodily disorders (PTSD, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, etc.) are associated with low cortisol conditions. However, the medical terminology used to describe low cortisol has everything related to the adoption, proper diagnosis and evidence-based treatment for this condition. Patients avoid saying the words “adrenal fatigue” to their doctor for fear of being punished and avoided, and I speak from direct personal experience. A medical term for low cortisol is known as hypocortisolism, and it is true that routine medical testing often misses a diagnosis. Here the dichotomy between the usual black and white and more integrative shades of gray diverge.
The convergence of these diametrically opposed medical fractions is developing and absolutely unavoidable. In the meantime, millions of people suffering from the symptoms of hypocortisolism will remain unspent from their usual doctors and there before self-healing as they continue to seek medical help and buy nutritional supplements from Internet adrenaline fatigue and # 39; gurus, many of whom do not have a doctor's degree. Buyers fear!
