Chiropractic Care for Adrenal Fatigue

Adrenal fatigue occurs because of chronic, unmanaged stress—situations like this used to be described as a "nervous breakdown" or something similar. But the symptoms associated with a nervous breakdown describe adrenal fatigue. It happens when the adrenal glands can't deal with the amount of stress they're given.

Thankfully, there are things you can do to manage stress and prevent adrenal fatigue. It’s also possible to restore fatigue adrenal glands. Chiropractic adjustments are one of the most effective tools for dealing with adrenal fatigue. 

How to Determine if You Have Adrenal Fatigue

There are a few different tests available to help you determine if you’ve developed adrenal fatigue. These include:

• Ragland’s test: This is a blood pressure test you can administer at home. Take your blood pressure while sitting and then retake it immediately after standing up. If your systolic (top) number drops, it could indicate adrenal fatigue.
• Pupil dilation exam: Look into a mirror and shine a flashlight into one eye. If it hasn’t contracted after 30 seconds or it dilates, there’s a chance you have adrenal fatigue.
• Pain test: Press on your adrenal glands over your kidneys. If you feel pain, it could indicate adrenal fatigue.

Physical Symptoms

Any combination of the following physical symptoms could indicate adrenal fatigue:

• Feeling tired in the morning, even after sufficient sleep
• Taking several hours to feel awake
• Afternoon slump or sleepiness or fuzzy thinking
• Burst of energy around 6 pm
• Second wind around 11 pm if you resist sleeping around 9 and 10 when you feel sleepiest
• Craving foods that are salty, sugary, or fatty
• Lack of energy
• Exacerbated PMS or menopause symptoms
• Increased allergies
• Muscular weakness
• Decreased sex drive
• Lightheadedness
• Inability to handle carbohydrates or high-potassium foods when not combined with protein or fat
• Unexplained weight gain or loss

Emotional Symptoms

Emotional symptoms of adrenal fatigue include:

• Mild to moderate depression
• Difficulty handling stress

Mental Symptoms

Mental or cognitive symptoms of adrenal fatigue include:

• Anxiety, irritability, and depressive moods
• Feeling “burnt out” or physically and mentally run down

Causes of Adrenal Fatigue

Several issues can contribute to the development of adrenal fatigue, including:

• Toxic metals and exposure to chemicals
• Chronic infections
• Stimulants, including coffee and sugar
• Emotional stimuli, including anger, rage, fear, and hatred
• Congenital defect

The two most common issues that trigger adrenal fatigue include:

Chronic Stress

Stress is one of the most common reasons people develop adrenal fatigue. Temporary bursts of stress, as you’d experience when you have an upcoming test or job interview, usually aren’t a problem. Stress spikes, you handle the experience, and you move on.

The problem with stress is that it can be chronic. Some of the most common causes of chronic stress include financial issues, family or marital problems, and feeling stuck in situations that make you unhappy, such as a job.

Poor Diet and Nutrition Intake

Another of the most common causes of adrenal fatigue is failing to eat a proper diet. Exposure to unhealthy foods and not enough nutritious food stresses your body. Many people who experience adrenal fatigue have one or more nutritional deficiencies. One of the best things you can do to prevent adrenal fatigue or heal after experiencing it is to assess your nutrition and improve.

What can you do to improve your diet if you’re concerned about adrenal fatigue? 

Dietary Recommendations for Reducing Adrenal Fatigue

Limit or avoid:

• White flour
• White sugar
• Soda
• Processed foods
• Fried foods
• Artificial sweeteners

Eating a well-balanced diet is one of the best things you can do to improve adrenal health. This means getting sufficient, quality sources of macronutrients, including fats, carbohydrates, and proteins. Some foods to add to your diet to support adrenal health include:

• Protein from fish, lean meats, eggs, nuts, and legumes
• Whole grains
• Leafy greens
• Colorful vegetables
• Low glycemic fruits
• Sea salt
• Olive oil
• Avocado

Lack of Exercise or Over-Exercising

Exercise is one of the most powerful tools for managing adrenal health. However, you don’t want to overdo it. Over-exercising can create the same problems as not getting enough movement every day.

Consider the following when designing an exercise routine to promote adrenal health:

• Choose low-intensity exercises that don’t overstrain you
• Gradually increase the intensity and duration of workouts
• Listen to your body during and after exercise
• Schedule rest days
• Choose activities you enjoy
• Consider incorporating de-stressing movement into your routine, including yoga or Tai Chi

Managing Adrenal Health with Chiropractic Care

Chiropractic care is a great way to help you manage adrenal fatigue. It works by finding and removing subluxations. Subluxations interfere with your nervous system and prevent it from functioning properly. When your nervous system functions as it should, it helps your adrenal glands perform at optimum levels.

Chiropractic adjustments remove stress from the spine, activating the parasympathetic nervous system. You’ll be better able to relax and manage stress when your spine is aligned and functioning correctly.

Benefits of Treating Adrenal Fatigue with Chiropractic Care

The benefits of using chiropractic care to treat adrenal fatigue include:

Improved Energy Levels 

Chiropractic care improves energy. When your spine is not aligned, your head becomes a weight that can be too much to carry around all day. Your entire body has to work harder than it should just to hold up your head. Normal movements require massive amounts of energy, which throughout the day and over time drains your energy. You experience headaches, sore neck, backaches, and more.

Bringing your spine into alignment means you’re only carrying the weight you were meant to carry.

Blood Pressure Regulation

A study published in 2007 showed that one chiropractic adjustment produced the same positive results as taking two blood-pressure-reducing medications. The study also showed that the positive outcome of the adjustment lasted longer than six months.

High blood pressure is often related to stress. Over time, elevated blood pressure can damage the body, including adrenal health. Reducing blood pressure to a healthy number is one of the best things you can do to support good adrenal and overall health.

Lower Cortisol Levels & Better Adrenal Gland Function

Your adrenal glands are responsible for producing cortisol. Cortisol is a necessary hormone, but too much cortisol damages your health over time. It can cause problems with blood sugar and suppress your immune system.

Long-term high levels of cortisol contribute to: 

• Obesity
• Diabetes risk
• High blood pressure
• Brittle bones
• Muscle weakness
• Endocrine disruption

The more you do to get your cortisol levels into a healthy range, the better. Chiropractic care supports a healthy endocrine system and helps regulate all of your hormones. People who undergo chiropractic treatments for a specific reason often report also experiencing a reduction in illnesses, improved sleep, reduced pain, and more energy.

Dr. Eric Neumann D.C.

Dr. Eric Neumann grew up in Alberta, Canada where he majored in Chemistry at the University of Calgary. During his time at University, he obtained licensure as a Massage Therapist. It was clear that hands-on healing would be his calling. After suffering multiple sport-related injuries he became interested in Chiropractic. Dr. Neumann graduated from Western States Chiropractic College in 2009. He has since specialized in the treatment and management of acute spinal injuries.