Mayo Clinic says adrenal fatigue is not an official medical diagnosis, and Cleveland Clinic names six symptoms that do point at a real adrenal problem.
No laboratory test confirms adrenal fatigue, because it is not an official diagnosis, and six symptoms are the ones that point at an adrenal problem a test can actually find.
The adrenal glands sit on top of the kidneys and make cortisol. The theory behind the label is that chronic stress wears them down until they cannot keep up. And that ordinary blood tests are too blunt to catch it.
Below are the six symptoms. Then why the label fails the test it needs to pass. Then the test to ask about. Accepting the label has a cost, and it is not the money.
Six symptoms that point at a real adrenal problem
Cleveland Clinic says the adrenal glands produce, secrete and regulate specific hormones in the body, including cortisol.
It also says that while adrenal fatigue may not explain your symptoms, they could point to a specific adrenal gland issue. These are the six it names.
- Extreme fatigue and exhaustion. Cleveland Clinic names this first. Mayo Clinic lists feeling very tired among the symptoms of adrenal insufficiency, the condition that can be tested for.
- Lack of appetite. Cleveland Clinic names loss of appetite. Mayo Clinic pairs it with weight loss in its own list.
- Losing weight. Cleveland Clinic names weight loss. Because it is unintentional, it belongs in the conversation rather than the win column.
- Diarrhea. Cleveland Clinic names diarrhea. Mayo Clinic adds nausea and vomiting, so gut symptoms are part of the picture rather than a separate problem.
- Low blood pressure. Cleveland Clinic names low blood pressure. Mayo Clinic adds lightheadedness, which is often how it is first noticed.
- Low blood sugar. Cleveland Clinic names low blood sugar. Mayo Clinic adds craving salt, a skin colour change called hyperpigmentation, body aches and depression to the broader list.
Cleveland Clinic says the exact cause of adrenal disorders is not known. It names genetics, infections, and treatments such as chemotherapy as risk factors. These can lead to Addison's disease or Cushing syndrome.
Why no laboratory result can confirm the label
Mayo Clinic says adrenal fatigue is not an official medical diagnosis. It is a general term for symptoms that are not specific. Tiredness, weakness, sleep problems, and cravings for sugar and salt.
It then addresses the theory rather than dismissing it.
Mayo Clinic describes the claim rather than skipping it. Adrenal fatigue is said to be a mild form of adrenal insufficiency caused by chronic stress. Blood tests are said to be too blunt to catch the small drop in function behind it. Then Mayo Clinic says there is no evidence to support this theory.
Cleveland Clinic puts it plainer. The idea rests on the assumption that the adrenal glands can get tired, and it says this does not actually happen. They do not simply tire out.
It also names what can sit underneath instead: postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, which it calls surprisingly common.
Accepting that symptoms are caused by a vague label, such as adrenal fatigue, could cause the true source of a problem to go without a diagnosis or treatment.
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⬇ Download your plan (PDF)What an ACTH stimulation test actually measures
NIDDK says the ACTH stimulation test is used most often to diagnose adrenal insufficiency. A professional injects man made ACTH. Blood is taken before, and again 30 or 60 minutes afterwards.
The logic is simple enough to hold in your head.
NIDDK says the normal response to an ACTH injection is a rise in blood cortisol. People with Addison's disease show little or no increase. The glands are too damaged to respond.
When the answer is not clear, NIDDK names two more. An insulin tolerance test, which it calls the most reliable for secondary adrenal insufficiency. Or a CRH stimulation test.
Once the type is known, an antibody blood test can find the antibodies present in autoimmune Addison's disease. A CT scan can find changes in the glands. That is a morning at a clinic. It is also the difference between a label and an answer.
Three adrenal fatigue beliefs that do not hold
Three ideas keep tired people tired and out of pocket. Each one has a published answer.
Chronic stress wears the adrenal glands out. Cleveland Clinic says the glands have a huge functional capacity, like the heart and lungs. They do not simply tire out. Mayo Clinic says there is no evidence for the theory that a small stress driven drop in adrenal function causes the symptoms.
A cortisol panel can prove it. There is no test to pass. Mayo Clinic says adrenal insufficiency can be diagnosed with tests that check adrenal hormone levels, and NIDDK names the ACTH stimulation test as the one used most often. Those tests find adrenal insufficiency, a different thing from the label.
Adrenal supplements or a steroid will fix it. Cleveland Clinic warns the other way. It says there are no benefits from these medications. Taking prednisone or any other steroid when you do not need it can cause negative side effects. It could ultimately suppress your body's own ability to produce cortisol.
To your health,
Ageless Coach
Age Strong. Live Long.
This article is education, not medical advice. Mayo Clinic says to talk to your healthcare team about possible causes if you have symptoms that do not go away. Ageless Coach is an affiliate partner and may earn a commission on purchases made through links on this page.