Adrenal fatigue syndrome (AFS) happens when the adrenal glands lack the capability to produce sufficient hormones. AFS affects about 80% of adults at some point in their lives, however, it is one of the most under-diagnosed conditions in North America. When a person easily succumbs to allergies, infections, feels persistently drained and exhausted, and experiences low blood sugar and blood pressure, the cause may be weak adrenal glands.

Symptoms of AFS may include:
Almost always feel sick. Higher occurrence of getting the flu or colds; these tend to last longer than usual
Alternating diarrhea and constipation
Blood sugar abnormalities, hypoglycemia
Crave salty or sweet food to keep energy level up
Decreased libido
Difficult to concentrate, decreased memory capability (also called brain fog)
Fatigue, lethargy, difficult to get out of bed in the morning, tired in the afternoon
Increased hair loss (consider thyroid)
Insomnia
Lightheadedness that may cause dizziness and fainting when standing from a lying or sitting position
Low blood pressure
Mild depression
PMS symptoms worsen in women.
Upper back or neck pain that is unexplained
Weight gain and inability to lose it – mainly around the waist

Most of these symptoms can be caused by a failure of your body to produce sufficient cortisol – the main adrenal hormone and cause of adrenal fatigue syndrome. Many of the symptoms are similar to hypothyroid disease, so tests for both conditions need to be completed.

Diagnosis
The following tests and procedures may help find out what is causing AFS
· Adreno Cortex Stress Profile – Measures levels of cortisol and DHEA four times during the day to determine if there is a hormone imbalance. This is a basic evaluation of adrenal function.
· Morning & Afternoon Cortisol – Too much or too little cortisol can indicate a hormone imbalance. If there are obvious levels of stress and fatigue in the mornings and in the afternoon, this test may well indicate problems with cortisol levels.
· Thyroid Panel – Measures levels of TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone), free T3 and free T4. Thyroid auto antibodies may also be measured. Low thyroid hormone levels may are often present when adrenal function is insufficient.
· Sex Hormone Profile – Measures levels of estradiol, progesterone and testosterone. This test helps correlate how these hormone levels relate to symptoms of menopause, andropause, and adrenal function.
· ACTH Challenge Test – An ACTH test may be ordered if cortisol levels are low. It measures the levels of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) secreted by the pituitary gland. ACTH signals the adrenal glands to secrete cortisol. For the challenge test, ACTH is injected and there should be an increase in adrenal hormone output. If this does not occur, adrenal fatigue is probable.