What Is Adrenal Fatigue?
5. Is Adrenal Fatigue the Same Thing as Adrenal Insufficiency?
Adrenal fatigue is not the same as adrenal insufficiency or Addison’s disease, a disorder in which the adrenal glands do not produce enough cortisol or aldosterone. Addison’s disease affects one in 100,000 people and is usually the result of an autoimmune disease, a chronic infection, tuberculosis, cancer, or surgery that destroyed a significant portion of the adrenal cortex. Symptoms differ from those of adrenal fatigue and include things like recurring yeast infections, delayed puberty, low blood pressure, anemia, hepatitis, and diabetes.
Another condition sometimes confused with adrenal fatigue is Cushing’s syndrome, in which the adrenal glands make too much cortisol, usually as a result of taking steroid drugs. Symptoms of this condition include fatty deposits on the upper back and around the neck and abdomen, purple stretch marks, hirsuteness, and osteoporosis.
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