Is It Adrenal Fatigue, or is it a Viral Infection?

What is Adrenal Fatigue?

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve heard the phrase “adrenal fatigue”.

You know, wiped out, overworked adrenal glands that have taken such a beating that they can’t muster up enough strength to make any more cortisol. This leaves their owner feeling rundown, lethargic, and generally unwell.  

Nice story. Not true.

Yes, people don't feel well. No, this isn't because of rundown adrenal glands.

It turns out, low cortisol is real, but it’s probably not due to wiped-out or rundown adrenal glands.

What Causes "Adrenal Fatigue"?

For one, viruses. 

Viruses want to avoid, evade, and otherwise sabotage their host’s immune system. After all, the more they can undermine, or misdirect, the immune system, the more they can replicate, take over the body, and ultimately survive.

If a virus was an evil supervillain, we might call him ImmunoEvader. 

Check out how they do it.

1. Some viruses have an amino acid sequence strikingly similar to ACTH, the hormone that stimulates the adrenal glands to produce cortisol. Therefore, when the body’s immune system makes antibodies against that virus or amino acid sequence, the antibodies end up binding to the host’s own ACTH, rendering it ineffective and results in less cortisol. Less cortisol means less immune system attack on the virus. Virus wins.
2. Other times, the presence of the virus ends up causing the immune system to release certain immune system messengers (cytokines) that end up inhibiting cortisol release which again, allows the virus to replicate.

Now before you go telling everyone with adrenal fatigue they have a virtual infection, know this: Viral infections aren't the only thing that results in low adrenal function.  

I'm covering seven scientifically validated ways someone can have low cortisol, none of which are adrenal “fatigue”. 

Learn them all the new, virtual workshop, “How To Evaluate Adrenal Fatigue Using a Blood Chemistry.”

You'll learn: 

1. A MUCH needed update on this topic. What’s being taught today is so . . . well . . . old. Science shows us low cortisol isn't adrenal fatigue, but something else. Don't be left behind telling the same ol' embarrassing story. 
2. How to reliably and accurately evaluate it using a standard blood chemistry panel. Less unnecessary testing, less time guessing, less money wasting = happier patients = more successful practice.

If you talk about adrenal fatigue or have patients who talk about adrenal fatigue, you simply CAN NOT miss this.