ADRENAL FATIGUE

Overview

Do you have trouble getting up in the morning? Do you feel tired all day, consuming caffeine or sugary foods in an attempt to keep yourself going? Perhaps you notice that you feel more stressed than usual. If you have experienced these feelings, you may have adrenal fatigue.

Adrenal fatigue occurs when function of the adrenal glands slows or is disturbed, causing fatigue that sleep will not alleviate. Those who suffer from adrenal fatigue may be able to function on a daily basis, but simply feel tired and unwell. Adrenal fatigue can have a serious effect on your quality of life. The more adrenal function is diminished, the more other functions in your body are affected, especially metabolism, heart and cardiovascular system, and libido. Some doctors estimate that millions of people in the U.S. and around the world are affected by this condition.

Questions

What are the adrenal glands?

The adrenal glands are endocrine glands that sit on top of the kidneys. They produce and distribute essential hormones such as cortisol, estrogen, and testosterone. Their primary function is to enable your body to deal with any type of stress you encounter, whether physical or emotional. They determine the energy of your body’s responses to changes in environment. The adrenal glands balance your body’s reaction to stress to prevent harm from allergic reactions, alcohol, drugs, food, the environment, cancer, chronic illness, infection, and autoimmune disorders. They control hormones such as cortisol to regulate metabolism, blood sugar, and distribution of stored fat.

What causes adrenal fatigue?

Adrenal fatigue occurs when the adrenal glands are not able to respond appropriately to physical, emotional, and/or psychological stress. The adrenal glands respond to stress through hormones that regulate the body’s processes. Your adrenal glands function during adrenal fatigue, but not at the right levels because of diminished hormones due to an episode of intense stress or chronic stress over a period of time.

Are there risk factors for adrenal fatigue?

While anyone can experience adrenal fatigue at any point in their lifetime, there are certain risk factors that increase diminished adrenal function. These include lifestyle choices such as inadequate nutrition and rest, abuse of alcohol or drugs, or abundant stress and pressure. Other risk factors include chronic illness, repeated infections such as bronchitis or pneumonia, or maternal adrenal fatigue during pregnancy.

How do I know if I have adrenal fatigue?

If you have adrenal fatigue, you may feel constantly tired or have difficulty getting up in the morning, even with adequate sleep. Inability to cope with stress or illness and feeling generally unwell indicate adrenal fatigue. You may also crave salty and sweet foods, and feel more awake and alert after 6 pm than the rest of the day.

I think I have adrenal fatigue. What should I do?

Our REVITA physician can perform comprehensive testing to determine if you have adrenal fatigue or another cause of your health challenges. Based on the results of these tests, our doctor will devise a treatment plan using only the most effective, natural, and safe treatments to bring you back to optimal health and wellness. With the right treatments, most patients with adrenal fatigue can feel their best again. Visit the Contact Us page for more information.

Are you feeling tired and yawning all day? Perhaps you don’t feel rested, you are worn out, or have given up on activities you used to enjoy simply because you are too tired. You may have accepted this as a natural part of aging, but it doesn’t have to be that way. There is a way to restore your energy and revitalize your life! Many people experience fatigue, and we are here to help you combat it.

Fatigue is a very common condition that can last for years and is often a result of hormone deficiency. We have over one hundred different hormones in our body and each of them creates their own type of energy, or in cases of deficiency, fatigue. Our doctor will consider when and what type of fatigue you experience to determine what levels are deficient, in conjunction with blood work and other physical tests. Our holistic approach assures that you receive the very best care.

Energy and Nutrition

There are a wide range of nutritious foods that give our bodies energy. Our doctor can recommend certain nutritious foods and supplements, tailored to fit your individual body needs. Our Organic Juicing specialist can teach you how to incorporate organic juicing into your diet. Many people report increased energy, feeling cleansed and refreshed after they lighten and refresh their diets with juicing. (Click here for more information on our Organic Juicing Program). Proper eating habits and use of the correct supplements combined with hormone treatments can help you overcome fatigue and REVITA-lize.

Fatigue in the morning or following a break

Have you ever said, “I’m not a morning person?” Do you feel sluggish if you sit down and take a break? Low thyroid hormone levels can make you feel fatigue when trying to get out of bed or when you sit or lie down. You may have dismissed this because, after you summon your willpower and get up and moving, your fatigue dissipates. There is a better solution than having to constantly rely on willpower and feeling slow in the morning. Our doctor can test you for low thyroid hormone levels and recommend the proper treatment so you greet each day with more energy!

Tired and exhausted from daily activities

Are you experiencing frequent tiredness or exhaustion from your daily activities? You might have accepted fatigue as a side effect of growing older. While growing older is inevitable for all of us, you don’t have to accept fatigue as part of your life! Fatigue could be caused by reduced levels of testosterone and/or DHEA; for women, you may have decreased levels of estrogen. Our doctor can test you for imbalance of these hormones and devise a treatment plan to meet your specific needs.

Fatigue due to stress

Stress can make anyone feel tired. However, if you are feeling fatigue even from the smallest amounts of stress, you might be avoiding work or activities you used to be engaged in because you feel too tired to face them. You may be consuming sugary snacks and sodas to regain energy or try to fight to be active, but these actions can make you end up feeling even more fatigue. This could be happening to you because of decreased amounts of cortisol. Our doctor can test and treat you for cortisol deficiency so you can better handle stress and your everyday activities.

Light-headed/shaky while standing

Deficiency of aldosterone can lead to low blood pressure which causes you to be light-headed and/or shaky. Often blood pressure medicine is prescribed to correct this, but treating an aldosterone deficiency naturally treats this problem.

Tiredness following brief or physical activity or exertion

Deficiency of testosterone can leave you feeling exhausted after even brief activity and increased fatigue during any type of physical effort, including sex. Deficiency of other hormones will leave you feeling constantly tired, particularly after physical exertion. Our doctor can test and treat for you for deficiency of testosterone and other hormones.

Diabetes and fatigue

People with type I diabetes who feel fatigued may be suffering from an insulin deficiency. Our doctor can test you for this and recommend treatments to restore your energy. People with type II diabetes typically have too much insulin. Our physician can recommend nutrition plans and other treatments to restore your energy as well.

Lack of energy/willpower/enthusiasm

There are a number of hormones that contribute to energy and enthusiasm, including cortisol, DHEA, pregnenolone, aldoseterone, and many more. After comprehensive testing and consultation, our doctor can devise a treatment plan, including supplements, to REVITA-lize your energy, willpower, and enthusiasm.

What are your medical dispensing protocols?

REVITA offers treatment only to individuals with a clinical deficiency. Our company name is REVITA Anti-Aging, but we prescribe medications only to those who are determined to have a clinical deficiency by means of lab testing conducted by our REVITA Medical Physician. Working with our specially trained physician is important to ensure your short and long term wellness. Taking any type of supplement or prescription medication, even those that are natural as possible, can be counterproductive for your health and money if treatment is not necessary.



At REVITA, we help men and women reclaim lost energy and vigor, sharpen thinking, improve memory, decrease body fat and transition their bodies to more lean muscle. Through our innovative therapies, our patients get better with age: They experience clarity of mind and vitality of body that they last felt years, even decades prior. Our results speak for themselves: We help our patients look and feel healthier.

Our patients generally reference they “feel 20 years younger”, as the following are improved:

-Enhanced Mental Clarity

-Weight Loss

-Improved Libido

-Increased Energy

-Aches and Pains Resolved

-Better Recovery from Workouts

-Sleep Better

-Improved Hair, Skin, and Nails

-Increased Muscle Mass

-Overall Vitality

For Women:

-Eliminate Hot Flashes and Night Sweats

-Decrease Water Retention, Bloating, Cramping, etc

Our team understands the changes in physiology that come along with the aging process, and our specially trained REVITA Medical physicians provide individualized patient evaluations and use the latest research on holistic and natural medical treatments, diet, nutraceuticals and bioidentical hormone replacement to ensure our patients’ short and long-term health.

REVITA Medical employs only the best and brightest medical professionals and provides patients with first-class service and treatments. Our medical staff and physicians have been trained in Age Management Medicine, Anti-Aging Medicine, bioidentical hormone replacement therapy, and Neurotransmitter Testing and Treatment through Neurosciences and have extensive knowledge on the latest medical and non-medical solutions for the treatment of common age-related health issues.

REVITA Medical specializes in the same type of medical treatment as has recently been featured in a wide variety of magazines and television programs, including 20/20, 60 Minutes, GQ, Oprah, O Magazine, The Doctors, Dr. Phil, Life Extensions Magazine, Robin McGraw’s recent book (Dr. Phil’s wife), Suzanne Somers’ books Ageless, Breakthrough, and The Sexy Years, and leading Harvard MD and scientist Abraham Morgentaler’s latest book, Testosterone for Life.

Our Treatments and Services Include:

-Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement for Men and Women

-The Men’s Clinic (Enhancing Men’s Sexual Performance)

-Aesthetic Treatments: Botox, Juvederm, Latisse

-hCG Weight Loss (Lose up to 40lbs in 40 days!)

-CoolSculpting Treatments for Fat Reduction

Our head office is located in Charlotte, NC, and we currently work with patients throughout the country. For further information about us, visit our following social media sites and website:

Website: www.revitaantiagingcenter.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/revitamedical

Facebook: www.facebook.com/revitamedical

Tumblr: http://www.tumblr.com/blog/revitamedical

Or, Call Us Today for more information at (704)-847-0011.

“Better sex. Increased vitality. Improved health. More Muscle. Greater Mental Agility. These are just a few of the life-enhancing benefits of testosterone therapy for men…”
~ Abraham Morgentaler, MD. Associate clinical professor, Harvard Medical School. From the Experts at Harvard Medical School and their recent book ‘Testosterone for Life’

“He (a medical hormone specialist) took one look (at my labs) and said ‘your hormone tank is empty. That’s why you feel like your life force is being drained.’ My eyes welled with tears. Finally someone understood and had a solution…. After one day on bio-identical estrogen, I felt the veil lift. After three days, the sky was bluer, my brain was no longer fuzzy, my memory was sharper. I was literally singing and had a skip in my step.”
~ Oprah from O Magazine, February 2009

Great Quote from The Dr. Oz Show:
“This Diet is worth trying.”-Dr. Oz  (In reference to hCG Diet)

“I weighed the risks and benefits of being obese verses the low doses of the hormone and felt this diet was worth trying.” -Dr. Sanjeev Patel, Cardiologist  (In reference to hCG Diet)

The Revita Difference

When you are not feeling like yourself, your family and work life is impacted, you can’t focus, your relationships are strained due to decreased libido or even mood swings, you really want to feel that your doctor is working hard to help you feel better and manage day-to-day a consistency in how you feel. There’s no need to continue riding this hormone rollercoaster…Let Revita change your life!

At Revita, we differ from other clinics in the care the doctor provides, the types of treatments we offer, the extensive nature of our bloodwork, and the feeling of support as if you are a part of the Revita family.

At Revita, you will always meet with a REAL doctor. I know, it seems strange to word it that way…but it’s the best way to explain the level of care we provide. At many other clinics, you may never meet with a doctor, you generally are rushed through appointments and then later meet with a less qualified assistant within the practice. At Revita, you meet with a doctor who has blocked out an hour on his schedule to personally and individually meet with you, where he’ll share with you about your health goals (long-term and short-term), conduct a basic physical exam, evaluate your current symptoms and the severity of the symptoms to produce an initial analysis of where your levels may be low or high, and share with you where he feels your potential treatment path is headed, but most specifically…how we can help you feel better and get your old self back.

We only specialize in natural treatments, such as Bio-Identical Hormones and natural supplements. Our treatment options are chosen by our doctors because they are best absorbed in your system to provide optimal results. Also, they can be easily and readily adjusted if a patient needs improvements in their treatment. We do not offer pellet treatments at Revita, as we feel it places our patients on a hormone rollercoaster that they are already wishing to get off of. In the beginning of pellet treatment, the hormone levels are high, but they quickly diminish after a couple of weeks. The patient is left with 2.5 months of no hormones, and feeling just like they did before they started treatment. The downsides of pellets are that they are invasive surgeries where pellets are implanted in your flesh, and they can not be removed or “re-implanted” until the end of the 3 month period. You are literally stuck without treatment and no relief can be provided. Although, the clinics you are seeing have already financially benefited from your pellet purchase. At Revita, we offer treatments such as creams, sublingual tablets, gel capsules, etc. These treatments that are easily absorbed, not harsh on your liver, and can be quickly adjusted the moment that you wish for an additional improvement. This brings us to the support structure and care our doctor provides.

Our staff is readily available to you. When you call Revita, you will reach a live person. We are committed to this. If all staff members are with patients, then you may leave a voicemail, but we strive to return your call before the end of the business day (not one, two, three days or weeks later like many other practices). Other clinics, you may call multiple times, hitting selections to be directed to the correct staff member, only to leave a voicemail knowing that you will not likely receive a rapid return call. Our staff members are also accessible by email, and many of our emails go to our personal cellphones, so that we can provide support after office hours as well. Our medical doctor is exactly the same way, as he will provide you with his email address at the time of your first visit, so that if you ever have a medical question or need an adjustment in treatment, you can email him as well, and he is amazing about rapidly responding. Additionally, we provide weekly check-ins to be sure we are monitoring your care throughout the first 6 months of treatment. We provide complimentary phone appointments in-between your in-office visits for you to share with the doctor any questions you have about your treatment, so that he can continually strive to improve your treatment plan to help you feel better sooner. It is important to us that we make you feel as part of the REVITA family and that you feel welcomed, invited, and truly cared for. Our goal is to exhibit that we really understand the nature of your symptoms and how they are impacting your life and how you feel, and it is our goal to be sure we are helping you feel better as quickly as possible.

The bloodwork we order is also different than many other clinics. Initially, you may have all hormone levels analyzed, but if you are interested in maintaining thyroid levels (maintaining energy, moods, body temperatures, improving hair, skin, nails, and overall managing weight gain), then these clinics will not be able to assist you. Follow-up bloodwork at other clinics may only analyze testosterone, estrogen, and progesterone, which are only three hormones. There are more than three hormones networking on a daily basis and must all be optimized at the same time to create that perfect balance in how you look, feel, and perform. If you are not addressing these hormones as a whole, it will begin you again on a hormone roller coaster that you never wanted to be on in the first place. At REVITA, we analyze your levels monthly, all of your levels, to see trending in how you are improving and make incremental adjustments when necessary to continually strive to optimize your levels. We want your levels be optimized but also balanced, where the hormone partnership is where it needs to be. Once your levels are optimized and your health goals are achieved, we can be confident to support you through maintenance; instead of rushing you to maintenance before your levels are where they need to be.

Our goal at REVITA is to provide treatment that provides daily, consistent relief. We want to provide support by our medical doctors and staff that you feel you are truly cared for like family and your feelings matter. We also strive to provide care that is thorough, comprehensive, medically supervised, and personalized. We truly care about our patients, and want to provide them elite levels of treatment.

Recently, there was an article published in the local paper titled “Hormone”, and Dr. Fotinos has provided responses to quotes within this article. It also must be made clear when discussions on hormones are related to synthetic hormones or bio-identical hormones. The article and quotes below are directly related to synthetic hormones, which do pose potential health risks. Bio-Identical Hormones are what Dr. Fotinos prescribes and are safer for you and actually assist in decreasing risks for future diseases. Not only that, they also help you regain overall physical, mental, and sexual vitality while lengthening your lifespan.

The level of care associated with bio-identical hormones far exceeds synthetic hormone treatments as well, as synthetic hormones are generally not prescribed by age management doctors or bio-identical hormone specialists. (Read previous blog titled: “Why Should You See an Age Management Specialist?”)

“Researchers say it’s unclear whether the issues associated with aging- decreased sex drive, less energy, reduced muscle mass- are the result of low testosterone or other factors.”-

Response: Actually, the root cause of aging is hormonal loss. Testosterone is required to build muscle, to have a libido, etc. All of these symptoms are directly related to declining testosterone levels. That is why a 20 year old or someone using testosterone is able to build muscle easy and effectively than someone at age 50. Blood panels drawn are so thorough that they can accurately pinpoint if it is testosterone, other hormones, or associated with blood counts or organ functioning. An anti-aging specialist can accurately pinpoint the root cause of a patient’s symptoms and appropriately diagnose going forward.

“Most experts say testosterone is as effective as anti-wrinkle face cream when used to reverse the effects of aging.”

Response: Many doctors use synthetic or chemical treatments to “cover stuff up” or to band-aid the symptoms, so it would make sense that there are comments stating that these treatments are not effective in directly causing reverse effects in aging. Doctors who do not practice or are trained in age management may prescribe low doses or synthetic testosterone which slightly alleviates the noted symptoms of low testosterone. They treat the symptoms and not the patient, and many times these doctors do not even draw the blood work to determine it is indeed testosterone or potentially something else. It is pivotal to analyze the appropriate blood work to address the true and root causes of those symptoms. When those are addressed and treated with bio-identical hormones, it is significantly noted that it provides overall success for patients in relief in how they feel and how their blood work and levels improve. Their blood work clinically indicates that they are physically improving, and their blood work shows that their levels are in more youthful ranges. Youthful ranges are a true indicator of proving effectiveness in the reversal of aging. When patients share how they feel overall, they share significant improvements in all aspects of how they think, feel, and perform day-to-day.

“Test results are hit or miss: Blood tests for testosterone are so unreliable- and saliva tests are worse.”

Response: Once again, this would mainly apply to testing ordered by doctors who are not specialists in age-management medicine. Typical tests ordered to address testosterone levels are a simple testosterone test. Free testosterone and Sex-Binding Hormone Globulin are two additional tests to show how testosterone is truly functioning or being used in a patients system. These three tests combined will show accurate readings of patients levels, and in turn help your age management doctor to appropriately prescribe treatment. Blood tests are more commonly used to determine patients’ levels. Many times saliva tests can be drawn as well, but are more commonly used to address cortisol levels, as cortisol fluctuates or spikes throughout the day and helps explain why patients may notice fatigue or sleep disturbances throughout the day, hence helping the doctor to provide appropriate care. That is the goal. So, in conclusion, blood tests are completely reliable if the appropriate and adequate amount of tests are ordered and analyzed by an age management specialist.

“Meaning of “low” and “normal” is unclear: Doctors don’t exactly know what “low” is.

Response: All labs have ranges that are considered normal in regards to all blood panels draw per the patient’s age group at the time the blood is drawn. The ranges for normal for testosterone are vast between. A patient could be at the bottom of these “normal” ranges, hence the hormone could be “low-performing”. If it is low-performing and the patient has noted symptoms of typical low testosterone, then it is obvious that a patient is experiencing a gradual decline in their testosterone levels. The goals of testosterone replacement are to optimize patients’ levels so that they are clinically indicated to be in youthful ranges and to experience relief of their symptoms and changes in physical performance. So, it’s important to not look for normal, but to reach for optimal.

“Testosterone therapy is still a “scientifically unproven method” for preventing or relieving the physical and psychological changes that men with age-appropriate testosterone levels experience later in life.”

Response: A 60 year old is age-appropriate and his symptoms are normal for his age, but who wants to feel weaker and physically and psychologically? If blood work is monitored monthly as treatment adjustments are made, it is clinically indicated and proven that patients’ levels are optimized to youthful ranges. And, patients will voice that they notice obvious changes in their mental, physical, and sexual performance.

“Treatments have potential side effects…such as genitalia enlargement or aggressive behavior. Many researchers believe that supplements can put men at greater risk for prostate cancer-or stimulate growth of cancer if it is already present-and perhaps even greater risk for stroke, because it increases the production of red blood cells.”

Response: These studies revolve around synthetic testosterone replacement treatments where a patient’s levels were not closely monitored monthly and appropriate care was provided. Synthetic hormones just like anything foreign placed in your body can increase your risks for cancers. Bio-Identical Hormones are natural hormones that are safer for your body, as they are natural (not foreign) to your body. Bio-Identical hormones have been studied to show an obvious decline in cholesterol, improvements in cardiac function, and actual decreases in risks for diseases and cancers. No studies have shown that bio-identical hormones increase risks for cancers or diseases. And, age management doctors monitor patients’ levels so closely that there are no risks for levels to be abnormally elevated or to risk putting a patient in danger. No study has show increased risk for prostate cancer. Recently, a study showed improvements or regression of prostate illness in men that were on testosterone.

“Men who supplement with testosterone shut down their own factory. “If you’re taking it long enough, you don’t get testosterone production or sperm back.”

Response: Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement is used to supplement the levels that your body is already naturally producing. If you discontinue using the supplementation, then your levels just return to what your body is naturally producing. It makes sense. Without the additional testosterone replacement, your body unfortunately goes “back to normal”. The natural production is not shut down by testosterone replacement. Any shut down or decline experienced by a patient is due to a patient discontinuing treatments or supplementation. Also, experienced age management doctors monitor a patients testosterone levels to manage fertility. There are other natural hormones that boost fertility and improve sperm counts, so this is alleviated and prevented as well. To properly manage, optimize, and supplement testosterone, it must be for as long as the patient wishes to feel at their best. Many patients utilize testosterone replacement for life.

www.RevitaAntiAgingCenter.com