Four Home Tests to Measure Adrenal Fatigue
Do you feel tired most of the time? Like no matter how much coffee you drink and how much sleep you get, you always end up crashing at some point in the day? Your adrenal glands may be fatigued.
What Are the Adrenal Glands?
Your adrenal glands are two small glands located on top of your kidneys. They are involved in producing over 50 hormones that affect every organ, tissue, and cell in the body, and they’re most commonly known for their roles in managing stress.
When your body senses a threat, your adrenal glands release adrenaline hormones, rushing blood and sugar to your brain, heart and muscles to help you manage the stress regardless of its origin (emotional, physical, or chemical). When the threat has passed, corticosteroids are released to help your body recover.
But when your body is in a constant state of stress, eventually your adrenals become exhausted, and that’s when symptoms set in.
Here’s how to test to see if your symptoms are actually caused by adrenal fatigue.
Test 1: The Ragland’s Test
This is also known as the “stand-up-quickly” test, and it is as simple as it sounds. By lying down flat on your back and then standing up quickly, you can determine if you’re in adrenal fatigue.
If you get lightheaded or dizzy, it means you have some level of adrenal fatigue.
This test is easy, free, and highly effective (which is why you’ve probably never heard of it!).
The reason this tests works is that the adrenals run the vital function of constriction of the arteries as you stand up, thus ensuring enough blood and oxygen get to your brain. If you get light-headed, then your adrenal glands are not working properly.
Test 2: Waist/Hip Ratio
The adrenally fatigued body type is fat around the midsection – what some may call a “spare tire.” Most of the fat is sitting right at the bottom of your abdomen while your arms and legs remain thin. Long periods of stress cause increased cortisol levels, resulting in fat accumulation around the sides and front of the abdomen. This is the hardest weight to lose because it won’t go away until you heal your fatigued adrenal glands.
The best way to test body type is the waist/hip ratio. The waist/hip ratio is a comparison of the circumference of belly fat compared to that of hip fat. It’s hands-down one of the best indicators of overall adrenal fatigue and one of the best predictors of disease on earth. Waist/hip ratio is more accurate at predicting adrenal fatigue, heart disease, diabetes and metabolic breakdown compared to conventional methods.
How to Measure Waist/Hip Ratio
Waist Circumference
Measure your waist at the widest point, usually about five inches below the bottom of the sternum at or near the belly button.
Hip Circumference
Take this measurement with your feet together and arms at your sides, measuring at the maximum circumference of the hips and gluts. The tape measurer needs to be parallel and have constant tension without distorting tissue.
This is calculated as waist measurement divided by hip measurement. Waist ÷ Hip = Waist/Hip Ratio
The World Health Organization states that abdominal obesity is defined as a waist–hip ratio above 0.90 for males and above 0.85 for females. This is a good measurement to stay beneath for the sake of your adrenal health, as well.
Test 3: Symptoms
Symptoms are the clearest way the body is telling you something is wrong. The following symptoms are all associated with adrenal fatigue. If you check more than a couple of these, then you areprobably suffering from some level of adrenal fatigue.
Symptoms of Adrenal Fatigue
- Waist circumference of M>40, F>35
- Fat pad deposits at base of neck and upper middle shoulders
- Torso weight gain with thin legs and arms
- Salt, cheese, chocolate, sugar and/or carbohydrate cravings
- Weakness, fatigue, and/or lethargy
- Difficulty getting out of bed in the morning
- Often require afternoon naps
- Cannot tolerate stress
- Dry and thin skin
- Chronic adult acne
- Rosy checks (frequent)
- Swollen cheek bone and eye area creating a prominent round (moon) face
- Dark circles under eyes
- Double chin
- Tightness in chest / chest pains
- Low blood pressure
- Lax ligaments: chronic ankle, knee, or shoulder stability injuries
- History of multiple bone fractures
- Need coffee to wake up or drink energy drinks throughout the day
- Inflammation, pain, and/or swelling in the joints, spine and neck areas
- Get the flu or bacterial infections often
- Out of breath when climbing stairs, and/or asthma
- Dizziness when going from sitting/lying down to standing
- Brain fog or poor memory, inability for deep problem solving
- Decreased or loss of libido
- Adult onset allergies
- Trouble staying asleep
Test 4: Iris Flashlight Test
If you shine a flashlight in your eyes in a dark room, your iris will adjust and should remain smaller for up to two minutes if your adrenal glands are healthy. If the pupil dilates within the first 10-30 seconds, or begins to quiver, and stays dilated for as long as 45 seconds before it contracts again, then adrenal dysfunction is present.
This is a good way to measure your progress as you rebuild your adrenals. Do not use a light that is too bright.
Support Your Adrenals with Adrenal Food
If your adrenals are fatigued – as most Americans’ adrenals are – it’s nearly impossible to regain full functionality with diet alone. Adrenal Food is the MOST popular supplement in our line, and has helped thousands of people regain their energy and retake their health.
How Adrenal Food Can Help You
- Boosts adrenal function
- Increases energy
- Improves blood sugar
- Helps weight loss around mid-section
- Relieves tightening ligaments and joint pain
- Relieves postural hypotension (getting dizzy when standing)
- Mood booster
