Dr. Oz and Adrenal Fatigue

September 2010, Dr. Oz invited two doctors to discuss adrenal fatigue in a segment that focused on “Extreme Exhaustion”.  It was a controversial discussion where Dr. Robert Vigersky, member of the Endocrine Society, stated that there is no scientific evidence to prove adrenal fatigue exists, while Christiane Northrop MD – previously practicing OBGYN who now is an international author and speaker and is now focusing on the role of mind and spirit in medicine – strongly stated that adrenal fatigue does exist.  Dr. Northrop provided the audience a list of symptoms of adrenal fatigue and a discussion of ways to help the symptoms.  For a symptom matrix of adrenal fatigue you can download and print you can go to http://jenbusch.com/readMore.htm.  While Dr. Oz remained neutral in his opinion, it is obvious that adrenal fatigue is clearly coming to forefront of public awareness as a medical condition to warrant coverage of this magnitude.

Why would one doctor be so certain there isn’t an adrenal fatigue syndrome and another be quite certain there is? One answer could be that for medical doctors to be paid they are restricted to pre-approved diagnostic codes and treatment codes.  And if an illness doesn’t clearly fall into the “normal” battery of tests then it doesn’t exist.  A clear example of medicine turning a blind eye to a condition is 15 – 20 years ago many endocrinologists denied “mild hypothyroidism” as a true diagnosis according to Dr. Shames in an e-interview. Dr. Shames also stated that “there is a striking similarity to the current denials of mild adrenal insufficiency.  It took years of mounting scientific evidence, but now many endocrinologists are saying both doctors and patients need to be aware to the real possibility of borderline hypothyroidism.” I encourage you to read the complete interview at http://thyroid.about.com/b/2010/10/28/hormone-foundation-endocrine-society-adrenal-fatigue-controversy.htm.