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Some people who are chronically tired are connecting to the idea that stress has worn out their adrenal glands, resulting in a condition that’s come to be known as adrenal fatigue, and it has been promoted and popularized by some health enthusiasts both on TikTok and on multiple websites.

We asked Lynnette Nieman, MD, a senior investigator at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), to talk about adrenal fatigue. Dr. Nieman is also the former president of the Endocrine Society. Here, her expert take on this social media health-advice phenomenon.

Everyday Health: Adrenal fatigue is a trending topic on TikTok, with more than 500 million views of videos about signs, symptoms, and treatments for it. Is this really such a major health issue?

Lynnette Nieman: Adrenal fatigue is not a recognized medical condition. And despite that, there’s plenty of information about it online, beyond just on social media apps.

EH: Interesting. So if it’s not an actual health condition, what symptoms are these viewers experiencing that make them believe they have a health issue called adrenal fatigue?

LN: The main symptoms are feeling tired, especially when waking up, and then feeling more energy later in the day. It also involves consuming too many stimulants, like coffee, craving salty or sweet food, difficulty handling stress, and feeling run-down or overwhelmed.

EH: A lot of people feel like that. What other medical conditions might you have if you are experiencing this collection of symptoms?

LN: The list is quite extensive. It could be long COVID, obstructive sleep apnea, anemia, psychiatric problems (like depression and anxiety), executive function disorder (which includes attention deficit, cognitive, or memory deficits), or overexercise. It could also be the result of nonmedical conditions, like poor eating habits, eating because you are experiencing anxiety, or poor sleep hygiene.