Adrenal Fatigue
We are all familiar with stress – it’s a constant element in our busy lives. What we are not so familiar with is the body’s internal response to stress and how the stress we are faced with today rob us of our energy and negatively impact our health.
When faced with a stressful situation, our bodies rely on the walnut sized Adrenal Glands sitting on top of our kidneys to monitor our “fight or flight” response. If we had to run from a tiger, healthy adrenal glands respond by releasing adrenaline, which makes us more alert and focused, and cortisol, which converts protein to energy and releases our stored sugar, glycogen, so our bodies have the fuel needed to respond quickly.
Today however we are not usually running from tigers. We are sitting in meetings, the adrenal gland starts pumping, can’t get up and run around the room which is the historical program of our body, so we sit there. Where does the adrenaline go? What does it do to our body? How are we now programming our selves and how will that affect our future?
In our society today we are inundated with stress – stress that doesn’t let up. Eventually, our adrenal glands are squeezed to the point that Adrenal Fatigue sets in, and many people experience symptoms such as:
- Weight gain
- Fatigue
- Insomnia
- Fuzzy thinking
- Depression
- Food cravings
- And mood swings
Instead of the occasional, acute stress followed by a period of rest for recuperation, we’re constantly over-worked, under-nourished, exposed to environmental toxins, and worried about others.
Every challenge to our mind and body creates a demand on the adrenal glands. The list of challenges included:
√ Lack of sleep √ A demanding boss √ The threat of losing a job √ Financial pressures √ Personality conflicts √ Yo-yo dieting √ Relationship turmoil √ Death or illness of a loved one √ Skipping meals √ Reliance on stimulants like caffeine and carbs √ Digestive problems √ Over-exercise √ Illness or infection √ Unresolved emotional issues from our past or present √ And more….
The result is that the adrenal glands are constantly on high alert.
When we have long-term stress, the hormones cortisol and insulin remain high in the blood, and the extra glucose that isn’t needed for energy gets stored in the form of fat in our fat cells – primarily our abdominal fat cells. This fat known as visceral fat that begins to function as a metabolically active hormone producing organ reacting to the stress response, stimulating yet further abdominal fat to deposit. So the vicious cycle continues until we take steps to heal the metabolic imbalance. A good place to start is with the adrenal glands.
In its normal function, cortisol helps us meet challenges by converting proteins into energy, releasing glycogen, and counteracting inflammation. For a short time, that’s okay. However, to sustain high levels cortisol gradually breaks down the body.
Sustained high levels of cortisol:
- Destroys healthy muscle and bone
- Slow down healing and normal cell repair
- Steals nutrients needed to make other vital hormones (such as male and female hormones)
- Impairs digestion, metabolism and mental function
- Interferes with healthy endocrine function
- Weakens the immune system
The effects of adrenal dysfunction can be profound: fatigue and weakness, suppression of the immune system, muscle and bone loss, moodiness or depression, hormonal imbalance, skin problems, autoimmune disorders, and dozens of other symptoms and health concerns.
Adrenal Fatigue, labeled the 21st century stress syndrome by Dr. James Wilson, may also be a factor in many medical conditions, including fibromyalgia, hypothyroidism, chronic fatigue syndrome, arthritis, frequent infections and more. It can also be associated with host of unpleasant signs and symptoms, including acne, hair loss, fatigue, salt and sugar cravings and caffeine addiction.
In the early stages of adrenal dysfunction cortisol levels are too high during the day and continue rising into the evening. In the middle stages, cortisol output may rise and fall unevenly throughout the day as the body struggles for balance against disruptive of caffeine, carbs and stress, but levels are abnormal and typically much too high at night. In advanced stages the adrenals are exhausted from overwork, and cortisol will never reach normal levels.
The good news is that adrenal fatigue can almost always be relieved.
It is time for you to take care of YOU!
Contact us and discover how Dr. Pappa and Tina Smith can help. OR Join us at our next FREE support session.
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