Your adrenal glands are two tiny pyramid-shaped pieces of tissue situated right above each kidney. Their job is to produce and release, when appropriate, certain regulatory hormones and chemical messengers.<\/p>\n
\nby: Valerie Balandra ARNP, BC
\nAdrenaline is manufactured in the interior of the adrenal gland, called the adrenal medulla. Cortisol, the other chemical from the adrenal gland, is made in the exterior portion of the gland, called the adrenal cortex. The cortex also secretes androgens, estrogens, and progestins. Cortisol, commonly called hydrocortisone, is the most abundant — and one of the most important — of many adrenal cortex hormones. Cortisol helps you handle longer-term stress situations.
\nIn addition to helping you handle stress, these two primary adrenal hormones, adrenaline and cortisol, along with others similarly produced, help control body fluid balance, blood pressure, blood sugar, and other central metabolic functions.
\nIn the heightened nervous state of adrenal burnout, the body overproduces adrenaline, cortisol and other stress hormones. Constant stress and poor nutrition can weaken the adrenal glands. Eventually, this causes the adrenal glands, the front line in the stress reaction, to show wear and tear and become depleted. This frequently leads to impairment in the thyroid gland, which can cause a further decline in energy level and mood and is one of the reasons why many people have thyroid glands that don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t work well.
\nWhen stress continues over prolonged periods of time, the adrenal glands can deplete the body’s hormonal and energy reserves, and the glands may either shrink in size or hypertrophy (enlarge). The overproduction of adrenal hormones caused by prolonged stress can weaken the immune system and inhibit the production of white blood cells that protect the body against foreign invaders (in particular lymphocytes and lymph node function).
\nAdrenal dysfunction can disrupt the body’s blood sugar metabolism, causing weakness, fatigue, and a feeling of being run down. It can also interfere with normal sleep rhythms and produce a wakeful, unrelaxing sleep state, making a person feel worn out even after a full night’s sleep.
\nCommon Causes of Adrenal Stress
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2 Anger
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2 Fear \/ Worry \/Anxiety
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2 Depression
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2 Guilt
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2 Overwork\/ physical or mental strain
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2 Excessive exercise
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2 Sleep deprivation
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2 Light-cycle disruption
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2 Going to sleep late
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2 Surgery
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2 Trauma\/injury
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2 Chronic inflammation
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2 Chronic infection
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2 Chronic pain
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2 Temperature extremes
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2 Toxic exposure
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2 Malabsorption
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2 Maldigestion
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2 Chronic illness
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2 Chronic-severe allergies
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2 Hypogycemia
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2 Nutritional deficiencies
\nTesting for Adrenal Health
\nIn order to determine the health of your adrenal glands you need to have a simple blood, urine, or saliva test performed by your practitioner. Cortisol levels can be checked by blood or throughout the day by a saliva test. DHEA, and Epinephrine, are some other indicators of adrenal function.
\nAssociated Symptoms and Consequences of Impaired Adrenal Functioning
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2 Low body temperature
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2 Weakness
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2 Unexplained hair loss
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2 Nervousness
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2 Difficulty building muscle
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2 Irritability
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2 Mental depression
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2 Difficulty gaining weight
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2 Apprehension
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2 Hypoglycemia
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2 Inability to concentrate
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2 Excessive hunger
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2 Tendency towards inflammation
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2 Moments of confusion
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2 Indigestion
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2 Poor memory
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2 Feelings of frustration
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2 Alternating diarrhea and constipation
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2 Osteoporosis
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2 auto-immune diseases\/hepatitis
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2 Lightheadedness
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2 Palpitations [heart fluttering]
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2 Dizziness that occurs upon standing
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2 Poor resistance to infections
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2 Low blood pressure
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2 Insomnia
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2 Food and\/or inhalant allergies
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2 PMS
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2 Craving for sweets
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2 Dry and thin skin
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2 Headaches
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2 Scanty perspiration
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2 Alcohol intolerance
\nTreatment
\nLifestyle changes such as:
\nEating steadily, all day long. Skipping meals is one of the worst things you can do for your body. When you’re hungry, your blood sugar drops, stressing your adrenal glands and triggering your sympathetic nervous system. That causes light-headedness, cravings, anxiety and fatigue. Another drawback to skipping meals: The resulting low blood sugar can affect your ability to think clearly and shorten your attention span.
\nSkipping breakfast is particularly bad, as it is a sure fire way to gain, not lose, weight. If you start each morning with a good breakfast and “graze” healthfully every two to four hours, your blood sugar will remain steady throughout the day. You’ll feel more rested and energetic.
\nEat protein with every meal. Eat Complex carbohydrates such as brown rice. Avoid sugar, junk food, white pasta, white rice, white bread.
\nAbsolutely NO Caffeine. Coffee\/Sodas over stimulates your adrenals and they deplete important B vitamins.
\nCoffee does not give you energy; coffee gives you the illusion of energy. Coffee actually drains the body of energy and makes you more tired, because of vitamin and adrenal depletion.
\nExercise to relax. Walking, Yoga, deep breathing, meditation, or stretching. No vigorous or aerobic exercise, which depletes the adrenals.
\nAvoid alcohol, processed foods, and tobacco. Nicotine in tobacco initially raises cortisol levels, but chronic use results in low DHEA, testosterone, and progesterone levels.
\nReduce stress; learn relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, visualization, progressive muscle relaxation.
\nHelpful Supplements
\nThe use of small amounts of natural adrenal hormone (hydrocortisone) to bring slightly low adrenal function up to its proper normal daily range is often helpful.
\nTake a daily multivitamin to provide nutritional support to the adrenal gland.
\nVitamin C 1,000-3,000 mg a day
\nL-Theanine 100-400 mg a day
\nPantothenic Acid (Vitamin B5) 300 mg a day
\nLicorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra), no more than 1000 mg of glycyrrhizin
\nAbout The Author
\nValerie Balandra ARNP, BC is a board certified psychiatric nurse practitioner and holistic health practitioner. Her website Integrative Psychiatry. Net focuses on ways to identify causes of bio-chemical imbalances and provides natural treatments for depression and anxiety. http:\/\/www.integrativepsychiatry.net.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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