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