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