Health Check
Tired, depressed and hurting?
Could be adrenal fatigue
Working or worrying too much can cause a very real and common
condition known as adrenal fatigue — or even adrenal exhaustion. Most
likely, you or someone you know is experiencing it right now. But you
won’t get help from your conventional medical doctor. You need to know
how it may be affecting you right now, what causes it, and how you can
treat it - to get your life back.
Your adrenal glands and cortisol
Your
adrenal glands sit right next to your kidneys and produce adrenaline
when you have a ‘fight-or-flight’ need. The outer portion produces
hormones including cortisol for mental, emotional or physical stress
needs. It also produces your sex hormones such as testosterone and/or
estrogen.
Cortisol is your ‘anti-stress ‘hormone. It is normally secreted as a
response to physical or mental stress to quickly free up energy reserves
(raises blood sugar), stimulate appetite, maintain adequate blood
pressure, and boost your immune system.
Most anyone who has suffered adrenal fatigue symptoms for very long
will discover they won’t find treatment for it from prescription
medications. That’s because the subtle symptoms of a stressed adrenal
gland are not even recognized by most conventional medical doctors. But
there are specific signs to watch for if you’re suffering from this 21st
century stress syndrome…
Symptoms of adrenal excess
Daytime fatigue: But you may get a second wind of energy at bedtime.
Not sleeping well: Cortisol blocks your sleep hormone melatonin so
you toss and turn during the night and cannot turn off your thoughts
very easily.
Weight gain around the middle: The classic apple-shape obesity that
occurs even if you are exercising and eating healthy.
Craving unhealthy foods: Cortisol increases hunger to supply energy
for your stress needs.
Gastrointestinal symptoms: Nausea, heartburn, diarrhoea, or
constipation (with or without abdominal pain) comes in part from excess
cortisol secretion.
Sex hormone imbalances: This occurs due to the ‘cortisol steal’
effect mentioned above.
Depressed mood: This happens because high levels of cortisol suppress
serotonin (a key feel good hormone) production.
Accelerated ageing: Your facial skin can begin to look older than
stated age.
Your taxed adrenal gland can’t keep up with stress demands
After years of excessive physical, mental or emotional stress on your
delicate endocrine glands, the adrenal glands can’t keep up with
cortisol demands. We call this adrenal fatigue… leading to adrenal
exhaustion. The following symptoms begin to emerge:
Morning fatigue: You have trouble getting out of bed in the morning.
*Chronic tiredness even after you wake up in the morning.
*Trouble thinking clearly or finishing your tasks: Especially when
under pressure.
*Afternoon feeling of sleepiness or brain fog from 2 to 4 p.m.
*Burst of energy late in the day.
Anxiety: Jitters, nervous stomach, panic or even paranoia are real
physical sensations due to the stimulating effect of adrenaline, which
kicks in more as you run low on circulating cortisol to handle stress.
Pain: Headaches and backaches worsen because elevated cortisol also
increases your sensitivity to pain.
Catching colds or infections easily: Occurs because cortisol is an
immune system boosting hormone.
Cannot deal with stress very well: You have nervous or irritable
behavior, or a nervous laugh to cover embarrassment, frustration, or
despair.
Accusatory or victim language: Sharp verbal retorts to stay in
control of the discussion; melodramatic or negative comments with focus
on the terrible, horrible, or impossible aspect of anything.
*Drop in blood pressure when going from lying to standing.
Less common symptoms include:
*Sweet and salty food cravings.
*Hair loss slowly or in patches.
*Skin rashes, eczema, psoriasis, and hyperhidrosis (sweating in
armpits, palms, or bottoms of feet).
*Allergies causing symptoms of draining nose, itchy throat, irritated
eyes, or tightness in lungs (asthma).
Now you are getting a picture of how your body works to handle
stress…and how you can literally run your body into the ground from just
allowing stress to rule over you.
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