Chronic fatigue? It could be your adrenal glands

Chronic fatigue? It could be your adrenal glands

Stress affects every person differently. We can feel stress in our bodies, but have you ever wondered how it can affect your body?

If you have problems with anxiety, fatigue, dizziness, irritability, or high blood sugar, the stress on your adrenal glands may be catching up with you.

Your adrenal glands are two small triangular glands that sit on top of each kidney. They are small but crucial to your body's functions. And when you're stressed, these guys get hit.

Let's look at what your adrenal glands do, how they keep you healthy, and how a naturopath can help you.

The general adaptive response

When we are stressed, we cope through a process called the “general adaptive response,” which is divided into three phases:

The first is the “alert level”. You may have heard of the “fight or flight” instinct, and this is where your body prepares itself. You will feel your heart rate increase, you will breathe faster, and your blood pressure and blood sugar levels will rise.

Next comes the “resistance phase,” which begins almost immediately after the alert level. As your body responds to the stress, it adapts to help you cope.

The final stage is called the “exhaustion stage”. At this point, your body no longer has the energy to deal with your stress. Stress-related illnesses can occur here.

Cortisol

Your adrenal glands produce a substance called cortisol. This stuff is crucial to your ability to deal with stress and its effects. If your adrenal glands pump out cortisol too quickly, it can affect your thyroid and slow your metabolism.

If this goes on for too long, your adrenal glands lose the ability to produce enough cortisol and you reach the stage of exhaustion. This puts you at risk for ulcers, heartburn, allergies, high blood pressure and even autoimmune diseases and cancer.

Your adrenal glands also produce another hormone called dehydroepiandrosterone. I know that's a ridiculously long word, so let's call it DHEA for short.

DHEA helps regulate some of the other hormones in your body, including testosterone and estrogen. When you're exhausted, your DHEA levels drop, which can lead to lower sex drive, lower energy levels, and a reduced ability to fight infections.

Managing stress goes a long way in supporting the adrenal glands. Some factors that improve adrenal function are:

• Exercise, meditation and a proper sleep cycle help immensely.

• Proper nutrition is also crucial. Your adrenal glands need vitamins B2, B5, B6, and C to properly produce DHEA and cortisol.

• Herbs classified as “adaptogens” such as Siberian Ginseng, Ashwagandha, Fo-Ti, Rhodiola and Holy Basil strengthen the adrenal glands to improve their function during the resistance phase.

• Acupuncture can also be used to improve adrenal function.

Of course, any plan to manage stress and increase adrenal function should include a proper evaluation by a qualified physician.

Remember that your adrenal glands are just one piece of your body's puzzle. By managing stress, we have a positive effect on all of our glands and organs. This will help us on the path to balance and health.

Until next time, this is Dr. Pat Nardini for “Your Wellness First.”