ADRENAL STRESS, FATIGUE AND ADRENAL DISORDERS
26Apr
Health Articles

ADRENAL STRESS, FATIGUE AND ADRENAL DISORDERS

  • By Louw van Riet

Written By Dr Steven Gunn (MBChB. BSc. CVIT)

 

Function:  

The adrenal glands are small glands shaped like an almond nut and about the same size positioned on top of each kidney.   They are one of the hardest working and one of the most important organs in our body.   

The gland consists of an inner (medulla) section, and an outer (cortex) section.  The medulla has a special direct connection to the brain, unlike the other organs which connect via the hormones in the blood stream.  This is because the medulla is responsible for noradrenalin and adrenalin (norepinephrine and epinephrine) secretion so the body can react to a stressful situation like the flight-or-fight reaction.

The cortex helps to keep the body in balance and is responsible for multiple functions such as reducing inflammation in the body, balancing the immune system, maintaining the correct balance of electrolytes (salts) in the body, supporting your sex glands and working in tandem with the thyroid gland and pancreas.

 There is a very intricate and closely knit connection between the brain, the adrenal glands, the thyroid and the pancreas, controlling and regulating our response to stress from within and from our environment, as well as maintaining our metabolic processes, our energy, our fertility, sex drive and our immune system.  They control our cravings, our mood, water retention, weight gain or loss, our emotions like anger, anxiety and patience as well as controlling our blood sugar, food sensitivities and ability to fight infections.

 

ADRENAL DYSFUNCTION (UNDER FUNCTION)

Symptoms & Signs:     
If the Adrenal Glands have to consistently and over a prolonged period of time, work excessively hard secreting large amounts of adrenalin and cortisol and aldosterone, they will eventually become depleted of their reserves and ability to produce enough hormones to do their job efficiently.  This results in “Adrenal Exhaustion” or “Burn Out” promoting insulin resistance and Metabolic Syndrome and Adrenal Dysfunction, like Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS).

 

Common Symptoms include:

·        Chronic physical fatigue (despite rest)

·        Feeling exhausted or “burn out”

·        Poor sleep or insomnia

·        “Brain fog”

·        Low sex drive or depressed libido

·        Increased PMS symptoms

·        Increased inflammation

·        Increased sensitivity to stress, more anxiety, less resilience

·        Panic attacks

·            Chronic mental fatigue (despite good sleep)

·            Difficulty in recovering (from stress, infection, operations)

·            Sluggishness

·            Mild depression and decreased joy

·            Poor memory

·            Water retention and weight gain

·            Weakness or muscle loss

·            Everything in life becomes more of an effort

·            Food cravings and binge eating

 

Blood Chemistry:

  • ACTH
  • DHEAS
  • Cortisol


Additional Tests: 
Thyroid function; Glucose; Insulin; HbA1C; Sex Hormones; Magnesium (Red cell), Zinc, Vit B12, Folate (RedCell), Kidney Function

 

ADRENAL GLAND SUPPORT

Note:  
AVOID excessive amounts of stimulants like coffee, tea, energy drinks with caffeine as well as, alcohol, tobacco, sugar, sweet or fizzy drinks and carbohydrates.

Supplement with good quality products containing the following:

Vitamins

EFAs

Other

Vit B5 (Pantothenic Acid)

Omega 3 Fish Oil

Phosphotidylserine

Vit B6

EPA, DHA

L-Tyrosine

Vit B1

GLA, Hemp Seed Oil

Amino Acid complex

Vit B2

 

Spirulina

Vit B3

Herbs & Plants

Chlorella

Vit B12

Ashwaganda

Raw Veggie Juices

Folate

Siberian ginseng

Bee Pollen

Vit C

Rhodiola

Propolis

Vit E

 

Cold pressed seed oils

 

 

Fish oils

Minerals

Bio Identical Hormones

Nut oils

Magnesium

DHEA

Raw or Desiccated glandulars

Selenium

Sex Hormones

 

Calcium

Pregnenolone

 

Copper

(Doctors Prescription)

 

 

TREATMENT OF ADRENAL DISORDERS

When treating adrenal disorders or CFS, it is imperative that one consults a doctor who is experienced in this field and one who approaches it from a ‘holistic‘ or ‘integrative’ point of view, because the assessment and treatment involves multiple organs, systems, treatment modalities, lifestyle and dietary modification and environmental factors.

To fix or balance adrenal glands the doctor has to consider all the above-mentioned factors and have the means and knowledge to test and evaluate all, or most of these factors.

XTREME HEALTH (Pty) Ltd has a range of specialized food supplements available on line.  They have a product which has been especially formulated by an integrative medicine doctor and integrative health practitioner to support the adrenal glands and help combat stress and accelerated ageing, namely XTREME ADRENAL SUPPORT food supplement capsules. 

Purchase products online at  www.xtremehealth.co.za or contact Leanne at +27(0)82 920 9868