Adrenal Fatigue
Are you feeling burned out?
Do you have trouble starting your day before 10 am?
Does your energy level go down between 3 and 5 pm yet you get a second wind after 10 pm?
These are common problems that may be symptomatic of adrenal fatigue. When adrenal fatigue occurs there is often a whole cluster of other problems you may experience such as, weakness, immune dysfunction, musculoskeletal problems, sad emotions, hormonal imbalance, skin problems and many others. Fortunately, there is a way to support the return of adrenal sufficiency. Here is a quick overview of the vital role your adrenals play in maintaining your health.
Your adrenal glands sit on top of your kidneys. Combined these two are the fundamental energy generator and transmission system for your body. You have probably heard someone say they experienced an adrenaline rush. When this happens, high excitement from joy, fear and stress cause the adrenals to produce adrenaline to give the body the extra push needed to survive the situation. Cortisol converts protein within the organs, muscles and bones into the energy needed to address the acute situation. Over time, when stress levels are consistently high, the adrenals produce too much cortisol and the body is literally torn down, destroying vital systems in the process.
It is important to address this problem of high cortisol and adrenal fatigue before there is systematic damage throughout the body. The first step is to have your cortisol levels checked. Normal healthy cortisol levels are high in the morning, go up at mid-day, between 3 pm and 5 pm and again at about 11 pm. A cortisol surge is what causes the second wind and it is also necessary for sleep.
Let’s look at what happens to the adrenal glands that makes them fail. First, they respond to normal life stress. They are able to secrete cortisol, you are able to handle the stress and then they stop secreting the cortisol and your levels drop. This is normal. When the body is consistently stressed by emotional conflict, demands of the family, demands of work or shift work, demands of the job, financial concerns and worries, marital conflict and so on, the stress on the adrenal gland is constant. The adrenal gland does is best to respond and keep you going. After a prolonged time period, this stage can go on for years, your adrenal glands begin to fail to respond at the normal and appropriate level. They are not in complete failure as this would be Addison’s disease but the gland can not maintain an adequate level of hormone for the current level of stress. By the time the body reaches this stage, cortisol levels are measurably low. Traditional assessments of cortisol levels typically fall outside of the normal levels only when damage to the adrenals has occurred. There is a wide range of values in which you can feel a lack of energy and still have a normal level of cortisol. So if you have answered yes to any of the three questions above, schedule a visit to get tested and to discuss how you can overcome the challenges of adrenal fatigue before adrenal damage occurs.
The recovery process will involve managing stress, getting proper exercise and eating according to your metabolic type and eating natural, whole foods. Recovery from adrenal insufficiency takes time for lifestyle changes to take effect and solve the adrenal fatigue problems in the long term. For severe adrenal fatigue it can take up to 2 years for the adrenal glands to heal. Treatment begins with lifestyle changes and is then supported by supplements if needed and medication if needed. Relief of symptoms can be experienced fairly quickly but the lifestyle changes are permanent and the supplementation may be required for up to two years. Managing emotional stress is essential. My favorite way to relieve emotional stress is the emotional freedom technique (EFT). EFT is a system you can learn to use anytime and involves tapping powerful acupuncture points on the body and shifting the emotional energy.
If you are experiencing any of the symptoms and problems discussed in this article take action and get tested. Catching this problem early is your best bet to insure your long term health. There is help and treatment will work. Call The Center for Holistic Psychiatry and Pain Management, 703-734-1774, for an appointment with Dr. Somner.
