Do you feel tired, have headaches, or have to rely on caffeine to get you through the day? Are you having trouble falling or staying asleep, having mood swings, getting dizzy upon standing or having difficulty recovering from stress? If so, you may have a problem with your adrenal glands.
What are the adrenal glands?
The adrenal glands are the little glands that sit on top of your kidneys and secrete hormones such as epinephrine and norepinephrine, which control the “fight or flight” response in the body. They also secrete cortisol, which helps to control glucose production in the liver, suppress the immune system and help metabolize fat, protein and carbs. The adrenal glands also make androgens and estrogens, which are male and female sex hormones.
Chronic stress related to lifestyle such as having a stressful job, financial issues, marital or family issues and metabolic issues such as anemia, inflammation, autoimmunity, gut infections, blood sugar imbalances, and leaky gut (just to name a few) can cause major strain on your adrenal glands.
These stressors cause your body to secrete excessive amounts of cortisol. Chronic high cortisol can lead to things such as increased belly fat, decreased energy, diabetes, depression, insomnia, immune system suppression and reduced sex drive.
How do you know if feeling tired may be a problem with your adrenal glands?
You need to find a doctor that is properly trained in functional medicine that will do testing to find out what is going on in your body. You could have too much cortisol, which is the early stage of adrenal gland dysfunction, or low cortisol, which is the late stage and often called adrenal fatigue. Each stage can have a different set of symptoms and may require different types of treatment. Depending on what your testing shows, your doctor may prescribe specific adrenal adaptogens that support healthy adrenal function and help the brain and body cope with stress. In addition, your doctor may prescribe a specific type of diet, exercises or relaxation techniques to help heal the adrenal glands.
Though it is hard for us to avoid stress in our lives, it is possible to help your body learn how to manage the affects you can get from the stress. If you can get the proper care, you can get your adrenal glands to heal and eliminate the symptoms and problems that arise from adrenal gland dysfunction.
If you are suffering with any health related issues, I am currently accepting new patients. To start the testing process and discover what is driving your health issues and to get on the road to recovery call our office at +1 (866) 498-1958 to schedule your initial consultation. If it is after our normal hours of operation you can click here to leave us a message. Please only leave a message if you would like a call back to schedule a consultation.
