There’s no doubt that our lives are pretty complex at the moment and that more and more people are suffering from stress-related conditions. The negative impact of stress can affect many areas of health – one area in particular being the adrenal glands.
The adrenal glands are located on top of each kidney and produce the hormones that help regulate your metabolism, immune system, blood pressure, response to stress and other essential functions and are needed for the body to function properly. Research has shown that stress adversely affects these glands and when the body is under severe stress the glands start producing more and more hormones to help the body cope (this is the classic ‘fight or flight’ response). The main hormone produced is cortisol, which regulates metabolism and is a response to stress.
There are definitely some circumstances where a stress response is needed, however, when we are constantly under stress, these glands start to weaken and this negatively affects the body and results in adrenal fatigue.
So, let’s look at the symptoms of adrenal fatigue:
Excessive, unexplained tiredness. Adrenal fatigue can make a person feel very tired because, under stress, the hormone levels are elevated, which makes it harder to sleep. Over time, the body’s cortisol levels are affected which leads to the body being in an almost permanent state of alertness. This in turn, affects a person’s ability to fall asleep or get a good night’s sleep. The person might think she is getting enough sleep (the recommended 8 to 10 hours) but still wakes up feeling exhausted.
Cravings for salty or sugary foods. One way that adrenal fatigue affects the body is to lower the blood sugar level and when this happens the cravings for energy foods increase. Usually, a person will reach for sugary foods for a quick energy lift. We also tend to reach for comfort foods when we’re under stress and this can include cravings for salty foods. This happens because the adrenal glands affect how the kidneys regulate mineral fluctuations. When we suffer from fatigue, the body releases more minerals in the urine which, in turn, can increase the desire for salty snacks.
Heightened energy in the evenings. An adrenal fatigue sufferer could find that he/she is tired all day but then in the late evening unexpectedly experiences a surge of energy. This is because cortisol usually reaches a peak in late morning and then reduces during the day.
Difficulty in handling stress. The normal body’s response to stress is to release specific hormones so that stress can be handled effectively. Three of these hormones are cortisol, adrenaline and norepinephrine, and knowing how these affect the body helps us understand the relationship to stress.
Cortisol gives the body extra energy to cope with stress. It also increases memory function and lowers sensitivity to pain. However, the body does need a rest period after a stress-related situation in which cortisol has been released. If a person suffering from adrenal fatigue doesn’t often get to have the ‘rest period’, over time less and less cortisol is produced.
Adrenaline is probably the most well-known stress response hormone. This gives us the initial burst of energy needed to respond to stress. Adrenal fatigue will start affecting the amount of this hormone which certainly isn’t ideal.
Norepinephrine is the hormone that helps the brain to focus on the stress. Without this active hormone, the response to stress could result in lethargy.
- More infections. Cortisol helps to regulate the immune system in the body and also works as an anti-inflammatory. Too much cortisol over an extended period of time hampers the response of the immune system and this may result in having more infections. And, if the adrenal glands are so weakened that they produce too little cortisol then the body’s response is to over react to infections resulting in certain autoimmune disorders.
To keep your adrenal glands healthy, it is important to reduce the amount of stress you are subjected to. It’s also suggested to have a diet low in sugar, caffeine and junk food as these all aggravate the adrenals. A healthy diet and nutritional supplementation that includes vitamins and minerals is also encouraged.
