Chronic Stress and Adrenal Health
Your adrenal glands, two triangular-shaped glands located on top of your kidneys, secrete your body’s hormones. These hormones travel through the blood and act on various body tissues and allow them to function properly.
When you’re stressed, your adrenal glands produce a surge of cortisol and other hormones to soothe the body. Usually, the level returns to normal once the threat of stress has passed.
However, prolonged stress and high cortisol levels harm the blood’s carbohydrate level, lead to weight gain or loss, an increased risk of infection and loss of bone density, muscle atrophy, thinning skin, and kidney problems.
This increased demand places stress on the endocrine system, which can eventually harm the level of sex hormones, including estrogen, testosterone, and DHEA.
Signs of adrenal fatigue may include low energy, body aches, low blood pressure, unexplained weight loss, dizziness, and skin discoloration or hyperpigmentation.
When the adrenal glands do not secrete enough hormones to maintain a healthy level in the blood, additional support is needed.
What happens when the adrenal glands cannot keep up?
Immune health
High levels of cortisol during illness or prolonged stress can accelerate the production of cytokines – a group of proteins that promotes and controls immunity and inflammation.
Cortisol also inhibits the production of lymphocytes, important components of the immune system that help defend against pathogenic and infectious organisms.
Brain health
Chronic stress alters the transmission of serotonin in the brain and increases the activity of the amygdala, or the fear center of the brain. For its part, the level of cortisol increases and paralyzes the signals sent by the hippocampus, the part of the brain that dictates learning, memory and stress control.
Thyroid health
The stress response actually begins with the hypothalamus, which stimulates the pituitary gland to tell the adrenal glands to release cortisol, a hormone that alleviates stress, and the thyroid to release T4 (thyroxine) and T3 (triiodothyronine) hormones.
Together, T3 and T4 hormones control your body’s temperature, metabolism, and heart rate. An increase in cortisol levels can actually inhibit or alter the body’s ability to produce these hormones.
Reproductive system
Women suffering from adrenal fatigue may also experience estrogen-dominant symptoms, including premenstrual syndrome, endometriosis, irregular periods, fibrocystic breast disease or fibroids. Severe cases of adrenal fatigue can also cause amenorrhea, or even the complete cessation of menstruation.
In men, hormonal imbalance caused by adrenal fatigue invariably leads to common symptoms, including fatigue, irritability, depression, anxiety, and weakening immune function. In addition, low libido, erectile dysfunction, and loss of muscle mass and strength are indicators of adrenal fatigue.
Regenerate with adaptogenic herbs
Adrenal-Pro™ is a blend of adaptogenic herbs and nutrients used in herbal medicine, specially formulated to provide an improved sense of well-being and help improve mental and physical performance after periods of exertion.
This unique blend helps tired adrenal glands without excessive stimulation. It works to increase cortisol if there is too little and decrease it if there is too much.
Ashwagandha
In studies, ashwagandha has demonstrated anti-stress, antioxidant, mind and immunity stimulating, and thyroid gland regenerating properties.
Siberian ginseng
Siberian ginseng is known for its rich antioxidant power, helping to trap free radicals circulating in the blood.
Schisandra chinensis extract
Schisandra extract is an herb used in traditional Chinese medicine for its adaptogenic properties.
Astragalus extract
Astragalus has been prescribed for centuries to treat chronic diseases and to increase overall vitality and the connection between the pituitary and adrenal glands.
Nutrients such as vitamin B6, pantothenic acid, and L-tyrosine are included in this blend to support thyroid and pituitary function as well as many other hormones involved in the stress response.
Magnesium supplementation is another excellent way to take proactive steps for adrenal health. Magnesium works on several levels to combat low-energy fatigue. This mineral participates in metabolizing glucose into available energy, restoring ATP to exhausted muscles, and regulating stress hormones. As a result, it also promotes better sleep!
Quality sleep, a good daily diet, physical exercise, and adequate supplementation all play a key role in maintaining a healthy stress response.
Learn more at http://www.canprev.ca/adrenal & magnesium.ca.
CanPrev recommends consulting your doctor before starting any health treatment, including taking herbal supplements and natural remedies. The information above is provided for educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for medical advice.