WHAT IS ADRENAL FATIGUE?

Adrenal Fatigue and thyroid dysfunction often happen simultaneously

It is estimate that almost every person can experience adrenal fatigue, also known as hypoadrenia, to some degree at a particularly stressful point in his or her life.  According to James Wilson (author of “Adrenal Fatigue: The 21st Century Stress Syndrome”), chronic stress and lifestyle affect the body’s ability to recuperate from physical, mental or emotional stress.

Adrenal fatigue is a topic that remains a heated one in the medical community.  Some medical experts in the traditional medical model say that adrenal fatigue is a false diagnosis, peddled by those who profit from the “expensive” treatment methods they suggest when diagnosing the disease.  It is our belief at Holistic Harmony that it is a real diagnosis and less expensive than most traditional treatment of chronic disease.  We can truly say that adrenal fatigue is something we’ve seen personally. It is Debbie’s opinion, through years of healthcare practice and supporting scientific evidence, that hypoadrenia is very real and associated with a number of complications. In addition, adrenal fatigue treatment is relatively non-invasive and is beneficial to your health, no matter the diagnosis. Of course, you should be under the care of a qualified medical professional, such as Debbie who is a functional medicine specialist, you trust and see her about any symptoms you experience (of any disease) so that she can determine appropriate treatment at the root cause.

There are 3 stages of adrenal fatigue and the only true way of knowing what stage you are in is to test your most abundant adrenal hormones, cortisol and Dehydroepiandosterone (DHEA).

DHEA

DHEA is a hormone produced in the adrenal gland and is the most abundant steroid hormone in the body. It is referred to as the "mother hormone" because it has unique properties that allow it to help to balance the entire endocrine system. Falling levels of DHEA are closely associated with a number of age-related diseases and disabilities.

DHEA has been shown to have a number of benefits with regards to anti-aging, weight loss and management, strengthening of immune function, balancing thyroid function, improving memory, improvement of moods, increasing muscle mass, boosting of energy and fighting allergic reactions.

Testing levels is critical, do not take DHEA unless you have been tested and diagnosed with a deficiency. If a deficiency is found, supplementation can be beneficial for both men and women.

Cortisol

Elevated cortisol levels: interfere with learning and memory, lower immune function and bone density, increase weight gain, blood pressure, cholesterol, heart disease. Cortisol is released in response to fear or stress by the adrenal glands as part of the fight-or-flight mechanism.

It is important to have normal levels of cortisol levels in the body. Too low of cortisol levels can be as detrimental as too high of levels. This is why it is so important to test you levels to know how to treat your symptoms. Signs and symptoms of adrenal hormone imbalance are fatigue, mild depression, anxiety, irritability, insomnia and weight gain, especially around the belly.