Adrenal Fatigue and Our Daily Lives
With the invention of the “smartphone” and social media. The twenty-four hour news cycle. Technological changes, such as the blue light emitted from the constant use of computer and other screens that affects our circadian rhythms. We are living in ways that our great-grandparents could not have even imagined. It is common today to be connected to our friends, family and our employers all day, every day. As a result, many people deal with chronic stress, anxiety and burnout due to this information overload, and increased workloads.
What is Adrenal Fatigue?
Adrenal fatigue starts in the adrenal glands. The adrenal glands sit above our kidneys and are responsible for hormone production, blood pressure and electrolyte regulation, cortisol production and adrenaline which is responsible for our fight or flight response. This fight or flight response is an extremely important aspect for survival in dangerous conditions. However, the response may be triggered by very real and imagined threats. Unfortunately, our bodies can’t always tell the difference between a real threat or an imagined threat, and thus our cortisol and adrenaline may spike throughout the day causing adrenal fatigue. Our current, “life in the fast lane, 24/7” lifestyles, has more and more people struggling with the symptoms of adrenal fatigue that may include:
- sleep disruption
- anxiety
- salt and sugar cravings
- irritability
- palpitations
- dizziness
- brain fog
- fatigue
Combatting Adrenal Fatigue
There are reasons why you are feeling this way; holistic doctors are trained to get to the root of what is causing your adrenal fatigue symptoms, not just covering them up. When a patient presents with the symptoms of adrenal fatigue, a saliva test is taken at four times during the day to test cortisol and DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is a hormone produced in the adrenal gland. DHEA helps produce other hormones, including testosterone and estrogen.) production throughout the day and night. These hormone indicators testing, along with an in depth blood screening, assists the doctor with developing a proven and rational plan of action to help our patients suffering from adrenal fatigue.
Adrenal Fatigue Plan of Action
Combatting adrenal fatigue often includes lifestyle changes including:
- establishing a daily waking/sleeping and dietary schedule
- eating a whole food plant based diet
- gentle regular exercise like yoga and walking
- eliminating alcohol, caffeine and sugar from the diet.
Making these changes with the guidance of a Holistic Doctor along with supplementation to restore the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is an interactive neuroendocrine unit comprising of the hypothalamus, the pituitary gland, and the adrenal glands. The HPA axis plays key roles in basal homeostasis and in the body’s response to stress) of hormones back to normal can aid patients with adrenal fatigue back to a vigorous and healthy lifestyle.
Read Dr. Cushing’s biography