Adrenal Stress

STRESS

Stress is defined as a state of emotional or physical pressures or strain  that exceeds normal expectations.

All people have differing abilities to cope with and to handle stress. The impact of stress is widespread.  43% adults suffer stress related adverse health effects. 75-90% of all visits to primary care physicians are for stress related complaints or disorders. Stress has been linked to all the leading causes of death.

Our body helps us cope with stress by making cortisol. Cortisol, the stress hormone is produced by the adrenal glands. It enables our bodies to build immunity against infections.

Adrenal Stress and Andrenal Fatigue

The adrenal glands are two small pyramid shaped glands that sit on top of the kidneys in our body.  Among other steroid hormones they produce cortisol, which is the stress hormone.

Our body produces cortisol to deal with " fight or flight" situations as well as to deal with daily stressors.  Unfortunately , daily stressors of modern day living put  a great deal of demand on the  adrenal glands.  The difference between stress we can handle, and stress that gets out of hand, stress vs. distress, is the difference between adrenal balance or imbalance. The struggle to keep up with high demand for cortisol eventually leads to adrenal fatigue.

Both high and low cortisol levels impact body systems and related hormones, particularly thyroid. In times of high stress, the adrenals will  make extra cortisol, from the steroid pathway , thus contributing to estrogen/progesterone/testosterone imbalances. This then affects other aspects of life most prominently, energy and mood, bone and muscle and sex drive.

Symptoms of Andrenal Imbalance

• Headache
• Nervousness/Irritability/Anxiety
• Inability to concentrate
• Memory lapses
• Sugar cravings
• Muscle aches and pains
• Decreased muscle mass
• Food and other allergies
• Sleep disturbances
• Decreased libido

The level of hormone cortisol, when measured in salivary hormone tests is a common indicator of stress. With the Hormone Profile III, cortisol is collected 4x in the same day to fully assess adrenal function.

Test for Andrenal function

Cortisol levels can be measured in the body from salivary tests.  Salivary samples are taken at four different times in the day and the samples are sent to the lab for analysis.  This provides a clear picture of the daily response.

Treatment is customized based on your responses and is part of the IHRT program.