Health Newsletter

Stress, Fatigue and Adrenal Insufficiency

Stress and fatigue are common complaints of many of our patients, and have become rampant in our modern society. Our bodies are well-designed to manage transient and acute stress, but ill-equipped to deal with chronic persistent stress. Long work hours, deadlines and pressures, coupled with family and relationship difficulties, poor diets, and a lack of sleep, exercise and leisure, have left many of us tired and run-down.

Our doctors focus on our blood pressure, indigestion, insomnia, arthritis, anxiety and depression, and our adrenal glands are never even mentioned. But these are the glands that help us deal with stress, and whose hormones affect mood, energy, immunity, pain and inflammation. Proper care and functioning of these glands will enable us to heal from many diseases.

Under stress, the adrenals produce epinephrine (adrenaline), norepinehprine and cortisol. These help us respond to dangerous situations by increasing our blood pressure, alertness, muscle strength and energy (breaking down protein and inhibiting insulin in the process). This works very efficiently if we are being chased by a tiger, but not so well when we're stuck in traffic or our boss is on our case. Chronic stress leads to a sustained elevation of the stress hormones, and resulting imbalances in neurotransmitters of the brain.

High cortisol damages the hippocampus area of the brain, which influences memory and mental function. It suppresses the immune system (which is why transplant patients are given steroids). It inhibits digestion (not needed in emergencies) causing indigestion, constipation or diarrhea. It also causes depression: a recent study of mice injected with cortisol showed them hesitant to leave their cages and run into an open field, compared to the control group.

Under stress, neurotransmitters that help us feel happy and vital are diminished, and those that create anxious feelings are increased (which is what you'd want when you're being chased by a tiger, but not when you're trying to sleep). Serotonin, endorphins, dopamine, DHEA and GABA are relaxing, 'inhibitory' chemicals that are overpowered by the anxiety-inducing ones. It becomes a vicious cycle and the long-term effect is diminished health and wellbeing.

Some of the disorders caused or aggravated by this chemical cascade include fatigue, insomnia, allergies, PMS, menopause and hormonal imbalances, depression, anxiety, headaches, back and joint problems, and difficulty regulating blood pressure and blood sugar.

Exercise, relaxation, acupuncture, laughter and specific herbs and nutritional supplements can all have a positive effect on re-establishing healthy functioning to the adrenal glands. Massage a point one inch below your ankle, or below your collarbone where it meets your sternum (chest bone). Exercise 30 minutes four times a week. Practice yoga, Tai Chi or meditation. Garden, but then take a break and sit on you porch and enjoy the sights and sounds.

Often, the people who need stress reduction the most are the same people who feel they don't have time for these things. But the body will keep sending us messages warning us how important it is to maintain balance. If we don't heed the warnings, our health will suffer, and we will age faster.

Magnesium and B-Vitamins (especially B-5 and B-6) can help. The herbs rhodiola, ashwaganda, cordyceps, rhemania and Siberian ginseng are adaptogens that reduce excessive cortisol production during stress. 5-http, GABA, SAMe or theanine may also be helpful. Keep in mind though, that a qualified professional can help you select the appropriate herbs or herb formula for the specific phase of adrenal exhaustion you may be experiencing.