In today’s world we not only burn the candles at both ends but in the middle as well. We have families, jobs, commitments, businesses, relationships, etc. We operate in the fast lane and keep picking up speed. Many of us operate with the fear that if we stop anything or say no or tried to slow down in any way then we would be adversely affected. We worry we may loose our job, someone would stop loving us, we won’t be able to support our loved ones, we might loose our businesses, suffer financial ruin, etc. Real or imagined, fear of any kind produces a stress response. The structures in our bodies that orchestrate the majority of this response are called the Adrenal glands. Many of us are familiar with the Adrenals because we have heard the terminology- flight or fight response. Simple stated any event or circumstance that produces a strong emotional response initiates the Adrenal response so we are prepared for whatever we decide to do- fight or take flight.
The Adrenals are triangular shaped organs that sit on top of the kidneys. They produce substances that help to keep our bodies in balance. They help to modulate our immune system, maintain healthy blood sugar levels and fluid balance to name a few. They secrete many hormones that affect not only our stress response but our hormonal levels, our blood pressure, our heart rate, our digestive abilities, our blood sugar levels, etc. Some of those hormones have gotten massive media attention such as Cortisol and DHEA. Cortisol is often portrayed as the enemy. This may leave many with the misconception that we want our levels to be as low as possible. However, like other hormones in the body it is about balance. Without appropriate levels we are prone to infections, low blood pressure, low blood sugar, fatigue, mood changes, allergies and, in the worse case scenario, death from even minor infections or stresses. Other hormones are more obscure such as Pregnenolone. Still others may be well known but the Adrenal’s role in their production is often overlooked. Examples of this are Testosterone and Estrogens.

How do the Adrenals work? Let’s say that one is taking a leisurely stroll thorough his/her neighborhood. All is quiet and serene. Suddenly without warning, in front of you is a snarling rather large dog with a look that says you are his next meal. The brain registers this as an- EMERGENCY- THREAT. The signal is sent to the Adrenals. They must prepare the body for action. We need to be alert in order to make a quick decision. Our muscles need to be prepped and ready for action. We need fuel to supply the vital organs and tissue such as the brain, heart, lungs, muscles, etc. The Adrenals use their arsenal of hormones and transmitters to get the job done. For example, Cortisol assures that blood sugar remains available to provide fuel (energy) to needed areas. It also assures that there is adequate Adrenalin production (ever heard of the term Adrenalin Rush.) This allows blood flow to be directed towards the heart, muscles, lung to provide needed energy. This extra blood is diverted from the skin (cold and clammy), small intestine, stomach, colon (after all, this is not the time to eat and digest). The end result may be that you decide to run like you have never run before. You jump over a fence that had always seemed ridiculously high you in the past. Finally, you stop to catch your breath. In the ideal world, you shakily walk home, sit down and take the time needed to recuperate.

Now imagine these same feelings of panic and fear bombarding you every day, multiple times a day. Imagine being left feeling anxious with a fast heart rate, shaky, sweaty and breathing quickly on a daily basis. This is the body feeling like it is in crisis mode all the time. Also imagine that there is not time for recovery. This may give you a vague idea of what your Adrenals glands must endure on a daily basis. If the Adrenals have to keep the body in a constant state of readiness there is the possibility of over stimulating the body. This may lead to signs and symptoms such as palpitations, anxiety, elevated blood pressure, elevated blood sugar, premature aging (due to overproduction of free radicals), depleted detoxification system (this can increase symptoms of allergies and sensitivities) and fatigue to name a few.

The next step that we might expect is Adrenal Fatigue. Simply stated, the demands on the Adrenal glands by far outweigh its supply. Many of us when placed in situations of constant stress, choose less than optimal foods to nourish us. This not only deprives the Adrenals of needed materials to continue to produce needed hormones, etc. but also places extra demands on these overworked glands.

To add insult to injury, the gut no longer absorbs well because it is constantly being deprived of much needed blood flow that aids with nourishing the gut and allowing for optimal absorption of nutrients. We now begin to experience abdominal distress, IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) type symptoms, bloating, etc. Cortisol, one of the hormones produced by the Adrenals is the body’s anti-inflammatory agent. If something produces undue irritation in the body, Corisol comes out to calm that inflammatory process down. At the end stage of Adrenal fatigue, our cortisol levels begin to decline. This can lead to more fatigue (adrenalin’s production is dependent on cortisol being available), increased allergy symptoms, panic disorders, mood disorders, low blood pressure, etc.

Finally, Adrenal failure may develop. This is a relatively rare occurrence. This occurs when hormones produced by the adrenal glands are insufficient to meet basic needs. This can be a life threatening condition. Low blood pressure, abnormal electrolyte balance (such as sodium and potassium), changes in the color of the skin and inability to handle any stresses or infections are all hallmark of this condition. This referred to as Addison’s disease and requires immediate medical attention. Of course there are other causes of Adrenal failure such as acute infection and/or trauma.

Granted the rate of complete Adrenal failure is low and is often quoted as 1 in 100,000. Could it be as Dr. Seyle postulated, most of us live in the adaptation stage, where we are able to produce enough adrenal hormones to live and maintain “normal” parameters but not enough to live without fatigue and depression.

In summary, Adrenal glands are the work horses of the body and should be treasured. I like to compare them to the ant that carries many times his weight and works constantly. In doing so the potential for fatigue, burn out (whatever terminology you choose) is high. Our quality of life and our life itself is highly dependant on them. Of course, they do not work alone, but rather in concert with the rest of the body. Therefore, evaluation of Adrenal health should take into account many other factors. Healing your Adrenals is possible but requires not only supplements, medications where indicated, but also a willingness to instituting life style changes. Find an integrative physician willing to work with you to help you and your Adrenals to heal.

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