STRESS-RELATED HORMONE IMBALANCE
The adrenal glands, otherwise known as “stress glands,” enable our bodies to cope with stress and survive. They sit atop the kidneys and from this central location mobilize the response to changes in our environment.
When stress confronts us, it’s the adrenals’ job to help us adapt to the situation.
They accomplish this by secreting the key hormone cortisol and DHEA (dehydroepiandrostone). These hormones vary in levels throughout the day and impact just about every process in the body, from energy production and immune activity to cellular maintenance and repair. They are key regulators of glucose, insulin and inflammation, and play a major role in bone and muscle building, mood and mental focus, stamina, sex drive, and sleep cycles.
Adrenal glands that are out of balance can lead to:
High Cortisol - resulting in insomnia, anxiety, sugar cravings, feeling tired but wired, increased belly fat & bone loss
Low Cortisol - causes chronic fatigue, low energy, food and sugar cravings, poor exercise tolerance or recovery & low immune reserves
DHEA - DHEA is a precursor hormone also produced by the adrenal glands. Out of balance adrenals can lead to high or low DHEA, which affects hormone levels throughout the body.
The role of our excitatory neurotransmitters, epinephrine and norepinephrine play an important role in the body’s “fight or flight” response. Under conditions of acute stress, the sympathetic nervous system signals to release epinephrine and norepinephrine, contributing to higher blood pressure, increased breathing rate, mobilization of glucose from storage, increased heart rate, increased muscle strength, wakefulness and reduced digestive activity. Epinephrine and norepinephrine are measured in combination with cortisol and melatonin (our sleep hormone) for complete adrenal assessment.