You’re probably familiar with adrenaline, the hormone that bursts through your body in an emergency. As a result, the heart beats faster and faster, hands tremble, pupils dilate, and muscles are recruited for quick action. This is very useful in times of crisis. But what happens when your body goes into crisis mode every day, regardless of whether there really is an emergency? What happens to the adrenal glands that produce stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline? Could you develop adrenal fatigue?
What is adrenal insufficiency?
When endocrinologists talk about diseases of the adrenal glands, they think of Addison’s disease. In this state, the immune system attacks the adrenal glands, which stop producing cortisol and aldosterone. Doctors diagnose Cushing’s syndrome, the opposite condition, when the glands produce too much of these hormones. President Kennedy may be one of the most famous people to suffer from Addison’s disease.
Your body is a system, with all the hormone-producing glands communicating with each other. With this in mind, it doesn’t seem all that surprising that people with autoimmune thyroid diseases like Hashimoto’s thyroiditis may be more prone to adrenal problems. Dr. Isabella Wentz says it happens more often than we might imagine.
Recognizing Adrenal Fatigue:
Dr. Wentz suggests that some of the symptoms that indicate a problem with the adrenal glands may be non-specific and perhaps general. She suggests that anxiety or head fog could be a snitch. She also has symptoms such as an intolerance of bright lights, unexplained pain, libido problems, and feeling tired even after a full night’s sleep. Of course, sleeping through the night is often a problem. Patients may have difficulty getting the sleep they need. Other symptoms: Cravings for salt, and a tendency to feel lightheaded if you get up too early. (Doctors call this orthostatic hypotension.)
When I asked Dr. Wentz about diagnosing adrenal insufficiency, she suggested doing a battery of saliva tests to measure my cortisol levels. Usually, her day begins with relatively high levels of this hormone, which gradually declines as the day progresses. If the levels don’t go down, or if the pattern is the opposite, you may need to take steps to correct it.
What Can You Do About Adrenal Fatigue?
For those who have trouble sleeping, Dr. Wentz recommends making sure you have enough magnesium in your body. Rather than taking supplements, she suggests taking a hot bath with Epsom salts before bed. The skin absorbs some of the magnesium it needs, and a hot bath enhances the essential quality of sleep.
Keeping your blood sugar levels balanced, not too high or too low, is also a good way to get your body out of chronic stress mode. Avoid high-carb breakfasts such as bagels and pancakes, and instead eat eggs or drink smoothies with a moderate amount of whey protein to make sure you’re getting enough protein.
Other recommendations may also be familiar. Spend time in nature as much as possible. Get physical activity every day. But don’t do it too much or too late. Practice relaxation and meditation. Read Dr. Wentz’s book.
Guests of the week:
Izabella Wentz, Ph.D., FASCP, is an internationally acclaimed thyroid specialist and licensed pharmacist, addressing the root causes of autoimmune thyroid disease since being diagnosed with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis in 2009. I have devoted my career to it. She is the author of the next book. Hashimoto’s thyroiditis: a lifestyle intervention to find and treat the underlying cause, Hashimoto’s Food Pharmacologyand new york times best seller Hashimoto protocol. her latest book Adrenal Transformation Protocol: A 4-Week Plan to Release Stress Symptoms and Transition from Survival to Thrive.
Dr. Isabella Wentz
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