Functional Approach to Adrenal Dysfunction | PYHP 03

Adrenal Fatigue is also known as Adrenal Insufficiency or Adrenal Dysfunction.  There are many hormones released from the adrenals and it would take hours to go over all of them.  In this episode we are going to give a overview about what Adrenal Fatigue is, where it comes from and options to work on this condition.

Adrenal Fatigue is not Cushing’s disease and it is not Addison’s disease.   The adrenal glands are responsible for our flight or fight reaction.  We do not live in a world where we are put in life threatening situations. But the repetitive stressors we do deal with on a day to day basis can cause a repetitive reaction from the adrenals in the form of a flight or fight reaction.

This results in an increase of adrenal  hormones meaning we are in running more on a sympathetic nervous system level and less on the parasympathetic nervous system and over time will cause Adrenal Dysfunction.  The main hormone that is affected is the cortisol.  Cortisol is released in a diurnal curve, highest in morning and will reduce at night.

In repetitive stress or trauma, this curve is upset, resulting in low morning cortisol and elevated levels of cortisol at night.

Symptoms of Adrenal Fatigue:

• Low energy
• Morning lethargy/sleepiness
• Weight gain in stomach,
• Insomnia
• Sugar/carbohydrate cravings
• Memory loss / brain fog
• Menstrual issues
• Mood issues
• Allergies
• Frequent colds

Blood sugar and insulin regulation is very important in working on Adrenal Fatigue as well as balancing the sex hormones, thyroid optimization.  Lifestyle management, stress management, dietary, supplementation and medication are also options for treating Adrenal Fatigue.

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