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Topic of the Month: Are Your Adrenal Glands Burned Out?

Posted Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Do you suffer from stress, fatigue, insomnia, weight gain, inflammation or depression? If you do, you may be suffering from adrenal burnout. Learn how to feel better by recharging your adrenal gland.

Tens of millions of individuals suffer from adrenal burnout, which leaves them feeling stressed-out, tired, depressed, unproductive and unable to focus on tasks. They also tend to gain weight and suffer from inflammation.

Adrenal burnout occurs when the adrenal gland is no longer able to continue functioning, and is often caused by diets that are high in processed foods, combined with severe or prolonged emotional stress. The good news is that reducing stress and improving nutrition usually help restore the adrenal glands to their normal function with ability to adapt to stress better.

What are Adrenal Glands?

The adrenal glands are the primary organ system for fighting mental and physical stress. They produce many of the body’s hormones, including adrenalin and the cortical hormones (cortisone, DHEA, aldosterone, progesterone, estrogen and testosterone).

As a result, emotional strain causes a significant disruption in adrenal function. In fact, researchers have found that working long hours, not getting enough sleep or down time and anger, if not dealt with or expressed appropriately, has a profound negative impact on adrenal function.

How do Adrenal Glands Get Burned Out?

The adrenal glands, which are positioned above the kidneys, are normally they size of golf balls. Stress requires a lot of hormones, so the adrenal glands become significantly enlarged when they try to supply the body with additional hormones.

Poor nutrition makes the situation worse because a wide range of nutrients are required to make adrenal hormones, including: fatty acids (especially cholesterol), amino acids, vitamins (B, E, A, C), bioflavonoids and minerals (zinc, selenium, potassium, sodium, manganese, chromium, magnesium). If the stresses remain unabated and the nutritional deficits are neglected, the adrenal glands ultimately self-destruct and shrink. This is known medically as atrophy. Extreme cases of adrenal atrophy are very serious and can be life-threatening.

Identifying and Treating Adrenal Burnout

Adrenal burnout can be assessed during a physical exam, blood and saliva testing. Once these levels have been determined, your naturopathic doctor can prescribe treatments specific to this deficiency. Besides nutrients and following a good diet, exercises such as yoga and meditation may be recommended to put the body into a relaxed state, particularly before bedtime.

Contact your naturopathic doctor at Vancouver Holistic Health to determine if you are suffering from adrenal burnout.

REFERENCES

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