How We Correct Adrenal Fatigue
You probably already know that stress is a killer. Just about every major disease has stress as one of its contributing factors. Whether it’s heart disease, cancer, or memory loss, stress can cause it or make it worse. Most people are under a lot of stress. And stress causes exhaustion and fatigue. When you’re feeling so overwhelmed, you can’t seem to function right, your stress is eating you up. What’s more, your stress is changing your body. One of the primary ways it’s doing this is that stress just flat wears out the adrenal glands.
Fatigue is probably the most common problem doctors see. Patients often seek our help looking for solutions to their fatigue. Our job is to be health detectives and figure out the root causes behind their low energy. Depending each person’s unique situation, we’ll run special functional medicine labs to gather the diagnostic information necessary.
Adrenal Fatigue
There are many reasons for fatigue and each one can easily be reviewed in its own article, but one very common finding is adrenal fatigue or imbalanced cortisol.
The adrenal glands are small glands that sit on top of your kidneys and they pump out energy-producing hormones like cortisol, adrenaline and epinephrine. They pump out hormones that you need to have energy to get through the day.
The main stress hormone is cortisol. Normal amounts of cortisol are needed for every system in your body to work properly.
Imbalanced Cortisol
The problem with adrenal fatigue is that you suffer with imbalanced cortisol. Cortisol has a 24-hour rhythm. It is supposed to be high in the morning so you have energy to get the day started and low at night so you feel drowsy and can fall asleep.
There are 3 main problems you can be having with cortisol:
- The overall amount you are making is too high or too low;
- The normal 24-hour cortisol rhythm is lost; and/or
- The normal stress response (cortisol rising and lowering) in adaptation to external stressors is in adequate.
How to Test Cortisol?
The HPA Adrenal Stress Index is the lab test that identifies and measures each of the 3 possible cortisol problems listed above. To see a sample results of this lab test, click here.
Why Cortisol Imbalance?
Once we’ve gone through a stressful chapter in life, our hormones may or may not reset back to normal. Our brain (the pituitary and hypothalamus glands) are supposed to be directing the adrenal glands and telling them how much cortisol to release and when. With intense stress or long-term stress, it’s this feedback loop that becomes broken.
How to Balance Cortisol?
At Real Health Medical, we focus on resetting the feedback loop between the brain and the adrenal glands. This is what makes our approach so effective. Many times, it’s not that the adrenal glands are weak or not working properly. It’s the feedback system that is broken.
We have the expertise in how to use certain natural hormones and herbal products– delivered in the ideal dose at the ideal times of the day based on each individual’s unique situation.
Resolving Stressors
While we know how to use specific supplements to correct cortisol patterns, the sources of ongoing stress must also be addresses for best results. Ongoing stressors can be outside of the body (job, finances, relationships), but they can also be inside of the body (toxicity, hidden infections, dietary issues).
Why Doesn’t My Traditional Doctor Discuss Adrenal Fatigue?
Remember traditional medicine is focused on treating and diagnosing disease. Adrenal fatigue isn’t a disease of the adrenal glands. Adrenal fatigue is a functional problem.
Think You May Be Suffering With Adrenal Fatigue?
Contact us (678.990.5401) to schedule a free phone consult with our New Patient Coordinator to find out if working together will be a good fit? Now is always the perfect time to take action and improve your health!
