adrenal glands Archives - Damron Chiropractic & Wellness

There are four stages involved in the progression of adrenal fatigue as a result of stress:

Alarm Reaction
Resistance Response
Exhaustion
Failure

The first phase, Alarm Reaction, is also known as the fight or flight response. This is a necessary reaction to survival. The body kicks into high gear to deal with the stressor that the body has encountered which means an increase in cortisol.

In the second phase, Resistance Response, the stressor is still affecting the body’s ability to produce cortisol. This is a gradual process, but the result is that the adrenal glands simply cannot keep up. In the third phase adrenal exhaustion occurs. This phase might take a few years to occur and actually impact the sex hormones, too. The impact of the stressor takes a toll on the rest of the body, not just the adrenal glands. This happens because the body redirects energy to focus on cortisol production to keep up with demand. Imbalances in the sex hormones (estrogen, progesterone, and androgens) are a common precursor to adrenal failure.

The final phase of adrenal fatigue is failure. The glands are completely exhausted and the patient has a significantly higher chance of heart failure.

So what does this all mean to you? Well, think about the stress that is running rampant in our society. It seems that from the moment we wake up until the moment our heads hit the pillow at night, we are on the run. Running to prepare breakfast, get the kids off to school and ourselves to work. We also rush to get the errands run, dinner on the table, kids to games, practices, recitals, and meetings. Now what about homework, laundry, the dog walked and fed. When does it end?

Life is not a race. Every hour of the day is not meant to be filled with an excess of activities. We are not machines. There is a limit to what our body can do. If we treat it like a machine, we are equipping ourselves for failure. And this failure could cost us our life.

Did you know that you produce over 50 hormones? Each hormone is responsible for a different function within your body. There are multiple glands throughout your body that produce these hormones to carry out specific functions. They are chemical messengers that regulate functions such as sleep, growth, hunger, metabolism, and reproduction. If a hormone imbalance occurs, the body can be affected by weight gain or with problems losing weight. As we age, we also find that hormones and weight loss become more intimately linked too.

Extra body fat, high levels of stress, poor nutrition, and toxin exposure all can play a role in how well our hormones function. Carrying this excess body fat hinders our body’s ability to control our appetite with the hormone leptin, which tells us when we are full. This miscommunication can lead to overeating and additional weight gain.

Living with excess stress can create a situation where your adrenal glands overproduce the hormone cortisol. This hormone is responsible for raising your blood pressure and blood sugar levels. It is also responsible for regulating your immune system. High levels of stress can wreak havoc on your body because sugar cravings can increase, feelings of fatigue can worsen, and the likelihood of thyroid dysfunction grows.

Fortunately, diagnostic testing is available to help determine the reasons for unexplained weight gain or the inability to lose weight. Getting a complete hormone panel test administered will assess your thyroid, adrenal, and gonadal glands. This will chart your course to return balance to your hormones. Recommendations from your healthcare professional could range from dietary adjustments such as reducing your sugar intake, moderating caffeine and alcohol consumption, and increasing proteins and vegetables in your diet; switching from strength to cardio training; and increasing your sleep and practicing relaxation techniques.

The good news is that hormone balance can be achieved. If you find yourself stuck in the weight loss department, something more may be going on. Knowing what you are up against can turn the tides back in your favor so you can reap the rewards from your efforts to obtain better health and wellness.

Adrenal Fatigue Progression

Hormones and Weight Loss

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