The adrenal glands are positioned just above the kidneys and regulate the stress hormone cortisol to manage stress. The adrenal glands will release cortisol into the body to help it deal with low blood sugar, excitement, exercise and most importantly stress. Cortisol levels are highest, in a normally functioning body, for the first few hours of the morning and then decrease throughout the day. When stress levels are excessive over long periods the body produces the adrenal hormone cortisol continuously. The adrenal glands can become over worked and then unable to produce the necessary amounts of cortisol. If this occurs over prolonged periods the body’s production of cortisol can plummet resulting in adrenal fatigue. This fatigue is caused by a hormone imbalance and creates a cascading reaction across your other hormones, organs and throughout your body.
When the adrenal glands are over worked trying to maintain an excessive cortisol production to manage stress levels they typically suffer in their other functions. One of these hormones is DHEA, or dehydroepiandrosterone, which is created in the adrenals from progesterone. Decreased amounts of this hormone, along with increases in estrogen can contribute to adrenal fatigue.
The first step to adrenal fatigue treatment is diagnosis. Contact Hormone Therapeutics today to set up your consulting and testing. Your physician will measure your cortisol levels and production. They may recommend hormone replacement therapy supplemented with a good multi-vitamin, vitamin B, vitamin C, magnesium and other supplements. They may recommend avoidance of refined carbohydrates, excessive caffeine, alcohol, hydrogenated fats and sugar. They may recommend a nutritious diet made up of quality proteins and vegetables and other high nutritional elements. Proper sleep of 8 hours every night is another important factor to allowing the adrenals an opportunity to restore themselves each night through deep restorative REM sleep. It would also be a good idea to examine the stressors in your life, practice stress management, meditate and exercise.
Hormone Therapeutics has a number of options to help get your adrenal fatigue under control through a multi-pronged integrated program. Just click the link below and schedule your first consultation or to learn more.