Adrenal health in women

by Marcelle Pick, OB/GYN NP

We’re all familiar with stress — it’s a constant element in women’s busy lives. But what we aren’t so familiar with is the body’s response to stress and the ways in which the stress we face today goes far beyond the kind of stress we faced as we evolved — and ends up depleting our energy and health.

When faced with a stressful situation, our bodies rely on the adrenal glands sitting atop our kidneys to monitor our “fight or flight” response. For the most part, our stress response evolved from short-term events — crises that came and went. If we had to run from a predator, for example, our healthy adrenal glands responded by releasing adrenaline, which makes us more alert and focused, and cortisol, which converts protein to energy and releases our stored sugar, glycogen, so our bodies have the fuel needed to respond quickly. In concert, the adrenal response rapidly increases our heart and respiratory rates and blood pressure while releasing energy, tensing our muscles, sharpening our senses, and slowing our digestion so we are primed to escape or fight back, whichever is needed. When the threat is gone, the body returns to normal — quickly with respect to adrenaline levels, less quickly with respect to cortisol.

But in today’s society, women are inundated with stress — stress that doesn’t let up. And when chronic stress repeatedly forces the adrenal glands to sustain high levels of cortisol, two things happen: first, the adrenals can’t attend to their broader role in hormonal regulation because the same resources they use to make hormones like estrogen are required to make cortisol, and second, cortisol starts to damage healthy tissues. Eventually, adrenal fatigue sets in, and many women experience symptoms such as weight gain, fatigue, insomnia, fuzzy thinking, depression, cravings and mood swings. Once the adrenals become depleted, it can lead to adrenal exhaustion and much more serious health concerns.

The following articles will aid you in identifying symptoms of adrenal fatigue early and provide steps to restoring and supporting your adrenal glands. From finding new strategies to manage stress to learning which foods are best to eat and when — there are many ways to replenish adrenal health naturally. One thing I can promise you is that when you heal your adrenal glands, you’ll see results on every physical and emotional level, and your whole body will thank you for it!

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• Adrenal fatigue — the effects of stress and high cortisol levels
  Can too much stress really make you sick? Many women don’t realize how daily stress can affect the body, particularly the adrenal glands. Read about how chronic stress can lead to high cortisol levels and adrenal fatigue.
• Are stress and adrenal imbalance keeping you from weight loss?
  Women often don’t realize that stress can cause weight gain. Learn how healing adrenal fatigue may help women’s healthy weight loss.
• Are you wired to worry? Restoring adrenal balance to quiet your anxious mind
  Adrenal hormones trigger a stress response that makes us feel alert and “wired”, but can also contribute to never-ending anxiety. Learn how even “born worriers” can support their adrenals to feel less anxious.
• Adrenal extremes — could you be on your way to Cushing’s or Addison’s disease?
  Learn about the full spectrum of adrenal dysfunction, and what adrenal tests won’t tell you.
• Eating to support your adrenal glands
  If you feel run down because of adrenal fatigue, a small change in your food choices and eating habits can really support your body’s innate ability to restore healthy adrenal function. Learn more about how to support your adrenal gland health and daily cortisol cycle naturally with these simple nutrition and eating recommendations.
• Natural treatments for adrenal fatigue — restoring the energy you thought was lost
  Women with adrenal imbalance can restore their energy with natural herbal remedies that support the adrenals. Women to Women explains.
• Is adrenal imbalance keeping you from sleep at night?
  If you suffer from insomnia, you might need to look at your adrenal health. Find out about the connection between adrenal health and insomnia from Women to Women.
• Caffeine and your adrenals — could they be paying dearly?
  Do you depend on caffeine day after day? If so, you may need to look at your adrenal health. Learn more from Women to Women about the role of caffeine in adrenal health.
• DHEA and adrenal fatigue
  When the adrenals are tapped and we slow production of the precursor hormone DHEA, it’s tempting to think a simple over-the-counter DHEA supplement will do the trick. But the hormonal balance DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) supports is much more complex, so it should really only be done in a therapeutic setting under medical supervision. Learn how you can support your own DHEA production — naturally.
• Signs and symptoms of adrenal fatigue
  Fatigue, weight gain, and insomnia are just some of the many symptoms women with adrenal fatigue experience. Read through the complete list to see if adrenal fatigue may be at the root of your health concerns.

 

Original Publication Date: 05/29/2008
Last Modified: 02/16/2010
Principal Author: Marcelle Pick, OB/GYN NP