HEALTHY LIFESTYLE · OCTOBER 2018
H
ave you ever wondered why
you feel tired all the time? Do
you attribute your fatigue to
stress or a heavy workload?
Does it feel like no matter how much sleep
you get, you never feel fully rested?
It could be a sign that your stress levels
might be more than your adrenals can
handle.
WHAT ARE THEY ADRENALS
AND WHY DO THEY MATTER?
The adrenals are a pair of triangle-shaped
glands that sit on top of your kidneys.
They help maintain the body’s cognitive
function, hormonal balance, and support
your stress resilience. When you’re
under an extended period of stress,
adrenal exhaustion can become a reality.
Unfortunately, it is often overlooked.
DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT THE
FIGHT OR FLIGHT RESPONSE IS?
It’s that niggling feeling that something
isn’t quite right when you’re out alone at
night. The prickling on the back of your
neck and the increase in your heartrate
is your body’s reaction to that perceived
stressor. Your adrenals will produce
adrenaline and other hormones to give
you a quick burst of energy to either fight
the threat or run away as fast as you can.
It’s a form of self-preservation.
HOWEVER, IT CAN ATTRIBUTE TO
ITS SHARE OF PROBLEMS.
Your body doesn’t have the ability to
differentiate between one kind of stress
and another. It doesn’t know whether
you’re under physical threat from a
predator or experiencing mental stress
because of your profession or long hours
spent studying. Your body reacts the
same way by pumping out loads of stress
chemicals.
When you’re outrunning a physical threat,
you put the chemicals out of your system
without a problem.
When the stressor strains your mental
state, those chemicals build up and
eventually lead to adrenal exhaustion,
especially when combined with large
amounts of caffeine and sugar intake.
Couple those ingredients with a sedentary
lifestyle and you have a recipe for trouble.
RECOVERY FROM
ADRENAL STRESS
What are the signs of
adrenal exhaustion?
1. A decreased ability
to handle stress
2. Prolonged fatigue
and lack of stamina
3. Memory issues,
difficulty
concentrating, and
mental fog
4. Low libido
5. Hypoglycemic (low
blood sugar) when
under stress
6. Excess abdominal fat
that won’t go away
7. High blood pressure/
rapid heartbeat
8. Dizziness
9. Recurrent infections,
inability to heal from
wounds
10. Premature aging
DOES ANY OF THIS
SOUND FAMILIAR?
If so, you may want to
consult an expert and
learn how to make positive
changes in your diet and
your life.
Modern pressures in life
have proven to increase the
likelihood of adrenal fatigue.
Things like pressure, anxiety,
stress cause your cortisol
levels to increase. This
causes a nervous system
response.
Learning to manage or
balance your hormone levels
will take time. Recovery
involves lifestyle changes,
including diet changes,
creating new sleep habits,
getting more exercise,
positive self-talk, and stress
management techniques,
to name a few. Also, some
nutritional supplements have
shown promise in balancing
your hormones.
To test your stress responses
at home, there are few
rudimentary tests you can
do.
Set a timer, shine a light
across your eyes, and mark
the time when your pupils
begin to dilate. The longer it
takes, the longer it takes your
body (glands) to recover
from stressors. Of course,
that’s only one indicator.
As mentioned previously,
it’s always wise to consult a
physician for further testing
and a diagnosis.
By Jonathan Riels
21 HEALTHY MAGAZINE