Stress and Hormone Balance
What Causes Adrenal Imbalance?
Stress can be thought of as the “spice of life,” the spark that animates and primes us for each day. The difference between stress we can handle, and stress that gets out of hand, stress vs. distress, is the difference between adrenal balance or imbalance. The latter occurs when multi-pressures of modern life call the adrenal glands to action too often. The struggle to keep up with high demand for cortisol eventually leads to adrenal fatigue.
Both high and low cortisol levels impact body systems and related hormones, particularly thyroid and testosterone. In times of high stress, the adrenals will also “steal” progesterone from its reproductive duties to make extra cortisol, contributing to estrogen/progesterone imbalances. Energy and mood, bone, muscle, and sex drive are the casualties of adrenal imbalance, making us feel old before our time.
“Distress is an integral component of 21st century living. There’s no doubt it can cause wear and tear, both psychologically and physiologically. In the US, the economic toll of stress-related illness exceeds $200 billion annually by some estimates.”
- The End of Stress as We Know It, Bruce McEwen
The Adrenal Glands and Cortisol
Small but Mighty
The adrenal glands sit on top of the kidneys, two tiny pyramids releasing DHEA, adrenalin, and cortisol, the master stress hormone. Cortisol’s main role in the body is to enable us to take stress in stride and to build immunities against illness. Hundreds of times a day, the adrenal glands fine-tune our cortisol response to the stress and strain of everyday living.
Cortisol’s impact on the immune system is double-edged: acute stress pumps up the body defenses, sending white blood cells to their battle stations. But relentless stress weakens immune reserves, leaving us vulnerable to every cold and flu-bug that comes along.
When our lives are balanced by good nutrition, enough sleep and exercise, the adrenals perform for us 24-7. But if we habitually burn the candle at both ends, adrenal functions burn out, and so do we.
Corisol: Primary hormone secreted by the adrenals in response to stress. Involved in regulation of glucose, protein, fatty acids; immune cells and inflammation; blood vessels and blood pressure; maintenance of connective tissue e.g. bones, muscles, and skin; mood and wellbeing
Low Cortisol: Chronic fatigue, allergies, asthma, susceptible to illness and infection, arthritis, fibromyalgia
High Cortisol: Muscle and bone loss, abdominal fat, elevated blood sugar, sugar cravings, insulin resistance, high blood pressure, suppressed immune function; memory, mood, and sleep disturbances
Cortisol levels should be highest in the morning to energize us for the day and lowest at bedtime. Erratic and chronically elevated cortisol signals stress overload.
How Can I Restore Adrenal Balance?
Stress is often defined as how we feel when life’s demands exceed our ability to meet those demands. While we all have a different capacity to deal with stressors; the traffic, pollution, deadlines, etc., it’s how we equip ourselves to deal with the effects of stress that really matters.
We can restore health and energy by supporting our adrenal glands in daily ways:
- Engage in non-competitive, gentle exercise: walking, swimming, etc.
- Avoid caffeine “pick-me-ups”
- Drink plenty of water
- Eat mostly organic, hormone-free food
- Take anti-stress multivitamins (B-complex and C)
- Avoid toxic chemicals and pollutants
- Get enough sleep and take naps if needed
- Learn to meditate
- Be open to love and laughter!
How Do I Find Out if I’m at Risk for Adrenal Imbalance?
In the 21st century, life in the fast lane makes us all candidates for adrenal imbalance, particularly single working mothers, police officers, middle executives and teachers.
To find out if you have symptoms of adrenal imbalance use the checklist below, and ask yourself:
- Am I unusually tired when I wake up, and too “wired” to fall asleep at night?
- Do I keep myself going all day with coffee and sweets?
- Is it hard for me to relax? To get exercise?
- Do I get sick often and take a long time to get well?
“Yes” answers may be warning signs of an adrenal imbalance waiting to happen.
Do you have symptoms of adrenal stress?
- Fatigue
- Sleep disturbances
- Headaches
- Depression
- Anxious
- Nervous
- Irritable
- Memory lapses
- Abdominal fat
- Decreased libido
- Cold body temperature
- Heart palpitations
- Elevated triglycerides
- Sugar cravings
- Lack of periods
- Stress
- Scalp hair loss
- Increased facial/body hair
- Chemical sensitivities
- Acne
- Thinning skin
- Allergies
- Aches and pains
- Decreased concentration
- Joint pain
- Decreased muscle mass
- Infertility
Testing for Adrenal Imbalance
The level of cortisol when measured in salivary hormone tests is a common indicator of stress. Cortisol is collected two to four times in a day to fully assess adrenal function.
