Have You Burned Out Your Adrenals?

Adrenal burnout, adrenal exhaustion, adrenal fatigue, hypoadrenia.  No matter what you call it, the problems it creates are hazardous to your quality of life.

You gain weight around your middle, you feel weak and depressed, and your body is rife with aches and pains.  You crave sweets and suffer with poor digestion, skin problems, low blood sugar and low blood pressure.  You get infections easily.  You’re anxious, irritable, have mood swings and are so tired you can barely function even though you had sufficient sleep.  Sound familiar?

If it does,  you’re probably suffering from adrenal fatigue syndrome.  Adrenal fatigue syndrome, though not yet openly recognized by some of the traditional medical community, is growing to epidemic proportions in the 21st century.  It has been estimated that up to 80% of Americans will be affected by adrenal fatigue at some point in their lives.  Although the condition is not as serious as actual adrenal diseases such as Addison’s or Cushing’s, adrenal fatigue can impair your health and well being.

So why are we writing about adrenal burnout in a guide about estrogen dominance?  Because the two conditions are closely intertwined.  Read on to find out how.

What is the Purpose of Our Adrenal Glands?

The adrenal glands are orange, walnut-sized endocrine glands that perch like tiny triangles on top of each of your kidneys.  Their job is to produce a variety of hormones, including steroid hormones such as adrenaline, estrogen, DHEA, testosterone and cortisol.  These hormones affect many different aspects of  your bodily functions. If the hormones being produced are  out of balance, your health is compromised.

One of the main purposes of the adrenal glands is to handle your body’s reaction to stress.  When the body signals it is feeling any sort of stress, the glands initiate the production of two hormones – adrenaline and cortisol.

Adrenaline is the fast acting hormone pumped into your system when you are faced with sudden stress, like danger, exercise or excitement.  It throws your body into immediate ‘fight-or-flight’ mode by increasing blood sugar, accelerating your heartbeat and  rushing blood to your brain and skeletal muscles.  Adrenaline is potent but short acting.

Cortisol, on the other hand, has longer lasting effects to help the body cope with ongoing stress.  It helps convert fats and proteins into glucose so there is enough to meet the increased demand brought on by stress.  When you experience continued stress, the adrenals  continue manufacturing cortisol.  In turn, persistently high levels of cortisol cause bone and muscle weakening, hamper metabolism and digestion, and increase the risk of heart disease.  The result is adrenal burnout and your adrenal glands become exhausted.

The Connection Between Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome and Estrogen

In the early stages of adrenal burnout,  the body continuously tries to reduce stress by releasing more and more cortisol.  The process of making cortisol uses the same building blocks as progesterone, so in order to make more cortisol, your adrenal glands  prohibit the production of progesterone. Low progesterone then causes an imbalance in the estrogen/progesterone ratio, leading to estrogen dominance. Then estrogen dominance interferes with the release of cortisol from the adrenal glands, making free cortisol unavailable to fight stress.  It’s a vicious circle.

Who is a Candidate for Adrenal Burnout?

Anyone whose body is under stress, whether it is physical stress from illness or emotional stress, can suffer adrenal burnout.   People are busy working, parenting, and trying to cope with financial problems and social obligations.  We  worry about how we are going to get it all done.  We compound the problem by eating poorly, by not getting enough rest, and through daily exposure to environmental toxins.  Is it any wonder that so many people are succumbing to the effects of chronic stress?  You could be one of them.  Here are the signs to look for.

What are the Symptoms of Adrenal Exhaustion?

Symptoms of adrenal burnout include:

• Chronic fatigue
• Depression
• Allergies
• Recurring infections
• Muscle weakness
• Back pain
• Sleep disturbances
• Dizziness
• Headaches
• Low blood sugar
• Low blood pressure
• Cravings for sweets and salt
• Difficulty concentrating
• Sensitivity to cold
• Hair loss
• Tendency to gain weight around your middle
• Decreased sex drive

What to do if You Suspect You have Adrenal Burnout

You can confirm whether or not you have adrenal fatigue syndrome by taking a simple home saliva test.  The tests are affordable and easy to take.  You can get a test kit from a number of online sources or at many pharmacies nationwide, with prices starting at about $150.

If you find you are suffering from adrenal burnout, and your quality life is being affected, there are steps you can take to correct the problem.  For more information about treating adrenal fatigue, see the insightful post  How to Treat Adrenal Fatigue.  And remember…don’t worry, be happy.  It’ll cut down on stress and is an important step towards relieving adrenal burnout.

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