| Peggy was a highly-driven and successful career | | | | after the other, with several occurring in a day. And |
| woman with boundless energy who had worked long | | | | each time they occur the adrenal glands have to |
| days for several years. Healthy and vibrant, she | | | | respond, and if they are forced to respond too |
| seemed indestructible. Then one of her children got | | | | frequently they start to run down and wear out. |
| seriously sick, and as she helped nurse him back to | | | | When this happens they are soon operating well |
| health, her own health began to suffer. Long after | | | | below their optimum; this is what we refer to as |
| her son had recovered she still felt weak and listless | | | | adrenal fatigue. It's important to point out, however, |
| throughout the day, and eventually she began to | | | | that while stressful events are a major factor in |
| have problems getting out of bed in the morning. She | | | | adrenal fatigue, many other things also contribute to |
| went to the doctor, but he could find nothing | | | | it. Some of them are: poor diet, lack of exercise, lack |
| physically wrong with her. Finally a nurse-friend | | | | of sleep, overuse of stimulants such as coffee, and |
| suggested that she might have adrenal fatigue. | | | | illness. |
| What is adrenal fatigue? Although it can be caused | | | | The major symptoms of adrenal fatigue are: chronic |
| by several different things, it usually involves stress | | | | fatigue, trouble getting out of bed in the morning, |
| and the body's response to stress. The response to | | | | problems sleeping, low energy, depression, weight |
| stress comes into play when the brain senses an | | | | gain, lack of endurance, problems handling stress, and |
| emergency. It goes into what is referred to as the | | | | a craving for salt. It's important to catch the condition |
| "fight or flight" mode. Within a fraction of a second, a | | | | at this stage; if it is ignored, the adrenal glands will |
| region of the brain called the hypothalamus sends a | | | | eventually stop working, a condition referred to as |
| signal to the adrenal glands. (They are glands that sit | | | | Addison's disease. Addison's disease causes such |
| on the top of the kidneys.) When they receive the | | | | things as suppression of the immune system, muscle |
| signal they excrete adrenaline that rushes to the | | | | and bone loss, hormonal imbalance, and it can be |
| heart and other parts of the body. The heart | | | | fatal. |
| responds by beating faster, which in turn, sends | | | | One of the major difficulties with adrenal fatigue is |
| extra blood to the muscles and organs. At the same | | | | that it is not universally recognized by the medical |
| time the respiratory rate increases and the lungs rush | | | | profession, and many physicians are not familiar with |
| extra oxygen to the brain. The brain then releases | | | | it. And although it is important to talk to your doctor |
| endorphins which help the body function more | | | | about it, drugs are usually not needed to overcome |
| efficiently, and finally the adrenaline helps increase the | | | | it. The major thing that is needed is a lifestyle |
| body's energy by releasing glucose from its glycogen | | | | change. Stress is the main thing that brings it on, so |
| stores. | | | | the first thing you have to do is get rid of any stress |
| The Adrenaline surge is just the first part of the | | | | in your life. In addition, however, several other things |
| stress response; once it is underway, the adrenal | | | | are needed. The major ones are: |
| glands also secrete cortisol. It surges through the | | | | 1. Take more breaks and concentrate on relaxing. |
| body performing many important functions: it | | | | 2. Regular meals and better nutrition are important. |
| replaces the energy that the adrenaline rush has | | | | Concentrate on getting enough vegetable, whole |
| depleted, it is used by the immune system to put it | | | | grains, nuts, and fish (for omega-3). Also, avoid |
| on alert, and it acts as a check on the overall | | | | hydrogenated fat, coffee, simple carbohydrates, and |
| response, and when it is complete, it signals the brain | | | | junk food. |
| to stop it. | | | | 3. Exercise, but don't overdo it. Aerobic exercise is |
| It's easy to see from the above that the adrenal | | | | particularly important, but you should couple it with |
| glands play a vital role in our body. They help us | | | | some weight lifting. |
| respond to stressful situations and they protect our | | | | 4. Make sure you get to bed early and get enough |
| body. The problem is that our lives are now so full of | | | | sleep. |
| stress that stressful events frequently come one | | | | 5. Several supplements are also helpful. |