Stress and Your Hormones
Your hormones change when you are under stress. Your adrenal glands are the first glands to be affected, and we can measure your body’s ability to deal with stress by measuring adrenal function. Adrenal stress reactions are very common and they are involved in almost every illness and disease.
Here are some of the common signs and symptoms of adrenal stress reactions:
· Fatigue
· Headaches with physical or mental exertion
· Afternoon headaches
· Weak immune system
· Allergies
· Slow starter in the morning
· Gastric ulcer
· Intestinal bloating
· Crave sweets, salt, caffeine, or nicotine
· Blurred vision
· Unstable emotions
· Irritable, shaky or lightheaded if meals are missed or delayed, or eating relieves fatigue (reactive hypoglycemia)
· Cannot fall asleep, or cannot stay asleep
· Dizzy or lightheaded when first standing up
· Transient spells of dizziness
· Asthma
· Hemorrhoids
· Varicose veins
· Frequent urination
· Excessive or scanty perspiration
· Non-pitting edema of the legs
More importantly, adrenal stress sets the stage for Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s, multiple sclerosis, heart disease, diabetes and other degenerative diseases.
Stress
The adrenal glands react to all kinds of stress, not simply emotional or mental stress. There are three categories of stress: physical stress, chemical stress, and emotional stress
Physical stress includes sleep debt, excessive exercise, and being chilled or heated. Many well-intentioned people exercise in a way that is stressful for their adrenal glands. See the article Healthy Exercise.
Chemical stress: Caffeine, nicotine, sugar, refined carbohydrates, environmental pollutants, marijuana, food allergies, and infections all cause adrenal stress. For more information read the articles Manage Your Blood Sugar and Basics of a Healthy Diet.
Emotional stress includes job dissatisfaction, difficult relationships, and changing jobs or moving.
Measuring Your Stress Reserves
Each category of stress causes a similar reaction in the adrenal glands. When you are under stress for a period of time, no matter what the source of the stress, your body goes through a series of changes known as the Adrenal Stress Syndrome. The Adrenal Stress Syndrome occurs in three stages: the alarm reaction, the resistance stage, and the exhaustion stage. Each stage has different effects on health, and each stage is treated with different therapies.
The adrenal stress syndrome is measured with a test called the Adrenal Stress Index. You collect saliva samples four times over the course of a day and mail them to a lab that measures the levels and ratios of adrenal hormones. The test allows us to optimize treatment and to track your progress as you heal.
Vicious Cycles That Perpetuate the Stress Response
Chronic stress can create a vicious cycle that is difficult to break. Adrenal Stress Syndrome causes changes in several parts of your body, and those changes feed back to cause more adrenal stress. The cycle must be addressed from both ends in order to get a satisfactory outcome.
One vicious cycle involves feedback loops in the brain. After periods of prolonged stress your brain loses its ability to dampen the stress response, allowing your stress response to continue unchecked. This often causes problems with concentration and short-term memory.
A second vicious cycle involves the intestinal tract. Stress causes the intestines to be more susceptible to pathogenic organisms and to food sensitivities. Food sensitivities and pathogenic organisms causes more adrenal stress, and the cycle perpetuates itself. Read the article Your Colon and Your Health.
Treatment for Adrenal Stress Response
The first step is to modify your lifestyle and reduce stress. I will coach you about diet, rest, and exercise that is appropriate for your condition. It will be important for you to avoid adrenal stimulants, and to take nutritional supplements.
Avoid these adrenal stimulants:
· Concentrated sugars
· All caffeine (decaffeinated coffee is not acceptable because it still contains 50% of the original caffeine)
· Nicotine
· Alcohol
· Foods which cause sensitivities or allergies (Histamine is a strong adrenal stimulant)
· Partially hydrogenated fats. (Read the labels. These are in many processed foods. They block the synthesis of adrenal hormones)
· Artificial sweeteners
Get enough sleep. Go to sleep early enough that you can wake up without an alarm clock. Keep the room that you sleep in as dark as possible.
Develop dietary habits that stabilize your blood sugar. Read the article Manage Your Blood Sugar.
· Eat a high quality protein based breakfast. (Smoothies and protein bars are not a good breakfast)
· Eat every 2-3 hours. Do not wait until you are hungry.
· Snack with low glycemic foods such as nuts, seeds, hard-boiled eggs, etc. Read Manage Your Blood Sugar for a description of the glycemic index.
· Avoid fruit juices and carrot juice
· Avoid concentrated sugars (this includes Spleen)
· Do not consume high glycemic foods (like fruits) without a source of protein.
· Eat a well balanced diet consisting mostly of vegetables, quality grains, and lean meats.
Exercise in an intensity range that is appropriate for your adrenal glands. Read the article Healthy Exercise.
Putting it all Together
There is an epidemic of stress in our society. Managing stress means reducing your stress load, and breaking the vicious cycles that perpetuate the adrenal stress response. This is important for your current health and for your long-term health.
