July 17, 2011 | 
Author Adrenal Fatigue: What is Adrenal Fatigue?
The hotly debated term ‘adrenal fatigue’ has evolved over the past two decades to signify a condition whereby the adrenal glands lose their ability to produce stress hormones, mainly cortisol, under the duress of chronic stress. The individual posting claim to coining the term ‘adrenal fatigue’ claims:
“Adrenal fatigue is produced when your adrenal glands cannot adequately meet the demands of stress….It is a collection of signs and symptoms, known as a “syndrome,” that results when the adrenal glands function, but not at their optimal level. During adrenal fatigue your adrenal glands function, but not well enough to maintain optimal homeostasis because their output of regulatory hormones has been diminished – usually by over-stimulation.”
Over one century of scientific research has never corroborated the above statements. For this reason, it is important for the millions of people suffering from states of low cortisol (more correctly termed ‘hypocortisolism’) to learn and understand the true reasons underlying their condition.
Thanks to the advances offered by modern medical technology, the true causes behind stress induced low cortisol states has shown that the process through which stress induced low cortisol states occur is sophisticated and complex. The adrenal glands are just one of many organs and structures involved in the stress response system. And as members of a system, they cannot and do not act independently. Other extremely influential factors are command centers in the brain, other hormones, the immune system, genetics, and a person’s individuality (personality type, early life experiences, perception of stress, etc.). To promote the adrenal gland as being an independently functioning, central component of the stress response system is not only inaccurate but also diminishes the true complexity of the neuroendocrinological system.
When a person discovers they have low cortisol, the most important question to ask is why. The reason will never be ‘exhausted adrenals’.
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Tags: adrenal fatigue, chronic stress, hypocortisolism, Low Cortisol | 
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Adrenal Fatigue: What is Adrenal Exhaustion?
The hotly debated term ‘adrenal exhaustion’ has evolved over the past two decades to signify a condition whereby the adrenal glands lose their ability to produce stress hormones, mainly cortisol, under the duress of chronic stress. The result is complete ‘exhaustion’ of the adrenals. One avid proponent of the term ‘adrenal exhaustion’ states:
WARNING: ADRENAL EXHAUSTION AND INSUFFICIENCY ARE NOT RECOGNIZED MEDICAL DIAGNOSES
“The medical profession is far behind when it comes to understanding adrenal gland problems. In 2011, they still do not recognize adrenal insufficiency, adrenal exhaustion or adrenal burnout as real health conditions. This is very sad, as the situation is so common.”
Over one century of scientific research has never found ‘exhaustion of the adrenal glands’ to be the cause of low cortisol. For this reason, it is important for the millions of people suffering from states of low cortisol (more correctly termed ‘hypocortisolism’) to learn and understand the true reasons underlying their condition.
Thanks to the advances offered by modern medical technology, the true causes behind stress induced low cortisol states has shown that the process through which stress induced low cortisol states occur is sophisticated and complex. The adrenal glands are just one of many organs and structures involved in the stress response system. And as members of a system, they cannot and do not act independently. Other extremely influential factors are command centers in the brain, other hormones, the immune system, genetics, toxic exposures, nutrient deficiencies, and a person’s individuality (personality type, early life experiences, perception of stress, etc.). To promote the adrenal gland as being an independently functioning, central component of the stress response system is not only inaccurate but also diminishes the true complexity of our stress response systems.
For those who truly believe they suffer from ‘adrenal exhaustion’, the future is bleak since one proponent of this concept claims, “Most people never recover from burnout”.
Posted in General | Tags: adrenal burnout, adrenal exhaustion, adrenal fatigue, adrenal insufficiency, hypocortisolism, Low Cortisol | No Comments »
What is Adrenal Burnout Syndrome?
According to proponents of ‘adrenal burnout syndrome’, “Adrenal burnout syndrome is basically a mild form of Addison’s disease. It is a low functioning or underactivity of the adrenal glands. It may also be termed adrenal insufficiency or adrenal exhaustion.” Indeed the adrenal glands are of paramount importance in our stress response system because they produce the essential hormone cortisol without which we could not live. However, there is much more to this story than you may realize.
When your body is subjected to stress, whether psychological, environmental, nutritional, or otherwise, a complex chain of events occurs which involves every organ system in your body…not just your adrenal glands. The type of stressors, how you perceive the stress, your genetic makeup, your development in the womb, and numerous other factors profoundly affect the type of stress response your body will generate.
Over one century of scientific research has never shown that the adrenal glands ‘burn out’ in response to chronic stress. Low cortisol states absolutely exist and have been shown to be responsible for up to 25 % of all cases of stress related bodily disorders such as chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and PTSD. However, the process through which low cortisol states evolve is often initiated in the brain. You see, there are three very important structures in the brain that regulate the release of cortisol: the hypothalamus, the pituitary gland, and the hippocampus. The adrenal glands cannot make cortisol if they do not receive the message to do so, and research shows that this, by far, is the most common cause of low cortisol. Other causes include:
• Cortisol message is generated by the cells don’t hear it
• Adrenals can’t make cortisol because they are diseased, damaged, or lack an important ingredient for cortisol production
• The command centers in the brain don’t talk to each other
• The cortisol message gets all the way to the cell, but the door to cortisol wont open
•
The list of additional causes is enormous but ‘adrenal burnout syndrome’ is not one of them. For the proponents of this condition, I say show me the evidence!
WHAT SUPPLEMENTS CAN BE USED TO TREAT LOW CORTISOL?
Low cortisol states (hypocortisolism) always represent an underlying problem. Therefore, accurate diagnosis and directed treatment is the rule. However, during the process of discovery, there are some natural supplements available to help improve some of the symptoms often encountered in hypocortisolism such as fatigue and chronic pain. All are made by a company far more knowledgeable and sophisticated than any modern day pharmaceutical company. The company name? Mother Nature.
Supplements for Low Cortisol
Perhaps the most beneficial supplements in treating low cortisol are known as ‘adaptogens’. There are nearly 50 plant derived adaptogens, and as their name implies, they assist the stress response system in ‘adapting’ to stress. Commonly used adaptogens include Ginseng (Siberian, Korean, and Panax), Rhodiola, Ashwaganda, Bacopa, Holy Basil, and Licorice root.
Over 2000 years ago, Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine began using adaptogens to promote physiological resistance to stress, fatigue, trauma, and anxiety. Medical research on adaptogens began in the 1940’s. Rhodiola and Siberian Ginseng have been studied most extensively. Research has found that adaptogens improve mental concentration, productivity, and stamina under conditions of stress and aid in promoting resistance to the harmful effects of stress.
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FIBROMYALGIA AND LOW CORTISOL
Fibromyalgia (FM) is one of the most common chronic pain conditions and affects approximately 10 million people in the U.S. alone. Although patients of all ages, genders, and ethnicities can be affected, up to 90 percent are women. The risk of acquiring FM increases with age. In fact, approximately eight percent of adults meet the American College of Rheumatology classification of FM.
It may come as no surprise that many of the symptoms that characterize hypocortisol states and chronic fatigue syndrome are also seen in fibromyalgia. They include:
• Widespread, chronic muscle pain
• Increased sensitivity to touch
• Fatigue
• Sleep disturbances
• Morning stiffness
Patients with FM also experience more depression, anxiety, and psychosocial stress. FM often coexists with CFS, probably because the mechanisms through which both conditions arise are in parallel. However, in addition to being deficient in cortisol, FM patients may also have low levels of androgens (testosterone and DHEA), thyroid hormone, growth hormone, and catecholamines (epinephrine and norepinephrine).
Symptoms of Fibromyalgia
Numerous studies on patients with FM have identified several important predisposing factors. They include:
• Emotional neglect
• Victimization
• Problems with school or vocation
• Hereditary predisposition
• Temperament
• Early pain or disease experiences
These factors, coupled with family or job stress and a lack of ability to cope, can leave an individual especially vulnerable to developing FM.
Mirroring the findings in studies of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome, patients with FM display low daytime cortisol levels, inappropriate rises to cortisol in response to stressors, and dysfunction in the stress response system (‘HPA axis dysfunction’). There have been no studies confirming that primary ‘adrenal fatigue’ is the cause of low cortisol states in FM patients or other patients with hypocortisolism.
Posted in General | Tags: adrenal fatigue, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, fibromyalgia, Low Cortisol, Symptoms of Fibromyalgia | No Comments »
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