Stress can really undermine the health of our population. The connection between stress and high blood pressure, heart disease and many digestive problems is well-established in the medical literature. Stress also creates hormonal and blood sugar changes, causes the body to excrete nutrients and affects the immune system.
The adrenal glands are responsible for the “flight or fight” response. In a stressful situation they raise blood pressure, divert blood to the extremities, increase heart rate and suppress the immune system. Most people in our modern society do not have the luxury of a recovery period from this flight or fight response. We are overworked and overstressed. The affects of over production of adrenal secretions stays with us. So individuals with adrenal stress will have a tendency to catch colds or have other immune problems including allergies. Blood flow to the digestive system is decreased, causing indigestion, irritable bowel syndrome etc. Prolonged adrenal stress can also lead to arterial plaque formation.
People with weak adrenal function will have a frequent craving of sugar and coffee, as well as salt. Coffee and sugar stimulate the adrenal glands. However, rest is more important than satisfying this constant craving.
You must control your stress levels since they have such a huge impact on adrenal function. Stress on the adrenal glands can come in many forms including: emotional factors, extreme temperature exposures, a lack of sleep, toxic exposure, sugar consumption and weight related issues.
1. Tend to be a night person
2. Difficulty falling asleep
3. Slow starter in the AM
4. Grinding teeth
5. Sugar cravings
6. Crave salty foods
7. Chronic fatigue
8. Afternoon yawning
9. Pain in the inner thighs
10. Calm on the outside, troubled on the inside
If you feel you are experiencing adrenal exhaustion, please contact your doctor. There are simple tests that can determine whether your adrenals are functioning optimally
