Leading a life that's full of joy and happiness requires an abundance of vigor and energy. For many people there is not enough gas in their tanks and each day drags on and tiredness is the daily battle.
Mental and emotional demands use energy. And every physical effort requires energy. As energy resources dwindle, they must be re-filled. But for many people, this doesn't happen. Life is stressful and it drains our energy.
The adrenal gland is the final leg of the body's stress response system. This system is the HPA axis or the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis. This system was designed to deal with stresses that we experience each day. It should turn on, then turn off.
The Stress Response System Must Turn-On, Then Turn-Off
This system is supposed to eliminate the stressing stimulus and return the body to balance. But, for many people, they do not have the energetic resources to allow this system to get the job done so it continues to fight to complete its task. The adrenal gland secretes two hormones: adrenaline and cortisol. Adrenaline is the fight or flee hormone and it's very fast acting.
The adrenal cortex secretes cortisol and this hormone is slower acting than adrenaline as each serves a different role. Adrenaline activates the body for immediate action and cortisol is used to deal with on-going stressful situations such as illness and emotional trauma. Scientific studies that have tried to define the causes of chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, and other chronic fatigue states indicate that the HPA axis is involved and may be too weak to get the job done.
It was in the late 1800's when the idea that a deficient release of cortisol may cause fatigue states. But, today there is little consensus among medical researchers about whether or not cortisol is involved in fatigue.
There are large variations in defining the capacity of adrenal output and this is a primary reason for the lack of a definitive answer about adrenal fatigue. If an individual does have adrenal weakness then he is at risk for adrenal crisis which might occur when he experiences a major stress such as a surgery or severe infection.
When Medicine Cannot Provide a Diagnosis this is Called Sub-Clinical Fatigue
For most chronically fatigued persons, the medical investigation does not turn-up any specific dysfunction or cause. Only about 1-2% of chronically fatigued persons are diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). The lack of a diagnosis and the lack of support of the physician don't make the condition any less real to the individual.
Recent studies have shown that adrenal gland size is reduced by 50% in those diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome. Other investigations confirm the involvement of the HPA axis and that the part of the axis that is most involved is a reduced output of cortisol by the adrenal gland.
This surely suggests that adrenal fatigue syndrome due to shrinking of the adrenal gland is likely involved in all chronic and extreme fatigue individuals. Unfortunately, these studies have not led to the development of any effective medical therapies.
In the field of alternative medicine, however, nutritional supplementation plans, such as the use of DHEA, and more complex programs involving exercise, diet, vitamin/mineral complexes, and the judicious use of specific herbal formulations suggest that adrenal fatigue syndrome can be dealt with effectively.
Using alternative medicine modalities is outside the boundaries of mainstream medicine and is looked upon as a mistake. The patient receives no support from his doctor and might even be released from his care if he takes his health into his own hands. Many people, today, are doing just that and looking for other ways to maintain their health that does not rely on the use of the regular medical community.
Mental and emotional demands use energy. And every physical effort requires energy. As energy resources dwindle, they must be re-filled. But for many people, this doesn't happen. Life is stressful and it drains our energy.
The adrenal gland is the final leg of the body's stress response system. This system is the HPA axis or the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis. This system was designed to deal with stresses that we experience each day. It should turn on, then turn off.
The Stress Response System Must Turn-On, Then Turn-Off
This system is supposed to eliminate the stressing stimulus and return the body to balance. But, for many people, they do not have the energetic resources to allow this system to get the job done so it continues to fight to complete its task. The adrenal gland secretes two hormones: adrenaline and cortisol. Adrenaline is the fight or flee hormone and it's very fast acting.
The adrenal cortex secretes cortisol and this hormone is slower acting than adrenaline as each serves a different role. Adrenaline activates the body for immediate action and cortisol is used to deal with on-going stressful situations such as illness and emotional trauma. Scientific studies that have tried to define the causes of chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, and other chronic fatigue states indicate that the HPA axis is involved and may be too weak to get the job done.
It was in the late 1800's when the idea that a deficient release of cortisol may cause fatigue states. But, today there is little consensus among medical researchers about whether or not cortisol is involved in fatigue.
There are large variations in defining the capacity of adrenal output and this is a primary reason for the lack of a definitive answer about adrenal fatigue. If an individual does have adrenal weakness then he is at risk for adrenal crisis which might occur when he experiences a major stress such as a surgery or severe infection.
When Medicine Cannot Provide a Diagnosis this is Called Sub-Clinical Fatigue
For most chronically fatigued persons, the medical investigation does not turn-up any specific dysfunction or cause. Only about 1-2% of chronically fatigued persons are diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). The lack of a diagnosis and the lack of support of the physician don't make the condition any less real to the individual.
Recent studies have shown that adrenal gland size is reduced by 50% in those diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome. Other investigations confirm the involvement of the HPA axis and that the part of the axis that is most involved is a reduced output of cortisol by the adrenal gland.
This surely suggests that adrenal fatigue syndrome due to shrinking of the adrenal gland is likely involved in all chronic and extreme fatigue individuals. Unfortunately, these studies have not led to the development of any effective medical therapies.
In the field of alternative medicine, however, nutritional supplementation plans, such as the use of DHEA, and more complex programs involving exercise, diet, vitamin/mineral complexes, and the judicious use of specific herbal formulations suggest that adrenal fatigue syndrome can be dealt with effectively.
Using alternative medicine modalities is outside the boundaries of mainstream medicine and is looked upon as a mistake. The patient receives no support from his doctor and might even be released from his care if he takes his health into his own hands. Many people, today, are doing just that and looking for other ways to maintain their health that does not rely on the use of the regular medical community.
About the Author:
And to help you get started on a plan to battle against adrenal fatigue syndrome, Dr. Gregory Ellis outlines all the steps you need to follow to build your system. Visit his website for more information about the steps you can take. Dr. Gregory Ellis, the Tired-Rescue Expert. Sign up for his FREE 5-Part ECourse on fatigue.
No comments:
Post a Comment