![]() Stress Management: get good sleep, exercise, seek psychotherapy and relax.If a person determines there is a cortisol imbalance there are many alternative and complementary treatments to return the adrenal to a healthy balance. This test looks at cortisol and DHEA levels at 7am, 12noon, 3pm and 11pm. Sometimes eating protein prior to going to bed can help maintain adequate levels of blood sugar throughout the night.īy doing adrenal saliva testing the patient can see the pulsatile levels of free cortisol and DHEA during the 24 hours of the day to determine adrenal health. At night (generally at 3am) if the blood sugar gets too low, cortisol will be released and wakes the individual with a start and makes it nearly impossible to return to sleep. This false sense of starving suppresses the thyroid (another metabolizing organ), lowering metabolism for up to 18 hours and ultimately results in weight gain. ![]() In the case of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), cortisol is released to increase the glucose in the blood. This is also a complicated communication loop, with serontonin depressing the production of melatonin and ultimately causing insomnia. Cortisol also inhibits the function of serotonin. If these hormones are needed to produce cortisol, then other hormone levels suffer. With the body producing less estrogen, the adrenals take over estrogen production through the conversion of other hormones. ![]() Women experiencing perimenopause and menopause can be affected. As mentioned above it can cause weight gain. Various other systems are affected by an imbalance of cortisol. The final stage is adrenal fatigue/exhaustion. In this condition people feel wired yet tired. The next phase is known as decompensation where the DHEA will be low and the cortisol will vacillate but generally be high. Under prolonged stress DHEA will remain within normal ranges, but the cortisol will be increased. Under normal stress conditions, both cortisol and DHEA are increased but return to normal after the stress is gone. DHEA and cortisol do a dance together that helps the practitioner determine the state of health of the adrenals. This hormone helps in the creation of muscle mass and bone density. Like progesterone, it can be converted into cortisol. Finally, individuals experience mood alterations and insomnia.ĭHEA is another hormone released by the adrenals. When cortisol is too high, unnecessary glucose is released and cannot be burned up, ultimately being stored as fat. One function of cortisol is to release glucose into the blood system when blood sugar gets too low. The appetite is stimulated causing weight gain, especially in the abdomen. Systems for healing, metabolism and immunity are depressed and blood pressure is raised. When cortisol levels remain high there are destructive side effects including conditions of low progesterone because the adrenals convert progesterone to cortisol. However, in our lifestyles of chronic stress our bodies continually release cortisol due to environmental, psychosocial, physiological and biological stresses. It is the hormone that saves us in the event of an acute stress coining the term "fight or flight." It is meant to give the body the reserves of strength it needs in these instances and then the body returns to homeostasis once the crisis is over. Cortisol is an important hormone, known as the "stress hormone." It regulates the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats and proteins. Then the levels decrease throughout the day being lowest at night to allow sleep. The adrenals typically release cortisol in a cyclic fashion known as pulsatile.Ĭortisol, in a balanced individual, should be highest in the morning, waking you up. As the level of cortisol gets too high it sends a message to the hypothalamus to quit releasing CRH. This in turn stimulates the adrenals to release cortisol. The hypothalamus releases corticotrophin releasing hormone (CRH) which stimulates the pituitary to release ACTH. Within the HPA axis the communication is in a loop. The adrenals are small organs that sit on top of each kidney and produce among other things, cortisol and DHEA. If this is not the case then the next place to look are the adrenals. Typically when a person is experiencing fatigue and sleep issues the practitioner will first look for thyroid dysfunction. There is a complicated communication system that creates cross talk via neurotransmitters and hormones. ![]() The adrenals are a part of the hypothalamus / pituitary / adrenal axis (HPA axis).
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