Stress: How It Affects Your Adrenal Glands

Stress is one of the great constants of modern lifestyles - right up there with death and taxes - and for tens of thousands the experience of stress has become a normal and accepted way of life. Sources of stress include psychological, environmental, infectious, physical and emotional situations. What they all have in common is that they place demands upon our adrenal glands.

Our adrenal glands are small but vital organs that release specialized hormones that help our body deal with stress are particularly active when we are experiencing undo discomforts. They sit above the kidneys and are involved in a number of essential processes; including growth and development, the regulation of normal kidney function, food metabolism and the maintenance of the body's regulatory systems that deal with stress alone.

The role of the adrenal glands also includes the proper metabolism of carbohydrates and fats and the conversion of fats and proteins into energy. The adrenal glands also play a role in the the distribution of stored fat. They are also involved in maintaining balanced blood sugar levels and regulating cardiovascular and gastrointestinal function.

In addition, some of the hormones released by the adrenal glands have powerful anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties. These natural properties help the body to fight negative reactions to a variety of substances that may cause inflammation such as junk foods, medications, or allergens.

Although the adrenal glands are designed to help us cope with stress, the type and longevity of the stressors we may encounter can cause problems for the adrenal glands. And therefor result in negative symptoms affecting our health and wellness.

In times of imminent physical danger - such as an emergency - the adrenal glands release hormones that enable us to be at our best physically in order to fight off the stressor. This is the "fight or flight" response and includes increased heart and respiration rates (to help you run faster or fight better), dilation of the pupils (to help you see better) and a decrease in stomach activity (to save energy).

The problem is most of the stressors we face these days don't require immediate physical action. If you are stuck in traffic when you're late for an appointment or are having a bad day at work because you're behind on a project and your boss is giving you a difficult time, the last thing you want is to have your heart racing and all body systems on heighted alert for extended periods of time.

The natural response to these physical threats is designed to last mere minutes - you fight or you run and the situation is quickly remedied. Unfortunately, our modern stresses can last hours, days, months, or even years. So what does that do to the adrenal system?

Because the adrenal system is designed for short, sharp bursts of activity - followed by a long recovery period - it cannot cope with repeated and prolonged periods of stress. As the long-term stress continues, the adrenal glands continue to pump out stress hormones - but in addition to preparing you for physical action, some of these hormones also depresses your body's immune system and reduces the rate at which immune system cells multiply. Thus, when you experience prolonged periods of stress, your immune system becomes compromised. Therefore, increasing the chances of illness.

As the stress continues, so does the strain on the adrenal glands - eventually, they are simply unable to keep up with the demands upon them and soon cease working properly. This is referred to as adrenal fatigue.

When the adrenal glands become fatigued, too little cortisol and other hormones are produced. This begins to affect all the other bodily systems that the adrenal glands influence - such as maintaining correct levels of blood sugar and regulating cardiovascular and gastrointestinal function. In turn, this can cause health problems throughout the body. Symptoms of adrenal fatigue include fatigue, insomnia, anxiety and weight gain.

The good news is that the body can recover. However, it's important that you address the underlying issues causing stress in the first place. Addressing these problems - whether they are at work or at home - will reduce your stress levels, allowing the adrenal glands the time and space to recover. In some cases, potent and natural adrenal exhaustion supplements may be in order. There are numerous supplements that can help us nourish our adrenal glands and include healthy nutritional health supplements such as Omega-3 Fatty Acids, bovine hormone products and zinc.

In the short term, you can reduce your stress levels on a regular basis by using relaxation techniques such as breathing exercises, meditation, or yoga. When combined with regular exercise, plenty of sleep, a healthful diet and proper supplementation, this can create the environment in which your body can begin to heal itself from the adverse effects of adrenal fatigue.

About the author: Dr. Kennedy has a solid education background sporting degrees in both organic chemistry and cellular biology. She has a graduate degree in Neuro Rehab Science and a PhD in nutrition. She currently owns a state of the art nutritional laboratory where she produces targeted and non-synthetic supplements for both her patients and clients.

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