Trouble Sleeping? It Might Be Your Adrenal Glands

By Dr. Linda Kennedy

Are you having trouble sleeping? You're not alone. Insomnia affects millions of people nightly with approximately 9% of the population regularly experiencing difficulties sleeping peacefully through the night. Sleep problems may include difficulties such as falling asleep, a fitful sleep, or waking up regularly and being unable to get back to sleep. Causes vary, but one of the leading culprits just recently discovered could be a problem with the adrenal glands. The adrenal glands are small organs that sit above each kidney. They play a vital role in the healthy function of the body and regulate numerous vital systems as well.

According to current nutritional science, the role of the adrenal glands includes the production of various hormones associated with growth and development, the regulation of proper kidney function and the maintenance of the body's regulatory systems that react to with stress.

When we encounter a source of stress - whether it's a large predator chasing us, a grumpy boss demanding more work, or a traffic jam when we are late for an appointment - the adrenal glands release a wide array of stress hormones including adrenaline and cortisol. These hormones increase alertness and help us prepare for the for the "fight or flight" response - our heart rate and respirations increases, our pupils dilate and our stomach functions are shut down in order to conserve energy.

The problem is these systems are designed to cope with short term situations - like the large predator chasing us - not the long term stress you can experience from an unhappy job or a strained marriage.

When we experience these long-term chronic stresses, the adrenal system is forced to try and maintain these elevated hormone levels. This results in a semi-permanent hyper vigilant state that is completely incompatible with restful states like sleep. Under normal circumstances, our levels of hormones such as cortisol follow a daily - or otherwise circadian pattern. For example, the output of cortisol is highest at around 8 AM and lowest between midnight and 4 AM. However, if you are regularly or permanently stressed, this cycle will be disrupted. Thus you may be experiencing elevated levels of cortisol at night. This is unfortunate when you are trying to relax and get to sleep.

A further potential problem - cortisol plays a key role in maintaining your blood sugar levels. Again, blood sugar levels will rise and fall through the day. However, if your adrenal glands are compromised, the body may not be able to sustain adequate levels of blood glucose. If blood glucose levels fall too low during sleep an internal alarm will awaken you which is why many abruptly wake through the night and find themselves consuming a mid-night snack.

Those who regularly wake between 1 AM and 3 AM may be suffering from low blood sugar, low adrenal function and low cortisol levels, or both. This can manifest itself in panic or anxiety attacks, nightmares, or fitful and restless sleep in the early hours of the morning.

There are two main ways this problem can be addressed. The first is to deal with the underlying stresses that are affecting your adrenal system. Addressing the issues - such as the boss, the relationship, etc - will reduce your stress levels and thus allow the adrenal glands to stabilize. However, if this is not possible, relaxation techniques such as breathing exercises, meditation, or yoga, can all help you to learn to relax and reduce the stress on the adrenal glands.

For those whose low blood sugar may be disrupting sleep, a small healthy snack before bed can help stabilize the body's energy levels during sleep. The ideal snack would contain some protein, some unrefined carbohydrate and a little high quality fat. Excellent examples include half a slice of whole grain toast with peanut butter, or perhaps a slice of cheese on a whole grain cracker. Avoid sugary and refined foods as these will merely aggravate the problem.

Addressing sleep problems is important - it's now recognized that chronic lack of sleep is a serious health hazard which is associated with several problems including a weakened immune system, impaired glucose tolerance and increased carbohydrate cravings. Sleeping issues can also contribute to weight gain. For some people, direct and aggressive adrenal fatigue treatment may be in order.

By trying to reduce your stress levels and consuming a small healthy snack before bed, you can increase the chances of getting a good night's sleep and thus improve the state of your overall health and wellness.

About the author: Dr. Linda 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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