Adrenal Health Flashcards
The adrenals are located above what organ?
The kidneys on both sides of the abdomen
The adrenals are an important part of what axis?
The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA axis)
The HPA axis influences what in the body?
Reproduction, appetite, blood sugar control, stress management, growth, digestion
The adrenals are the body’s what?
It’s second line of defense against all kinds of stress after the brain.
What hormones are produced by the adrenal glands?
Cortisol, DHEA, aldosterone, small amounts of progesterone and estrogen, adrenaline, epinephrine, norepinephrine, dopamine
Which is the stress hormone secreted by the adrenals that has helpful effects short-term, but damaging long-term effects with chronic elevated output?
Cortisol
What are the effects of cortisol?
Decreased inflammation, increased blood sugar, decreased muscle and protein levels, decreased immune response
What are the two types of stress?
Short-term & Long-term (chronic stress)
What are examples of short-term stress?
Trauma, infection, temperature extremes, surgery, emotional stress
All of these are events can be described as a flight or fight “alarm reaction” and which are quickly relieved
What are examples of long-term stress?
Poor wound healing, stomach ulcers, diabetes, weakness, depression, yeast overgrowth, bone loss, weight gain around the abdomen (especially important to manage stress for women over 50 & menopausal)
All of these events are considered chronic because they incur extended elevated levels of cortisol that eventually lead to exhaustion and harmful health effects.
What are physical stressors?
Injury, temperature extremes, illness, malnutrition, etc.
What are psychological stressors?
Fear, conflict, anger, frustration, grief, etc.
What is the role of stress in the female body?
It can greatly affect sex hormone production which can affect menstruation and fertility.
DHEA is considered to be what?
The “fountain of youth”. This hormone balances with cortisol and influences the production of progesterone & estrogen
What is the effect of high cortisol on DHEA?
It lowers DHEA which then throws the balance off into a cascade of lower estrogen, FSH, LH, and progesterone
What is a pregnenolone steal?
The body steals pregnenolone and progesterone, which pregnenolone is the precursor hormone to both cortisol and sex hormones, to make cortisol when the adrenals are maxed out on producing any more cortisol.
What is estrogen dominance?
Too high levels of estrogen in comparison to progesterone. This may happen when cortisol blocks progesterone.
Estrogen dominance can cause PMS symptoms, such as irritability, breast pain, acne, and headaches.
Stress can also lead to what other symptoms related to estrogen levels?
Low libido, irregular menstruation, and infertility
What is another name for adrenal fatigue?
HPA - axis dysfunction
What is HPA-axis dysfunction?
The HPA-axis normally releases a lot of cortisol in the morning to wake you up and low levels in the evenings to allow for sleep.
A dysfunction happens when much more cortisol is released, the adrenals no longer respond to ACTH, cortisol continues to be released and is broken down too quickly leading to cortisol remaining high all the time and low levels in the morning with high levels at night.
This breakdown causes primary functions like digestion, reproduction, growth, and rest to shut down.
What are symptoms of HPA-axis dysfunction?
Anxiety/depression, blood pressure issues, brain fog, dizziness, dry skin, fatigue, immune system compromise, increased abdominal fat, increased appetite, low sex drive, poor blood sugar control, poor circulation, poor muscle tone, salt cravings, sleep problems, slow wound healing, thyroid dysfunction
What factors can contribute to HPA-axis dysfunction?
Caffeine, chronic psychological stress, considered perceived stress or NUTS, electromagnetic fields, environmental toxins, inadequate sleep, inflammation, poor diet (processed foods, sugar, factory meats), and shift work
What are the impacts of dysregulated (high) cortisol?
Increased cortisol at night affecting sleep cycle, tired but wired, reproductive system put on back burner because body prioritizes responding to perceived threats which leads to low libido, infertility, and miscarriage. Finally, lowers the production of thyroid-stimulating hormones which can lead to hypothyroidism
How do low cortisol levels impact the body?
Fatigue, depression, fibromyalgia, hypothyroidism, increased susceptibility to autoimmune and inflammatory diseases
