Therapeutics 1 - Adrenal fatigue and exhaustion Flashcards
Q: What is adrenal fatigue, also known as adrenal insufficiency?
A: Adrenal fatigue involves the progressive imbalance of adrenal hormones, characterized by elevated cortisol and depleted DHEA levels.
Q: What are common symptoms associated with adrenal fatigue?
A: Symptoms include weakened immunity (frequent infections, slow wound healing), fatigue, low libido, anxiety, irritability, sugar cravings, and sleep disturbances.
Q: How does cortisol production change in people with adrenal fatigue?
A: In adrenal fatigue, the cortisol cycle is often reversed, with high night-time cortisol (causing difficulty sleeping) and low morning cortisol (making it hard to wake up).
Q: How does adrenal fatigue relate to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)?
A: Adrenal fatigue is associated with TCM Yang deficiency, which manifests as feeling cold, tired, and weak.
Q: What is the “pregnenolone steal” and how does it relate to adrenal fatigue?
A: The “pregnenolone steal” occurs when increased cortisol production during chronic stress uses up pregnenolone at the expense of other hormones like DHEA and progesterone, potentially causing symptoms like low libido and infertility.
Q: What is adrenal exhaustion?
A: Adrenal exhaustion is the advanced stage of adrenal fatigue where adrenal hormones like cortisol, aldosterone, and DHEA become depleted throughout the day, leading to significant fatigue and reduced stress-coping ability.
Q: List some symptoms of adrenal exhaustion.
A: Symptoms include persistent fatigue, sleep issues, mood problems (irritability, anxiety, depression), physical signs (sweating, inflammation, frequent urination), low blood pressure, cravings for salty foods, and poor mental clarity.
Q: Which TCM concept is linked to adrenal exhaustion?
A: Adrenal exhaustion is linked to TCM “Yin deficiency.”
Q: What is the normal pattern of cortisol secretion in a healthy state?
A: In a healthy state, cortisol peaks in the morning and gradually declines throughout the day.
Q: How can chronic stress impact hormone balance in the body?
A: Chronic stress increases cortisol production, depleting pregnenolone and leading to reduced levels of other hormones like DHEA and progesterone.
Q: What is a common method for assessing adrenal function in lab tests?
A: Saliva testing, conducted by labs such as Genova or INVIVO, is commonly used to assess adrenal function.
Q: What does it indicate if both cortisol and DHEA levels are elevated in a saliva test?
A: Raised cortisol and DHEA levels indicate a chronic stress response.
Q: What does it mean if cortisol is high and DHEA is low in adrenal testing?
A: High cortisol and low DHEA is the first indication of adrenal fatigue.
Q: What adrenal hormone pattern is observed during the recovery phase?
A: In the recovery phase, cortisol may be low while DHEA remains normal.
Q: What is adrenal fatigue, also known as adrenal insufficiency?
A: Adrenal fatigue involves the progressive imbalance of adrenal hormones, with elevated cortisol and depleted DHEA levels.