Therapeutics 1 - Adrenal fatigue and exhaustion Flashcards

1
Q

Q: What is adrenal fatigue, also known as adrenal insufficiency?

A

A: Adrenal fatigue involves the progressive imbalance of adrenal hormones, characterized by elevated cortisol and depleted DHEA levels.

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2
Q

Q: What are common symptoms associated with adrenal fatigue?

A

A: Symptoms include weakened immunity (frequent infections, slow wound healing), fatigue, low libido, anxiety, irritability, sugar cravings, and sleep disturbances.

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3
Q

Q: How does cortisol production change in people with adrenal fatigue?

A

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).

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4
Q

Q: How does adrenal fatigue relate to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)?

A

A: Adrenal fatigue is associated with TCM Yang deficiency, which manifests as feeling cold, tired, and weak.

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5
Q

Q: What is the “pregnenolone steal” and how does it relate to adrenal fatigue?

A

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.

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6
Q

Q: What is adrenal exhaustion?

A

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.

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7
Q

Q: List some symptoms of adrenal exhaustion.

A

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.

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8
Q

Q: Which TCM concept is linked to adrenal exhaustion?

A

A: Adrenal exhaustion is linked to TCM “Yin deficiency.”

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9
Q

Q: What is the normal pattern of cortisol secretion in a healthy state?

A

A: In a healthy state, cortisol peaks in the morning and gradually declines throughout the day.

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10
Q

Q: How can chronic stress impact hormone balance in the body?

A

A: Chronic stress increases cortisol production, depleting pregnenolone and leading to reduced levels of other hormones like DHEA and progesterone.

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11
Q

Q: What is a common method for assessing adrenal function in lab tests?

A

A: Saliva testing, conducted by labs such as Genova or INVIVO, is commonly used to assess adrenal function.

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12
Q

Q: What does it indicate if both cortisol and DHEA levels are elevated in a saliva test?

A

A: Raised cortisol and DHEA levels indicate a chronic stress response.

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13
Q

Q: What does it mean if cortisol is high and DHEA is low in adrenal testing?

A

A: High cortisol and low DHEA is the first indication of adrenal fatigue.

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14
Q

Q: What adrenal hormone pattern is observed during the recovery phase?

A

A: In the recovery phase, cortisol may be low while DHEA remains normal.

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15
Q

Q: What is adrenal fatigue, also known as adrenal insufficiency?

A

A: Adrenal fatigue involves the progressive imbalance of adrenal hormones, with elevated cortisol and depleted DHEA levels.

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16
Q

Q: What are common symptoms of adrenal fatigue?

A

A: Symptoms include weakened immunity (frequent infections, sugar cravings), fatigue, low libido (low DHEA), anxiety, irritability (adrenaline surges), and sleep disturbances.

17
Q

Q: How does cortisol function in a healthy state vs. adrenal fatigue?

A

A: In a healthy state, cortisol peaks in the morning and declines throughout the day. In adrenal fatigue, cortisol peaks at night and is low in the morning, leading to sleep difficulties and fatigue upon waking.

18
Q

Q: What is the “Pregnenolone Steal” in adrenal fatigue?

A

A: The “Pregnenolone Steal” occurs when increased cortisol production uses up pregnenolone, a hormone precursor, at the expense of other hormones like DHEA and progesterone.

19
Q

Q: How does the Pregnenolone Steal affect hormone levels and symptoms in women?

A

A: It can lead to reduced progesterone, causing low libido and stress-induced infertility in women.

20
Q

Q: What characterizes adrenal exhaustion?

A

A: Adrenal exhaustion is the advanced stage of adrenal fatigue, where adrenal hormones like cortisol, aldosterone, and DHEA are severely depleted, leading to a significant reduction in vitality and the body’s ability to cope with stress.

21
Q

Q: What are some symptoms of adrenal exhaustion?

A

A: Persistent fatigue, sleep issues (insomnia, frequent waking), mood problems (irritability, depression, anxiety), physical signs (sweating, frequent urination), low blood pressure, salty food cravings, and poor mental clarity.

22
Q

Q: How does Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) relate adrenal fatigue and exhaustion to its system?

A

A: Adrenal fatigue is linked to TCM “Yang deficiency” (feeling cold, tired, weak), while adrenal exhaustion is linked to “Yin deficiency.”

23
Q

Q: What does a saliva test for adrenal function measure?

A

A: It measures cortisol and DHEA levels to assess adrenal function.

24
Q

Q: What does raised cortisol and normal DHEA indicate in a saliva test?

A

A: It indicates a normal short-term stress response.

25
Q

Q: What do high cortisol and low DHEA levels in a saliva test suggest?

A

A: They suggest the first indication of adrenal fatigue.

26
Q

Q: What do low cortisol and low DHEA levels in a saliva test suggest?

A

A: They indicate adrenal exhaustion.

27
Q

Q: What does low cortisol but normal DHEA levels indicate in the recovery phase?

A

A: It suggests that the recovery phase from adrenal fatigue has started.

28
Q

Q: What is the role of cortisol in adrenal fatigue-related sleep disturbances?

A

A: Cortisol peaks at night instead of the morning, causing difficulty falling asleep and fatigue upon waking.

29
Q

Q: How does low aldosterone contribute to symptoms of adrenal exhaustion?

A

A: It leads to low blood pressure and cravings for salty foods.