Stress and the Adrenal Glands

"To understand the mechanism of stress gives physicians a new approach to treatment of illness but it can also give us all a new way of life, a new philosophy to guide our actions in conformity with natural laws." Hans Selye, M.D.

Stress. We all use this term when life seems to be pushing us too fast. But, do we really understand how it affects us in the long term and how the body responds to the constant stress? A stressor can be defined as anything that throws your body out of balance requiring adaptation by the body. The stress response is your body's attempt to restore balance.

When the stressor, regardless or its origin, is unrelenting, the body may lose its ability to adapt, and the defense mechanisms become exhausted.

In our interactions with the environment, the inner and outer worlds continuously and reciprocally influence one another. Internal stress is frequently a direct result of modern life. Environmental toxins, improper diet, inappropriate use of drugs, hectic, sleep-deprived lifestyles all affect our nutritional status, intestinal health, and mental, emotional and spiritual health.

The External stressors
  • Electromagnetic fields. Sources include computers, fluorescent lights, hair dryers, microwave ovens, power lines, televisions, waterbeds, and anything that is plugged in.
  • Weather and season stressors. These include overheating and overcooling, seasonal changes in weather and natural light patterns and barometric changes.
  • Chemical stressors. The various forms of chemical stressors include toxic metals, persistent organic pollutants, junk food diets, alcohol, caffeine, tobacco and both legal and illicit drugs.
  • Nutritional stress. Modern agricultural and food processing practices have seriously depleted the nutritional content of most foods; pollutants contaminate the water supply.
  • Structural Stressors. Sedentary lifestyles and poor posture stress the musculoskeletal system and the internal organs.
The Internal stressors
  • Mental and emotional stress. We stress ourselves mentally and emotionally when we habitually entertain thoughts that cause anger, fear, worry or anxiety.
  • Spiritual Stress. It is stress to have a lack of trust in the Holy Spirit/God/Universal Wisdom, and to not take time for prayer and contemplation.
  • Inadequate sleep. Not getting enough sleep disrupts our health on all levels.
  • Poor eating habits. Eating in a rush, when upset or eating non-foods interferes with digestion
  • Dysbiosis. The overgrowth of harmful organisms in the intestinal tract will compromise immune health, affect hormone balance, stress the liver and interfere with digestion and nutrient absorption.
  • General. Job loss, relationship problems, illness or surgery, excessive exercise, financial difficulties or death of a loved one can cause many and varied stress conditions in the body.
The Adrenal Glands; the organs of Stress Adaptation

How many of you know about your adrenal glands. I didn't until 30 years ago when a naturopathic doctor introduced me to them when I had hit the wall with complete exhaustion. The adrenal glands sit on top the kidneys and are among the most important organs in the body. They receive little attention in the medical world unless the compromised function is severe enough to end in pathology such as Addison's (complete failure of the adrenals to produce stress hormones). They are responsible for the 'frontline' work of adaptation to stress and in naturopathic practice we strive to maintain adrenal health.

Initially, after an acute stress or danger one of the ways the adrenal glands start to adapt is hormones into the bloodstream resulting in the familiar "fight or flight" response. As time passes a more intricate interaction between the nervous and hormonal systems occurs resulting in a very complex adaptive response to the stressor with one result being the secretion of large amounts of the stress hormone, cortisol.

It is this constant increased output of stress hormones that will eventually have negative affects on our health.

Why is it that we seem to be able to push ourselves through certain demanding situation, then, as soon as we slow down or go on a holiday, we get sick?? Sound familiar? The adrenal glands which have a direct affect on the immune system.

When the adrenals are unable to adapt to the stressors the immune system becomes compromised. People become more susceptible to conditions such as asthma, allergies, arthritis, irritable bowel syndrome, sinusitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, etc.

Chronic stress will cause a continue decline in the immune system function and research indicates that severe stress can be associated with up to a 50-percent reduction of NK (natural killer cell) cell activity. NK cells play a vital role in immune surveillance against viral infections and cancer cells. Stress and the emotions are important risk factors for cardiovascular problems as well. It was reported by the Mayo clinic that psychological stress is the strongest risk factor that can predict the future of cardiac events, including myocardial infarction and cardiac death among individuals with existing coronary artery disease. In this study the emotions causing most risk for increase in cardiovascular problems were anger, anxiety and worry.

In today's modern world most people have some degree of adrenal compromise due to stress. Symptoms of low adrenal function:
  • Fatigue
  • Nervousness and irritability
  • Anxiety
  • Insomnia
  • Allergies
  • Asthma
  • Headaches
  • Alcohol intolerance
  • Dizziness, especially on standing
  • Low back pain
  • Light sensitivity
  • Poor memory
  • Fainting spells
  • Constipation or diarrhea
  • Craving for salt, sugar or stimulants
  • Chronic fatigue syndrome
  • Shortness of breath (air hunger)
  • Cold extremities
  • Blurred vision
  • Blood sugar problems
It took me years to realize the relationship between the adrenal glands and low back pain. In my early twenties I was told that I would be in a wheel chair by the time I was in my thirties. At that point, my search into alternatives medicines began. Chiropractic care kept me walking most of the time but the adjustments never held. It wasn't until I was introduced to a non-invasive technique that corrected the severe rotation in my pelvis and started supporting my adrenal glands,that my back pain disappeared. After 18 years of chronic back pain, I have led a normal life for the last 14 years but I must continue to support my adrenal gland or I find my back weakens.

What can we do to turn down the tap on increased stress hormone secretion and to support our poor overworked adrenal glands and to prevent stress related conditions?

The first and most important aspect to keep the stress levels in check is to find the place of balance in your life. Take time for family and friends; eat healthy foods in a relaxed environment; exercise at least 3x per week; get enough sleep; enjoy nature (literally take time to smell the roses; and, do whatever it is you do to get in touch with that higher wisdom within (prayer, meditation, walk in nature, etc.).

All the vitamins and herbs can't replace this prescription for life but for added insurance there are things you can do to support your adrenal glands.

Keep those Adrenals Happy

The term adaptogen is used to categorize plants which improve the non-specific response to and promote recovery from stress. The two best known adaptogens are Siberian ginseng (eleuthrococcous senticosus) and Korean ginseng (panax ginseng). Other adaptogenic plants include Ashwagandha (withania somnifera), Neem (Azardirachta indica) and licorice (glycyrrhiaz glabra). Many health food stores carry these alone or in combination. AdrenaSense is a new formula available in Canada spring 2003 that contains many of the important adrenal support herbs. Evidence suggests that vitamin C levels in significantly greater than the RDI can support adrenal function and decrease high cortisol levels. B complex vitamins have also been shown to help normalize adrenal function. Panthothenic acid, as a fundamental component of coenzyme A, is crucial to the adrenals ability to respond to fatty acid synthesis, steroid synthesis and carbohydrate and protein metabolism.

Truly, life is a process of adaptation to the circumstances in which we live, and the secret of health and happiness lies in our successful adjustment on all levels, to the ever-changing conditions created by the world around us.