subject: Adrenal Support Supplements: Helping Your Body And Mind Cope With Stress [print this page] Adrenals glands are located above the body's kidneys. Adrenal glands regulate the body's responses to environmental stresses - including psychological stress, physical stress, and emotional stress. The glands do this through the production of a variety of hormones that regulate organ function and aid the body in coping with stress. Methods of stress regulation within the body range from heart rate, immune function, muscle tone, to energy production and storage. In order for the body to cope adequately, the adrenal glands must maintain a state of homeostasis. Adrenal glands work to regulate health issues from obesity to common allergies.
What are Symptoms of problems with the Adrenal Glands?
Inadequate production of these various adrenal hormones results in Adrenal Insufficiency, Addison's Disease or Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia. Adrenal Insufficiency can be caused by inadequate production of steroid hormones by the adrenal glands or when the hypothalamus or pituitary gland (both at the base of the skull) make insufficient amounts of their own hormones that are used to assist in the regulation of adrenal functioning. Symptoms of these may include: body aching, unexplained weight loss, fatigue, lightheadedness, cravings for salt or salty food (due to the urinary loss of sodium), low blood pressure, and loss of body hair.
If left untreated, adrenal insufficiency can result in profound muscle weakness, extreme abdominal pains, fatigue, vomiting, kidney failure, weight loss, changes in personality and mood, and shock. Shock, which is called Adrenal Crisis, can lead to death.
Adrenal Fatigue, a term coined in 1998 by Dr. James L. Wilson, is another syndrome caused by insufficient adrenal hormones and can be used to explain chronic tiredness. The concept of Adrenal Fatigue is widely discussed in popular culture and accepted in alternative medicine; however it is not currently recognized by the medical community as an actual diagnosis. This syndrome is believed to be caused by the exhaustion of adrenal glands and inability for them to produce adequate quantities of hormones. It is most commonly thought to be caused by the overstimulation of adrenal glands, which can be produced by prolonged or intense levels of stress, as well as by acute or chronic infections. Symptoms of Adrenal Fatigue include: fatigue, apathy, difficulty sleeping or waking, cravings for salt and sugar, feeling stressed, changes in sex drive, and an over reliance on stimulants (including caffeine) to get through the day.
How Prevalent are Adrenal Problems?
Adrenal problems are shockingly common. In fact, some studies estimate that anywhere from 66% to 80% of people, at some point during their lives, experience Adrenal Fatigue and the physical symptoms of stress.
Treatment
Luckily there is treatment available for those suffering from inadequate adrenal production. Adrenal Support Supplements can help the body's production of the hormones that aid the human body in dealing with life's many stresses. These supplements can easily be found online and can help prevent adrenal problems and symptoms and drastically change a person's life for the better.
Two types of adrenal support supplements are Adrenal Glandulars and Cortisol Supplements. Adrenal glandulars consist adrenal cortex tissue from animal sources, providing support to the glands in rebuilding. Cortisol supplements, on the other hand, are a bit more complicated and have side effects as well. Vitamin supplements are also helpful in improving function of adrenal glands.
