Articles

Adrenal insufficiency

Everyone is familiar with suboptimal thyroid levels, hypothyroidism. Equally as common and important is a similar condition of suboptimal adrenal function, referred to as mild adrenal insufficiency, hypo-adrenal or adrenal fatigue. In standard medicine severe end adrenal insufficiency is called Addison’s Disease. However nothing is thought to exist between normal adrenal function and Addison’s Disease. Just as it is known there is a continuum of different levels of thyroid function, the same situation exists with adrenal function. Many people have suboptimal adrenal function. This can occur for a number of reasons. The most well known is long term high stress levels. However it is also documented that various biological stressors from toxins to allergies can also suppress adrenal function.

Symptoms/signs of mild adrenal insufficiency.

Fatigue/lethargy not relieved by sleep Trouble getting up in the morning Feel weak and shaky Low blood pressure Light-headed or dizzy when getting up to stand from lying down or sitting Feel unwell during/after emotional stress e.g. exhausted, shaky, trembling or confused Crave salt or salty food Light sensitivity Decreased tolerance for cold / frequently feel cold Crave sugar Tendency for low blood sugar e.g. irritable when hungry or need frequent meals Increased frequency or severity of allergies e.g. asthma, hay fever or chemical sensitivities Poor exercise tolerance Decreased ability to handle stress/pressure Increased time to recover from infection Increased susceptibility to infections (e.g. the flu) Anxious or panic attacks / easily startled Insomnia / sleep disturbance Thin, difficulty gaining weight or weight loss

Fatigue/lethargy not relieved by sleep
Trouble getting up in the morning
Feel weak and shaky
Low blood pressure
Light-headed or dizzy when getting up to stand from lying down or sitting
Feel unwell during/after emotional stress e.g. exhausted, shaky, trembling or confused
Crave salt or salty food
Light sensitivity
Decreased tolerance for cold / frequently feel cold
Crave sugar
Tendency for low blood sugar e.g. irritable when hungry or need frequent meals
Increased frequency or severity of allergies e.g. asthma, hay fever or chemical sensitivities
Poor exercise tolerance
Decreased ability to handle stress/pressure
Increased time to recover from infection
Increased susceptibility to infections (e.g. the flu)
Anxious or panic attacks / easily startled
Insomnia / sleep disturbance
Thin, difficulty gaining weight or weight loss

Testing for mild adrenal insufficiency.

While there is no perfect tests for this condition assessing levels of cortisol at four times over a 24-hour period is thought to be the most reliable laboratory assessment. You can see a sample report of this test by Genova diagnostics online HERE. Some integrative medicine experts use a diagnostic trial of low dose cortisol (5-20 mg's of hydrocortisone) to evaluate this issue.

What is the treatment?

A person must remove contributing factors such as emotional stress and biological stressors. Secondly supportive nutrients and herbs can be used. Consult your integrative health practitioner for advice on how best to improve your adrenal function.

Recommended books:

Adrenal Fatigue: The 21st-Century Stress Syndrome by James Wilson D.C., N.D., Ph.D. , 2002

Adrenal Fatigue: the 21st Century Stress Syndrome is a self-help lifesaver for everyone who suffers from any of the above symptoms along with many others described in the book. Adrenal Fatigue is also related to several other chronic health conditions including: frequent infections, chemical sensitivities, allergies, autoimmune diseases, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, menopause, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, chronic fatigue syndrome, PMS, difficult menopause, loss of libido, chronic anxiety, and mild depression.

Safe Uses of Cortisol (2nd edition) by William Jefferies, M.D. (an endocrinologist), 1996

Controversial when it was first published in 1981 as Safe Uses of Cortisone a guide for physicians to the safe use of the drug cortisone and cortisol, the naturally occurring glucocorticoid into which the drug must be converted to have any effect. Without altering any of his now-accepted recommendation, Jefferies (internal medicine, U. of Virginia-Charlottesville) devotes more attention to issues that have still not been resolved and new ones that have arisen.

Blake Graham, BSc (Honours), AACNEM
Clinical Nutritionist
Perth, Western Australia
Phone/Email: See Contact page
*Non-Perth residents may enquire about phone consultations.