Reduce Fatigue and Balance Stress

Taken from Nutri-West Northern California December Newsletter
by Dr. Brian Anderson

Patients often complain of stress-related fatigue. Today's tendency toward stressful lifestyles produces chronically high cortisol levels. High cortisol levels are linked to a weakened immune system, insomnia, weight gain, high blood pressure, depression and more. No matter what the source of stress, cortisol is released into the blood stream to help us cope by increasing sympathetic tone ("fight or flight" response), and to put sugar into the blood stream so our muscles and brain have the fuel they need in order to react.

Cortisol should be high in the morning, but should subside by evening when our rest and repair system (parasympathetic system) is supposed to take over. So, when cortisol is needed to help us cope with stress, cortisol gets prioritized at the expense of the other hormones. The body figures that if it is under stress, reproduction is not important, so progesterone and DHEA (which builds testosterone) are sacrificed to make cortisol, for example. This causes major PMS symptoms in females, as progesterone is needed to balance estrogen.

If a person remains under prolonged stress, adrenal fatigue eventually occurs. In Stage 1, cortisol and DHEA levels increase, but if the stressors don't go away and the body moves into Stage 2 adrenal fatigue, cortisol levels remain high, but DHEA becomes depleted. Finally in Stage 3, the adrenals give up. Since the glands simply cannot sustain the prolonged need for cortisol, both cortisol and DHEA levels drop. At this point, the body can't handle much work or activity. Here are some of the symptoms of prolonged Adrenal Fatigue:

· Fatigue, and inability to handle stress, and fibromyalgia
· Allergies/asthma/chronic bronchitis
· Recurrent infections
· Muscle weakness and back pain
· Sleep disturbances/Insomnia
· Mood swings and poor memory
· Inflammation and swelling
· Hypoglycemia
· Excessive thirst and salt cravings
· Hemorrhoids and varicose veins
· Indigestion
· Skin hyperpigmentation
· Headaches

Taking sleeping pills to aid in sleep, taking Midol to relieve PMS symptoms, taking stimulants like caffeine and sugar to get through the day, Synthroid for low thyroid, or anti-depressants to boost mood may really only be addressing the symptoms of problems with cortisol, but not the cause. By removing various stressors through improving lifestyle factors one can help the body return to hormonal balance. Using functional nutrition to balance cortisol, reduce nutritional deficiencies, and balance stress can help return the body to homeostasis.

Here are some other suggestions to "take a break from stress":

1. Listen to soothing music.
2. Incorporate Chiropractic and massage.
3. Laugh-it's "the best medicine" (by almost 40%).
4. Eat regular meals and snacks. (Skipping meals triggers stress hormone release.)
5. Avoid too much caffeine.
6. Breathe deeply and meditate.
7. Take a walk. (Daily exercise is definitely beneficial.)
8. Plant a garden (or start another relaxing hobby).
9. Drink green tea and nibble dark chocolate.
10.Read a good book (or "The Good Book" if you choose).
11.Try aromatherapy. (Lavender in the evening is a good one.)
12.Sleep it off. (8 hours at night and naps, too, can help.)