A Disease Called Stress

Hormones are one thing when it comes to keeping checks and balances in the body, but stress is another.  One of the things that I always encourage men and women to test when they make contact for their physical concerns is their adrenal hormones.  Why?   Because there are many connections that can be made to those two little powerhouse glands located on top of the kidneys.  Cortisol is one of those key stress hormones that is excreted from the adrenal glands and when it's "off the charts" in one direction or another, it can have a huge impact.  Today I will address what HIGH cortisol can do to a person. 

When salivary cortisol in the morning is high, it can indicate adrenal gland stress.  The most common adrenal gland stressors include psychological stressors (emotional), hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), physical insults (pain or injury resulting in inflammation), exposure to toxic chemicals, and infections (bacteria, viruses, fungi). When ANY (or a combo) of these stressors persist, the adrenal glands either continue to meet the demands of the stressor, wherein cortisol levels remain high, or become exhausted, wherein cortisol levels fall.  While high cortisol production by the adrenal glands is a normal response to stress and essential to health, persistence of stress and high levels throughout the day and over a LONG course of time can lead to:

muscle wasting
thinning skin
rapid aging
imbalance of other hormones (sex hormones, insulin, and thyroid)
immune suppression
sleep disturbances
hot flashes/night sweats
fatigue
depression
weight gain in the waist
bone loss
anxiety
high blood sugar
increased blood pressure
changes in GI motility
Acne
Dermatitis
Eczema
Acid Reflux
Irritable Bowel
Increased Behavioral Despair
Decreased fertility
and much more

Can't sleep? A high cortisol at night will lower melatonin production and make it near impossible to get a good nights sleep. 

Getting sick a lot? The immune system will take a dive most assuredly with no sleep, poor digestion, and constant hormone stealing within the body.

If you are struggling with any of these, you might turn your attention to Cortisol as the Culprit.  No one can deny that stress is a disease these days.  But, it can be tested and brought into balance. I can guide you through a simple and affordable process of testing that will reveal the impact of stress on your body.  It's a breeze!

So what if Cortisol is high?   Remember, when possible, I like to use diet and lifestyle, natural supplements, vitamins, botanicals, and  bio-identical hormones to restore the body back to it's happy place.   You've got options and can be involved in the choices you make about how to address the problem.

Do you have the diagnosis of stress?  Get it checked out and get back on track.

To your good health,
Dr. Sonja