Are You Tired of Being Tired?

Are you tired of being tired?  If you are like most Americans you will probably answer "yes" to this question. Stress and fatigue are the main reasons that people go to the doctor these days and they present themselves in the most unusual of ways.  Honestly, often symptoms of stress can look similar to hormone imbalance so getting to the root cause of the problem is key in making a patient feel better and gain some control back in their life.  A simple test can provide the clear answers to a "stress fracture" (play on words) instead of a hormone problem.  But before we get to that, here's some simple facts on the issue of stress and running around like crazy people all the time.  See how you measure up.....

First let's start off with the common causes of stress these days:
Anger/fear
Worry/anxiety
Depression
Guilt
Overwork/physical or mental strain
Excessive exercise
Sleep deprivation
Poor digestion
Chronic illness
Chronic severe allergies
Use of steroids
Insufficient sleep
Surgery/trauma
Death
Divorce
Injury
Inflammation
Infection/Injury
Chronic pain
Temperature extremes
Toxic exposure
Malabsorption
Hypoglycemia
Nutritional deficiencies
Jobs
Family issues
Alarms clocks/deadlines
Finances
and many others that you can add to the list

The Effects of prolonged stress:
Weakness
Unexplained hair loss
Nervousness
Lowered body temp
Weak muscle tone
Irritability
Depression
Difficulty with weight
Apprehension
Hypoglycemia
Inability to concentrate
Excessive hunger
Poor memory/confusion
Digestive dysfunction
Feelings of frustration
Osteoporosis
Auto-immune disease
Heart palpitations
Dizziness
Lowered resistance to infection and colds
Low blood pressure
Insomnia
Sweet/salt cravings
Headaches
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Weight gain
Inability to make decisions-Indecisiveness.
Respiratory illness/colds/bronchitis
Fatigue and reduced stamina



It's common to hear that people are worn out these days and just can't seem to get enough sleep.  "I'm dragging", "I'm asleep by 8 o'clock", or "I'm just tired of being tired." I hear these from men and women all the time.  In fact, I visited with a physician group today and in their assessment forms for patient referral they were delighted to see an evaluation area for stress and lifestyle influences.  Why? Because stress and lifestyles factor in to the equation of hormonal imbalance and it's important to include. 


Other reasons to test:
The "stress hormones" are important to evaluate because if a woman has low DHEA 'prior' to menopause, her chances for cancer are increased.  Conversely, if the levels are high 'after' menopause, her chances for cancer are increased.  It's important to know how your body is adapting to stress, the influence it has on you at your age, and ways to compliment your body's response to stress for health and longevity.  If your Cortisol is in the tank, then you're going to feel like you're in the tank as well. It's a fatigue indicator that can be evaluated.  Listen up! These same hormones, if out of balance, can cause a host of other problems as well.  The list goes from depression, to weight gain, to vaginal dryness, to poor blood sugar control, to immune problems, and on and on.  You better believe that I test my hormones and my adrenal EVERY year without fail.  It's key to an individuals peak performance.

So how do you test for stress? 
Call our office and we can explain the process to you.  It's very, very simple and affordable.  A testing kit can be mailed to your home and we can guide you on the best day and time to send your sample.  A common profile to assess key sex hormones and stress hormones typically costs less than $130.  If the kit comes from my office, I will be the one to read the results and connect with you personally. If you have great insurance and want to have your doctor do a lab evaluation, the same key hormones can be tested by blood.   I just met with a client who has great insurance and will head in to her doctors office to get tested soon. 

So, if you're tired of being tired, call us ASAP.  Our staff is ready to help and I personally can direct you on the best supplements for your lab profile and additional health problems.
 
To your good health,
Dr. Sonja