Most women have an awareness that hormones affect them, but it also true that most would not be aware of the extent that they do influence behavior, energy levels, attitudes and moods.
It is also a common misconception to think that individual hormones only influence specific aspects of health or behavior. While hormones have primary characteristics and modes, each also affect the body as whole, and each will influence triggering, release and actions of other hormones.
When hormonal production varies from the norm, the whole body is affected. One family of hormones whose influences and effects are often under-recognized are the adrenal hormones. When they fail to perform, most people do not understand that is the case, but they will certainly feel the results.
Stress Hormones
Adrenaline is known as the fight or flight hormone. When your brain triggers panic signals, the nerves that connect to the adrenals are activated. Subsequently, the part of the adrenal gland called the medulla, will immediately start adrenaline production.
This sudden increase of adrenaline production is what many people refer to as the “adrenaline rush” and is what thrill-seekers crave. This initial rush of adrenaline makes them feel powerful and strong.
The Effects of Adrenaline
The hormone adrenaline can have varied effects depending on the cells they are acting upon. The primary function of adrenaline is to prepare the body for a situation that warrants sudden and vigorous action.
An increase in insulin levels will cause an increase in heart rate and blood pressure, while the air passages of the lungs expand and the pupils enlarge.
Adrenals and Chronic Stress
Once the stressful event is over, the body enters a recovery phase and the adrenaline hormones quickly subside. This recovery phase is essential to long-term health.
When stress triggers are repetitive and there is no respite, stress hormones, notably adrenaline and cortisol remain elevated and are not dissipated as nature intended. This soon becomes what is termed chronic stress, which is what most today simply know as ‘stress’.
Chronic Stress Leads to Constant Adrenaline Production
Our ancestors used their adrenaline to keep them alive! They had to fight or flight or die. Today, we don’t have to run from predators, but we are subjected to stressful situations, real or imagined.
Typically, they are not life-threatening, but the instinctive part of our brain, whose job it is to keep us alive, doesn’t know that.
Stressful events or even thoughts are triggers which automatically produce more adrenaline. Your poor adrenals are constantly producing adrenaline and in turn your body is on high alert all day.
Dangers of Too Much Adrenaline
Unfortunately, when excess of adrenaline is persistently in the bloodstream, it becomes harmful. Research shows that high levels of stress and hence, the production of adrenaline, has been linked to several health problems such as anxiety and nervousness, lowered immunity, insomnia and Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD).
Adrenal Fatigue
When someone talks about being burned out it is possible they are suffering from adrenal fatigue. One of the major hormonal imbalances in women is adrenal fatigue, yet it often goes unrealized or undiagnosed.
If you feel constantly stressed and fatigued, or you’re beginning to gain that midriff, belly-fat bulge, it could be your adrenals out of whack.
When the body is constantly exposed to stress hormones, the cells defend themselves by becoming less responsive, or resistant. When the body is less responsive to stress hormones, it doesn’t get that adrenaline boost to help when needed.
Activities, both physical and mental become harder and require more effort. To overcome this, the brain triggers more adrenal production and the cycle of resistance and extra production repeats.
Eventually, the poor adrenal glands run out of puff and cannot keep up with the demand. This is adrenal fatigue. Symptoms are many and varied as this condition affects most aspects of daily life, but include chronic fatigue, mental fog, insomnia and feeling exhausted during normal waking hours.
Once adrenal fatigue has set in, it is vital to reduce or manage the stress causing it. Even after doing so it can take a couple of years to restore proper adrenal function. For these reasons, many women unknowingly suffer from adrenal fatigue for years or decades.
