Adrenal insufficiency refers to the inability of the adrenal glands to produce a normal quantity of hormones. It may also be defined as a reduced ability to cope with stress. It is one of the most common imbalances in our population today.
Adrenal insufficiency is not to be confused with Addison's disease. Addison's disease is more or less a total adrenal gland shutdown.
Adrenal insufficiency is also different from adrenal burnout. Adrenal burnout is a more severe mineral imbalance which affects the energy-producing mechanisms of the body. In burnout, the body is basically unable to cope with stress. The symptoms of burnout are similar to those of adrenal insufficiency, but are more extreme and require longer to correct.
About The Adrenal Glands
The adrenal glands are often referred to as the stress glands or the fight-or-flight glands. The fight-or-flight response is mediated by the adrenal medulla. The fight-or-flight response is the way our bodies respond to stress.
The stress response prepares the body to run or fight. Blood pressure, pulse rate and blood sugar levels increase. Blood is shunted away from the digestive organs and toward the muscles and brain. The pupils dilate and the speed of reflexes increases.
The stress response is caused by the action of the adrenal hormones. Symptoms of adrenal insufficiency can be directly traced to a reduced secretion of these hormones when under stress. Adrenal hormones are divided into two groups, those produced in the adrenal medulla and those produced in the adrenal cortex.
Hormones produced in the medulla are epinephrine and norepinephrine. These are powerful, fast-acting neurotransmitters which initiate the fight-flight response. They are also sometimes called adrenalin and noradrenalin. The hormones produced by the adrenal cortex are aldosterone, cortisol and cortisone. The cortical hormones have a slower, more prolonged action.
Aldosterone is called a mineralocorticoid hormone. Its primary function is to increase sodium retention by the kidneys. Aldosterone levels roughly correlate with sodium levels on a hair mineral analysis. Aldosterone is a pro-inflammatory hormone required to initiate a healing reaction.
Cortisol and cortisone are referred to as glucocorticoid hormones because they cause conversion of amino acids and glycogen to glucose. The corticosteroids are anti-inflammatory and provide a mild sense of euphoria. Cortisol levels roughly correspond to the potassium level on a hair mineral analysis.
A balance between aldosterone and cortisol is necessary to maintain one's health. This balance is associated with the ratio of sodium to potassium on a hair analysis. If aldosterone secretion is high ratio-wise to cortisol, inflammatory conditions such as gastritis, colitis, arthritis, bursitis and sinusitis prevail. This often corresponds with a high ratio of sodium to potassium on a hair analysis.
Adrenal insufficiency
