“I would like to thank you for changing my life. I give God the credit, but he used your hands and mind to do his work. When I met you, I was 42 years old and not aging very gracefully. I mace in for some restylane and was very happy with the results. You helped make a scar less noticeable and give my face a more youthful appearance….”Is Adrenal Fatigue robbing you of energy?
Do you feel tired much of the time? This is one of the symptoms of a fairly common condition known as adrenal fatigue, according to Dr. Anna Rosinska of Body Focus Laser and Longevity Center. She states that up to 80 percent of people may have some form of adrenal fatigue.
Other symptoms of adrenal fatigue include difficulty getting up in the morning, an afternoon “low” between 3:00 and 4:00pm, while gaining a “second wind” of energy after 6:00 p.m and doing best work after 11:00 p.m. “These people often crave salty food and depend on caffeine in order to function.” They often have a decreased ability to handle stress and pressure and difficulty sleeping.
Adrenal fatigue is usually caused by physical stress, emotional stress or a combination of both. It most frequently affects single mothers, policemen, shift workers and those working two jobs. “Small stresses are as important as the big ones,” says Dr. Rosinska. The human body compensates for stress by boosting cortisol levels. Once cortisol is depleted, adrenal fatigue sets in and makes coping with further stress more difficult.
Cortisol, known as the “fight or flight” hormone, is also necessary for the proper functioning of every tissue, organ and gland in the body. Plus, cortisol regulates the processes that convert fat to energy, regulates blood sugar and controls the immune system. Overall, how well you live depends upon fully functioning adrenal glands.
Adrenal fatigue is usually not severe enough to be diagnosed by many physicians. Often, the blood work of people with adrenal fatigue may look normal. The condition is not recognized by modern medicine, says. Dr. Rosinska. “We are trained to diagnose only Addison’s disease, which is a life-threatening condition—a complete failure of the adrenal glands. But there is a lot of space between ‘fully functioning’ and ‘complete failure,’ levels that may require some treatment.”
So how do you know if you have adrenal fatigue and what can be done about it?
“Because cortisol levels naturally rise and fall throughout the day, we measure them four times a day,” says Dr. Rosinska. “This is a simple, noninvasive test which measures cortisol levels in the saliva, and it is covered by most insurance.”
“After a diagnosis of adrenal fatigue is confirmed we start with adrenal recovery program,” she continues. Treatment begins with adrenal rebuilders consisting of a wide range of glandular extracts that rebuild adrenal tissue and improve adrenal function. Specific vitamin and amino acids formulas that increase cortisol production are also recommended.
Treatment usually lasts about six months, depending on the severity of the condition. Lifestyle modifications to reduce stress, improve sleep and nutrition are also important.Interestingly, there are three fairly normal things that stimulate the adrenal glands: laughter, yawning and chewing food sixty to ninety times before swallowing.
If you think you might have this condition please call Body Focus today for an appointment.