I hear many people say “I have such a hard time getting started in the morning. I don’t feel rested when I wake up and then I seem to crash in the afternoon.”
Adrenal fatigue is one of the most prevalent, yet under-diagnosed, health conditions affecting people today. Approximately two-thirds of folks with chronic fatigue appear to have under active adrenal glands.
Symptoms of adrenal fatigue can include: fatigue, recurrent infections, poorly functioning immune system, decreased libido, a lack of motivation, infertility, salt cravings, achiness, hypoglycemia and low blood pressure or dizziness upon first standing.
What is the number one cause of adrenal fatigue? STRESS.
When we feel stressed, our adrenal glands are the first responders. Our body doesn’t differentiate between being extremely angry or stressed out versus having to run from a hungry tiger. Physiologically, we respond the same way: our adrenals begin to release cortisol and epinephrine (adrenaline), increase our heart rate, and shunt blood to areas necessary in the instance of an attack: our heart (to pump more blood), our brain (to think clearly) and our muscles (to run fast!)
What this means is that blood is then diverted away from other areas, particularly our digestion, our immune system and our reproductive organs. If we’re running for our lives, it’s probably not a good time to procreate! Remember, our bodies are designed for survival.
Is there a cost effective way to test for adrenal fatigue or insufficiency?
YES and it’s free!
You can effectively do this by measuring your blood pressure lying down and standing up.
Blood Pressure (top number is systolic, bottom number is diastolic):
Lying down: __ (S)/__(D)
Upright: __ (S)/__ (D)
Normal: Systolic BP increases 4-10 mm higher in the standing from the lying position.
Failure: Systolic BP drops in the standing from lying position.
If your systolic BP drops in the standing from lying position, then your adrenals are likely in a state of insufficiency.
Happy measuring!
Jess Williams, INHC, CPC, GTP
Jess Williams - The Gut Gurl 