The Adrenal glands: Delivering more then just a shot of adrenaline

The adrenal glands are best known for producing and releasing epinephrine (adrenaline) and other hormones involved in the fight or flight response, but they also produce a number of other hormones that deliver instructions and information to nearly every tissue and organ in your body. These instructions play a role in everything from regulating our blood pressure and blood sugar to our sleep cycle and the production of our sex hormones, among other things. Three absolutely critical regulatory endocrine glands, the hypothalamus, pituitary and thyroid, are very closely connected to the adrenal glands through various feedback mechanisms.

The pituitary and hypothalamus specifically are often described as the “master glands” in the body, and together all of these glands serve as pivotal points to the regulation of numerous other bodily processes. As a result, having all of the glands functioning harmoniously together is essential, not only to our survival but also to feeling great and having the energy to do the things we love. Some degree of adrenal insufficiency or dysfunction, of which there are many causes, is relatively common. Unfortunately, because of the many functions of the adrenal glands and their close connection with other endocrine systems, the effects are often far reaching and unpleasant. The most common symptoms that result are things like fatigue or always feeling amped up, sleep issues, high or low blood pressure, high or low blood sugar, hormonal issues like painful periods or amplified symptoms of menopause and of course, there are many more.

The medical field readily accepts the condition of adrenal insufficiency and its causes, but there is some controversy over the term “adrenal fatigue” that is used by many health care practitioners. The primary difference simply being the question of whether or not chronic stress can “fatigue” the adrenal glands. In my opinion, this disagreement is merely a matter of semantics. As long as the issue is identified along with the underlying cause, the source of the problem can be addressed. And, in my experience, the majority of people with health concerns do benefit from some degree of adrenal support. My mission is not only to identify and address my patient’s symptoms from the root cause, but also to provide them with resources to allow for long-term resolution of their problems.

To learn more about the adrenal glands, the many causes of adrenal imbalances and the many things you can do to take your health back into your own hands, attend our upcoming health class, Adrenals & Thyroid: Answers to Fatigue and Weight Gain, at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 25 at Vital Health in Coeur d’Alene. Fee: $10. RSVP: 208-765-1994 or register here: http://bit.ly/AdrenalThyroidClass

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Jonathan M. Sasser holds a Master of Science degree in Oriental Medicine, is a Licensed Acupuncturist and is board certified in Oriental Medicine by the NCCAOM. He has more than 3,000 hours of training in acupuncture, classical Oriental Medicine, herbal medicine and nutrition.

Additionally, Jon also holds a bachelor’s degree in sports medicine. Jon is a “Health Detective.” He looks beyond your symptom picture and investigates WHY you are experiencing your symptoms in the first place. Jonathan is currently accepting new patients and offers natural health care services and whole food nutritional supplements at Vital Health in Coeur d’Alene.

Visit our website at www.vitalhealthcda.com to learn more about Jonathan, view a list of upcoming health classes and read other informative articles. Jonathan can be reached at 208-765-1994 and would be happy to answer any questions regarding this topic.