Stress and Adrenal Fatigue

The Dis-Ease Called Stress

The things you think about and dwell on throughout your day have a direct effect on your stress levels, which regulate how much cortisol, or stress hormone, is produced in your body.

Along these lines, new research published in the journal Health Psychology has found that meditation  can help lower stress and cortisol levels, which in turn can help you lose excess weight and avoid developing "cortisol belly" or that excess weight around your middle.

Researchers from the University of California, Davis have been working on a long-term study known as The Shamatha Project that seeks to figure out how meditation practices influence brain activity and mental health. The Shamatha Project is said to be the most comprehensive study on meditation to date, having already made a number of fascinating discoveries about how the way we think and feel can be  influenced through meditation.

As far as stress and cortisol production are concerned, a team of researchers led by Clifford Saron, an associate research professor at UC Davis, found that cortisol levels rise and fall in direct correlation with stress levels. And when people engage in meditation practices such as the mindfulness of breathing, or observing their own mental states and nature of consciousness, their stress and cortisol levels decrease. This leads to greater feelings of joy, kindness, compassion, and empathy for others.

Easy ways you can incorporate these ideas in your everyday routine and life are: yoga, morning stretch routines where you notice how your body feels, taking time for yourself during the day (even if it's 5 minutes) and relaxing while practicing some deep breathing and simply focusing your thoughts on something positive such as a good talk with a friend, or the things you are grateful for in your life.

Adrenal Fatigue

The long-term release of cortisol in response to high stress levels can lead to a condition known as adrenal fatigue. This happens when the adrenal gland is no longer able to properly produce and release hormones due to the high demand. The health consequences of adrenal fatigue include lowered immune function, hypertension, high blood sugar, reduced libido, and bone loss among many other symptoms.

Along with the at-home therapies you can incorporate into your every day life as mentioned earlier, Chiropractic is your best bet to relieve stress on the body and mind. Your brain, spinal cord and all the resulting nerves control every action that happens in your entire body. Since your skull, spine and other joints protect that vital nervous system, a regular check-up is always a good idea. If you are suffering from adrenal fatigue or just adrenal stress, there are also supplements that can help detoxify your system and support your body getting back to a state of EASE instead of DIS-EASE.

With all the things demanding our time and attention, we are spread extremely thin. Stress seems like a normal part of our daily lives and it's hard to get around it.  That is why you need to take time to let your body re-set and let your friendly Chiropractor put your spine back in line!