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What Organs Can Adrenal Glands Affect?

The adrenal glands are a pair of triangular-shaped organs situated on top of the kidneys; they secrete more than 50 hormones in the body. They are also responsible for the production of the body's four major stress hormones: adrenaline, cortisol, DHEA and norepinephrine. The levels of cortisol (too high or too low) can lead to multiple health problems, affecting different parts of the body.

  1. Function

    • The hormones produced by the adrenal glands control a variety of body functions, such as maintaining metabolic processes (blood sugar levels and inflammation), regulating the body's salt and water balance, controlling the "fight or flight" response to stress, maintaining pregnancy, inititating and controlling sexual maturation during childhood and puberty, and producing sex steroids such as estrogen and testosterone.

    The HPATG axis

    • The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal-thyroid-gonadal axis is a major part of the neuroendocrine system and it controls and regulates many body processes, like the immune system, sexuality, digestion, and energy. Alterations in this axis generate imbalances of the thyroid hormones and gonad (ovaries or testes) hormones. When adrenal fatigue sets in, there is often a case of hypothyroidism present as well.

    Effects

    • People with adrenal deficiencies often have abnormal blood sugar levels and mental disturbances, such as increased fears and anxiety. Other symptoms inlcude sleep disturbances, low thyroid function, PMS, sexual dysfunction, inability to lose weight and/or to gain muscle mass, chronic fatigue syndrome, low immune system, and increased risk of heart attack.

    Considerations

    • Adrenal health can be maintained by following natural and simple steps such as keeping a healthy diet of whole, unprocessed foods; balancing your blood sugar level; exercise, practicing anti-stress techniques; and getting 7 to 8 hours of sleep a night.

    Misconceptions

    • Most conventional doctors use tests that only recognize extreme underproduction or overproduction of hormone levels. The only test that will recognize adrenal fatigue, in all of its stages, is the salivary cortisol test. Addressing adrenal dysfunctions first can prevent subsequent effects on other organs in the body.

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