Fw: [Mr_Tracys_Corner] Part #1 Stress-Related Illness and The Adrenal Glands

[Guest guest]

- walt

Tracys

Monday, April 26, 2004 1:40 PM

[Mr_Tracys_Corner] Part #1 Stress-Related Illness and The Adrenal Glands

Newsletter » Stress-Related Illness and the Adrenal GlandsNewsletter May 14/03Stress-Related Illness and the Adrenal GlandsStress-related illnesses are very common today. Patients in this categoryhave a reaction to stress, which is either causing their illness oraggravating it. It is well known that the adrenal glands are the anti-stressglands of the body -- the reserve tank the body falls back on when facedwith stressful situations.When the hypoadrenic patient becomes sick, he becomes sicker for a longerperiod of time, and with a greater likelihood for recurrence of the problemthan if his adrenals were functioning at full capacity.The patient gets into a chronic state of ill health and that is when we seehim in our office.There are four major categories of stress: 1.. Physical stress - such as overwork, lack of sleep, over-training in anathlete, etc. 2.. Chemical stress - from environmental pollutants, diets high in refinedcarbohydrates, allergies to foods and additives, endocrine gland imbalances(which implicate the adrenals due to the interaction of all of the endocrinesystems.) 3.. Thermal stress - overheating or over chilling of the body 4.. Emotional and mental stressEarly studies by Hans Selye, M.D., identified a pattern of stress-relatedillness in both test animals and humans. This pattern is called the "triadof chronic stress." This series of events is known as the General AdaptationSyndrome (G.A.S.). The three stages of G.A.S. are: 1) the alarm reaction, 2)the resistance stage, and 3) the exhaustion stage. 1.. The alarm reaction. The body's initial response to stress involves anincreased amount of adrenal activity. The adrenals produce extra amounts ofhormones. The adrenals are working harder to respond to an immediate stresssituation. That is a function for which they are designed. 2.. Resistance stage. After a period of time of continued, severe stress,the adrenals begin to adapt and to re-build themselves. The adrenals have agreat capacity for increasing their size and function. If one adrenal issurgically removed, the other adrenal can hypertrophy to twice its normalsize, giving the person the same amount of adrenal tissue he previously had. This capacity for increased size and function is the basis for theresistance stage. The prolonged alarm reaction starts as a hyperadrenia,which leads to a hypoadrenia, which then progresses into another state ofhyperadrenia, as the resistance stage takes over. If the stress is prolongedand severe, it will overwhelm even this resistance stage adaptation, and theadrenals will eventually lose their ability to respond. The patient'sadaptation to stress will continue beyond the resistance stage and into thethird stage of the G.A.S. 3.. Exhaustion stage. The exhaustion stage of the G.A.S. is a hypoadreniato the point where the patient loses the ability to adapt to stress. Theadrenal cortical enlargement of the triad of chronic stress is due to thehypertrophy of the resistance stage. However, adrenal function in theexhaustion stage is severely limited. The body has little or no ability toresist any further stress. This is when the patient will surely seek adoctor's help because he or she has symptoms which will not go away. Most ofthe hypoadrenic patients we see are in this third or exhaustion stage of theG.A.S. The anti-stress mechanisms are lost and there is no more reserve tankpotential for the patient to fall back on.Fatigue, Low Energy, TirednessThe adrenal glands are the body's reserve tank. The most common symptom wesee in the hypoadrenic patient is that of low energy. The patient may havebarely enough energy to make it through the day, or may be tired all thetime. Many middle-aged or older patients will attribute their low energy to"getting older." A more accurate assessment of the situation is that theyhave had more years to accumulate stress's adverse effects on their health.A person may slow down a little as he gets older, but it is not normal for aperson to be fatigued all the time merely because he is past 40, or 60, or80.We must also suspect hypoadrenia and stress-related illness in any patientwhose symptoms begin after a stressful event. How often have you heard thatso-and-so "was never the same after the accident, flu, pregnancy, etc."? Orhow often do patients tell us in their history that they began experiencingtheir symptoms during marital turmoil, after the death of a loved one, orafter recuperating from surgery?It is not necessary that the symptoms originate during or immediatelyfollowing one of these stressful situations. They may develop several monthslater. Or there may not be a specific event, but merely prolonged exposureto stress. How many men in their twenties do you see playing softball andgoing out afterwards drinking beer until all hours of the morning threetimes a week?How many do you see who are 30 or 35? The human system can take only so muchabuse, and after years of abuse many people become the so-called "arm chairathletes." This need not be the case, but it is accepted behavior in oursociety.People take such a change of life style for granted, never understanding thereasons behind the change and the associated long-term adverse effects ontheir health. If they would eliminate the unnecessary stresses in theirlife, they would be able to continue playing softball three nights a week(and occasionally drinking beer till dawn) for a much longer period of time.But the body will only take so much abuse before it makes the person stop.Adrenal Gland Related to MuscleDr. Goodheart has identified no less than five specific muscles, which arerelated to adrenal gland function. These are: 1) sartorius, 2) gracilis, 3)posterior tibialis, 4) gastrocnemius, and 5) soleus.Many patients with hypoadrenia seek our help for the care of sacroiliac painand/or low back pain, which is due to the lack of pelvic stabilizationnormally provided by these muscles.Due to the relationship of the posterior tibialis, gastrocnemius, and soleusto the stability of the foot and ankle, many hypoadrenic patients willcomplain-of symptoms of tired feet, weak ankles, or aching calves.The adrenal gland cortex produces three major categories of hormones: 1.mineralocorticoids, 2. glucocorticoids, and 3. gonadal (sex) hormones(testosterone, estrogen, progesterone, etc.)Depending on the relative amount of depletion of each of these hormon, we will see varying symptoms in people suffering from stress-relatedhypoadrenia.We will discuss the symptoms created by each group separately.MineralocoricoidsAldosterone is the most important mineralocorticoid, but corticosterone anddesoxycorticosterone are also included in this category. The effects ofaldosterone depletion are observed in a large number of hypoadrenicpatients. Aldosterone depletion may create one or more different symptoms,which are specifically, related to the diminished mineralocorticoid levels.The patient may also have musculoskeletal symptoms or fatigue, as discussedabove, and a combination of other symptoms related to adrenal dysfunction.When there is inadequate aldosterone, the kidney allows sodium (andchlorides and water) to spill into the urine, and maintains ionic balance byretaining, rather than excreting, potassium. Some of these low aldosteronepatients present with symptoms of dehydration. If the tongue is rough likesandpaper, or if you feel friction, with your finger catching or sticking tothe tongue's surface, it is an indication of inadequate tissue hydration.Another problem related to lowered mineralocorticoid levels in hypoadreniais a paradoxical, non-pitting edema of the extremities. When the patientwith hypoadrenia spills sodium and water into the urine and perspiration,and has a tendency to be dehydrated, we would hardly expect him to showsigns of holding water, such as edema. But that is exactly what can occur insome hypoadrenic patients.Often, these patients are placed on a diuretic by an unenlightenedphysician, whose only basis for this prescription is the patient's symptoms.The diuretic in these patients rarely helps the condition and oftenaggravates the tendency toward dehydration. Further, many diuretics act asadrenal (aldosterone) inhibitors, adding even more stress to the adrenalsand tending to make the patient worse in the long run.Sodium restriction in the patient in the exhaustion stage is probablyill-advised. However, instead of adding salt as a source of sodium, werather recommend more natural sources of organic sodium. We would supplementthe patient with Plant Derived Colloidal Minerals (American/CanadianLongevity).Adrenal Sex HormoneThe adrenal glands make male hormones in the female and female hormones inthe male. Actually, the adrenals produce both male and female hormones ineach sex. Any masculinizing in the female or feminizing in the male can bedue to adrenal stress-related states.The only source of estrogen in the male is his adrenal glands while thepre-menopausal woman has a usually abundant estrogen supply from herovaries.It is more common to see female patients with secondary sexualcharacteristics of men than vice versa, although we encounter both. Womenwith excessive body hair, particularly on the face, or men withgynecomastia, seem to be the patients who seek help for their problems mostreadily. These symptoms result from excessive production of the sex hormonesby an overactive adrenal cortex. The common medical approach to the womanwith facial hair is to prescribe prednisone or some other cortisonederivative in an effort to suppress the pituitary drive of the adrenal,thereby hopefully decreasing the output of testosterone.Although this sometimes relieves the symptoms, the patient must put up withthe side effects, both seen and unseen, of the cortisone derivative. If welook at the patient from a holistic, long-range viewpoint, we can see thelikely imprudence of such therapy.A far better approach is to aid the patient in his ability to adapt tostress by identifying and eliminating (as much as possible) the sources ofstress, and by treating the adrenal glands (and the entire endocrine system)with the nutritional and other natural therapies at our disposal.During menopause, as the estrogen levels begin to decrease, the adrenals aresupposed to increase their production of estrogen to help make up for partof the estrogen deficit. In many patients menopause hits "like a ton ofbricks." Menopause frequently takes place very rapidly, not allowing theadrenals adequate time to increase their capacity to meet the increasedestrogen requirement. This is further complicated by the fact that many ofthese patients are already on the verge of adrenal exhaustion.The menopausal hypoadrenia patient will have a variety of symptoms --fromjust feeling poorly to severe psychosis. This is because the adrenals arenot able to take the extra load that has been dumped on them without anywarning by the ovaries. Any patient who has a rapid menopause withaccompanying symptoms must be checked for hypoadrenia. The patient maycomplain of low back pain that started about the time of menopause, or aknee problem, or eyes which began to become sensitive to light, and so on.Pregnancy is quite a stressor for many women. A common occurrence, however,is the woman who, upon reaching her third trimester of pregnancy, says thatshe all of a sudden "feels better than I have felt in years." This is oftenthe case when the first two trimesters were particularly difficult.The fetus's adrenal glands mature to the point of being able to producehormones at about the beginning of the third trimester. If the mother is inthe exhaustion stage of the G.A.S., it is not uncommon for the baby'sadrenals to try to make enough adrenal hormones for both the baby and themother. The mother feels great. The baby's adrenals are really supportingthe mother's adrenals. But the baby's adrenal glands are being stressedbefore it is even born! The results are doubly negative. The baby is born ina state of adrenal depletion and often exhibits symptoms of hypoadrenia.These symptoms may be varied, but two of the more common symptoms areallergies and recurrent infections. Remember also that during chronic stressstates, the thymus and other lymphatic structures atrophy, lowering thecapabilities of the body's immune mechanisms.Likewise, with the support of the baby's adrenals pulled out from under her,the mother is dropped back into a state of adrenal exhaustion. This accountsfor the common occurrence of "post partum blues" or even psychosis. Quitefrequently, both mother and child must be treated for hypoadrenia.GlucocorticoidsThe patient with stress-related illness might also have symptoms fromlowered output of the adrenal glucocorticoids: cortisol, corticosterone, andcortisone. Of these, cortisol is the most important.These hormones cause a variety of reactions, which increase the bloodglucose levels. A brief review of the simple factors affecting blood glucosewill put the adrenal glands' role into perspective.After ingestion of food, the blood glucose levels rise. This rise causes thebeta cells of the pancreas to produce insulin, which lowers the bloodglucose by carrying it into the cells where it can be used or stored. As theblood glucose subsequently decreases, the adrenals are stimulated to releaseglucocorticoids in order to prevent glucose levels from dropping too low andtoo fast.A rapidly rising blood glucose level whips the pancreas into rapidlyproducing more insulin. A rapidly dropping blood glucose or outright lowblood glucose whips the adrenals into rapidly producing moreglucocorticoids.The most common factor we see interfering with the normal function of thissystem is the diet high in refined and concentrated carbohydrates. Repeatedingestion of foods in this category causes repeated rapid elevations in theblood glucose, hence overwork of the pancreas in its insulin-producingcapacity.The resultant hyperinsulinism causes the blood glucose levels to rapidlydrop following the initial rapid rise. This rapid drop puts an extra load onthe adrenals and pushes them to make the glucocorticoids necessary in orderto prevent hypoglycemia. Over a period of time, a person eating a diet highin refined and concentrated carbohydrates may deplete the insulin-producingcells of the pancreas and become diabetic, or may stress the adrenals to thepoint of exhaustion, or both.As the adrenal glands become depleted, the blood glucose levels will tend todrop below normal levels. In an effort to counter this potential low bloodglucose, the person will get cravings for any agent, which will rapidlyincrease the blood glucose. He will eat a candy bar, drink a cup of coffee,smoke a cigarette, or drink a soft drink. It might be added that the abuseof alcohol, marijuana, and hard drugs fits this pattern as well. But therapid rise in blood glucose provided by the "fix" only serves to re-initiatethe whole cycle again.The symptoms of the hyperinsulinism - hypoadrenia - hypoglycemia patient aretoo numerous to mention here. Basically, though, epithelial tissue, nervoustissue, and the retina of the eye do not store glucose. Hence, these tissuesare the most likely to be affected. Low blood glucose creates symptoms ofblurred vision, headache, nervousness, unstable behavior, allergies, and soon and so on.The homepage and the place to sign up for Tracy's Corner is: Mr_Tracys_CornerFor complaints or assistance contact xootsuit26

[Guest guest]

walt

Monday, April 26, 2004 1:40 PM

[Mr_Tracys_Corner] Part #1 Stress-Related Illness and The Adrenal

Glands

 

 

Newsletter » Stress-Related Illness and the Adrenal Glands

Newsletter May 14/03

 

Stress-Related Illness and the Adrenal Glands

Stress-related illnesses are very common today. Patients in this category

have a reaction to stress, which is either causing their illness or

aggravating it. It is well known that the adrenal glands are the anti-stress

glands of the body -- the reserve tank the body falls back on when faced

with stressful situations.

 

When the hypoadrenic patient becomes sick, he becomes sicker for a longer

period of time, and with a greater likelihood for recurrence of the problem

than if his adrenals were functioning at full capacity.

 

The patient gets into a chronic state of ill health and that is when we see

him in our office.

 

There are four major categories of stress:

 

1.. Physical stress - such as overwork, lack of sleep, over-training in an

athlete, etc.

2.. Chemical stress - from environmental pollutants, diets high in refined

carbohydrates, allergies to foods and additives, endocrine gland imbalances

(which implicate the adrenals due to the interaction of all of the endocrine

systems.)

3.. Thermal stress - overheating or over chilling of the body

4.. Emotional and mental stress

Early studies by Hans Selye, M.D., identified a pattern of stress-related

illness in both test animals and humans. This pattern is called the " triad

of chronic stress. " This series of events is known as the General Adaptation

Syndrome (G.A.S.). The three stages of G.A.S. are: 1) the alarm reaction, 2)

the resistance stage, and 3) the exhaustion stage.

 

1.. The alarm reaction. The body's initial response to stress involves an

increased amount of adrenal activity. The adrenals produce extra amounts of

hormones. The adrenals are working harder to respond to an immediate stress

situation. That is a function for which they are designed.

 

2.. Resistance stage. After a period of time of continued, severe stress,

the adrenals begin to adapt and to re-build themselves. The adrenals have a

great capacity for increasing their size and function. If one adrenal is

surgically removed, the other adrenal can hypertrophy to twice its normal

size, giving the person the same amount of adrenal tissue he previously had.

This capacity for increased size and function is the basis for the

resistance stage. The prolonged alarm reaction starts as a hyperadrenia,

which leads to a hypoadrenia, which then progresses into another state of

hyperadrenia, as the resistance stage takes over. If the stress is prolonged

and severe, it will overwhelm even this resistance stage adaptation, and the

adrenals will eventually lose their ability to respond. The patient's

adaptation to stress will continue beyond the resistance stage and into the

third stage of the G.A.S.

 

3.. Exhaustion stage. The exhaustion stage of the G.A.S. is a hypoadrenia

to the point where the patient loses the ability to adapt to stress. The

adrenal cortical enlargement of the triad of chronic stress is due to the

hypertrophy of the resistance stage. However, adrenal function in the

exhaustion stage is severely limited. The body has little or no ability to

resist any further stress. This is when the patient will surely seek a

doctor's help because he or she has symptoms which will not go away. Most of

the hypoadrenic patients we see are in this third or exhaustion stage of the

G.A.S. The anti-stress mechanisms are lost and there is no more reserve tank

potential for the patient to fall back on.

Fatigue, Low Energy, Tiredness

 

The adrenal glands are the body's reserve tank. The most common symptom we

see in the hypoadrenic patient is that of low energy. The patient may have

barely enough energy to make it through the day, or may be tired all the

time. Many middle-aged or older patients will attribute their low energy to

" getting older. " A more accurate assessment of the situation is that they

have had more years to accumulate stress's adverse effects on their health.

A person may slow down a little as he gets older, but it is not normal for a

person to be fatigued all the time merely because he is past 40, or 60, or

80.

 

We must also suspect hypoadrenia and stress-related illness in any patient

whose symptoms begin after a stressful event. How often have you heard that

so-and-so " was never the same after the accident, flu, pregnancy, etc. " ? Or

how often do patients tell us in their history that they began experiencing

their symptoms during marital turmoil, after the death of a loved one, or

after recuperating from surgery?

 

It is not necessary that the symptoms originate during or immediately

following one of these stressful situations. They may develop several months

later. Or there may not be a specific event, but merely prolonged exposure

to stress. How many men in their twenties do you see playing softball and

going out afterwards drinking beer until all hours of the morning three

times a week?

 

How many do you see who are 30 or 35? The human system can take only so much

abuse, and after years of abuse many people become the so-called " arm chair

athletes. " This need not be the case, but it is accepted behavior in our

society.

 

People take such a change of life style for granted, never understanding the

reasons behind the change and the associated long-term adverse effects on

their health. If they would eliminate the unnecessary stresses in their

life, they would be able to continue playing softball three nights a week

(and occasionally drinking beer till dawn) for a much longer period of time.

But the body will only take so much abuse before it makes the person stop.

 

Adrenal Gland Related to Muscle

 

Dr. Goodheart has identified no less than five specific muscles, which are

related to adrenal gland function. These are: 1) sartorius, 2) gracilis, 3)

posterior tibialis, 4) gastrocnemius, and 5) soleus.

 

Many patients with hypoadrenia seek our help for the care of sacroiliac pain

and/or low back pain, which is due to the lack of pelvic stabilization

normally provided by these muscles.

 

Due to the relationship of the posterior tibialis, gastrocnemius, and soleus

to the stability of the foot and ankle, many hypoadrenic patients will

complain-of symptoms of tired feet, weak ankles, or aching calves.

 

The adrenal gland cortex produces three major categories of hormones: 1.

mineralocorticoids, 2. glucocorticoids, and 3. gonadal (sex) hormones

(testosterone, estrogen, progesterone, etc.)

 

Depending on the relative amount of depletion of each of these hormone

groups, we will see varying symptoms in people suffering from stress-related

hypoadrenia.

 

We will discuss the symptoms created by each group separately.

 

Mineralocoricoids

 

Aldosterone is the most important mineralocorticoid, but corticosterone and

desoxycorticosterone are also included in this category. The effects of

aldosterone depletion are observed in a large number of hypoadrenic

patients. Aldosterone depletion may create one or more different symptoms,

which are specifically, related to the diminished mineralocorticoid levels.

The patient may also have musculoskeletal symptoms or fatigue, as discussed

above, and a combination of other symptoms related to adrenal dysfunction.

 

When there is inadequate aldosterone, the kidney allows sodium (and

chlorides and water) to spill into the urine, and maintains ionic balance by

retaining, rather than excreting, potassium. Some of these low aldosterone

patients present with symptoms of dehydration. If the tongue is rough like

sandpaper, or if you feel friction, with your finger catching or sticking to

the tongue's surface, it is an indication of inadequate tissue hydration.

 

Another problem related to lowered mineralocorticoid levels in hypoadrenia

is a paradoxical, non-pitting edema of the extremities. When the patient

with hypoadrenia spills sodium and water into the urine and perspiration,

and has a tendency to be dehydrated, we would hardly expect him to show

signs of holding water, such as edema. But that is exactly what can occur in

some hypoadrenic patients.

 

Often, these patients are placed on a diuretic by an unenlightened

physician, whose only basis for this prescription is the patient's symptoms.

The diuretic in these patients rarely helps the condition and often

aggravates the tendency toward dehydration. Further, many diuretics act as

adrenal (aldosterone) inhibitors, adding even more stress to the adrenals

and tending to make the patient worse in the long run.

 

Sodium restriction in the patient in the exhaustion stage is probably

ill-advised. However, instead of adding salt as a source of sodium, we

rather recommend more natural sources of organic sodium. We would supplement

the patient with Plant Derived Colloidal Minerals (American/Canadian

Longevity).

 

Adrenal Sex Hormone

 

The adrenal glands make male hormones in the female and female hormones in

the male. Actually, the adrenals produce both male and female hormones in

each sex. Any masculinizing in the female or feminizing in the male can be

due to adrenal stress-related states.

 

The only source of estrogen in the male is his adrenal glands while the

pre-menopausal woman has a usually abundant estrogen supply from her

ovaries.

 

It is more common to see female patients with secondary sexual

characteristics of men than vice versa, although we encounter both. Women

with excessive body hair, particularly on the face, or men with

gynecomastia, seem to be the patients who seek help for their problems most

readily. These symptoms result from excessive production of the sex hormones

by an overactive adrenal cortex. The common medical approach to the woman

with facial hair is to prescribe prednisone or some other cortisone

derivative in an effort to suppress the pituitary drive of the adrenal,

thereby hopefully decreasing the output of testosterone.

 

Although this sometimes relieves the symptoms, the patient must put up with

the side effects, both seen and unseen, of the cortisone derivative. If we

look at the patient from a holistic, long-range viewpoint, we can see the

likely imprudence of such therapy.

 

A far better approach is to aid the patient in his ability to adapt to

stress by identifying and eliminating (as much as possible) the sources of

stress, and by treating the adrenal glands (and the entire endocrine system)

with the nutritional and other natural therapies at our disposal.

 

During menopause, as the estrogen levels begin to decrease, the adrenals are

supposed to increase their production of estrogen to help make up for part

of the estrogen deficit. In many patients menopause hits " like a ton of

bricks. " Menopause frequently takes place very rapidly, not allowing the

adrenals adequate time to increase their capacity to meet the increased

estrogen requirement. This is further complicated by the fact that many of

these patients are already on the verge of adrenal exhaustion.

 

The menopausal hypoadrenia patient will have a variety of symptoms --from

just feeling poorly to severe psychosis. This is because the adrenals are

not able to take the extra load that has been dumped on them without any

warning by the ovaries. Any patient who has a rapid menopause with

accompanying symptoms must be checked for hypoadrenia. The patient may

complain of low back pain that started about the time of menopause, or a

knee problem, or eyes which began to become sensitive to light, and so on.

 

Pregnancy is quite a stressor for many women. A common occurrence, however,

is the woman who, upon reaching her third trimester of pregnancy, says that

she all of a sudden " feels better than I have felt in years. " This is often

the case when the first two trimesters were particularly difficult.

 

The fetus's adrenal glands mature to the point of being able to produce

hormones at about the beginning of the third trimester. If the mother is in

the exhaustion stage of the G.A.S., it is not uncommon for the baby's

adrenals to try to make enough adrenal hormones for both the baby and the

mother. The mother feels great. The baby's adrenals are really supporting

the mother's adrenals. But the baby's adrenal glands are being stressed

before it is even born! The results are doubly negative. The baby is born in

a state of adrenal depletion and often exhibits symptoms of hypoadrenia.

These symptoms may be varied, but two of the more common symptoms are

allergies and recurrent infections. Remember also that during chronic stress

states, the thymus and other lymphatic structures atrophy, lowering the

capabilities of the body's immune mechanisms.

 

Likewise, with the support of the baby's adrenals pulled out from under her,

the mother is dropped back into a state of adrenal exhaustion. This accounts

for the common occurrence of " post partum blues " or even psychosis. Quite

frequently, both mother and child must be treated for hypoadrenia.

 

Glucocorticoids

 

The patient with stress-related illness might also have symptoms from

lowered output of the adrenal glucocorticoids: cortisol, corticosterone, and

cortisone. Of these, cortisol is the most important.

 

These hormones cause a variety of reactions, which increase the blood

glucose levels. A brief review of the simple factors affecting blood glucose

will put the adrenal glands' role into perspective.

 

After ingestion of food, the blood glucose levels rise. This rise causes the

beta cells of the pancreas to produce insulin, which lowers the blood

glucose by carrying it into the cells where it can be used or stored. As the

blood glucose subsequently decreases, the adrenals are stimulated to release

glucocorticoids in order to prevent glucose levels from dropping too low and

too fast.

 

A rapidly rising blood glucose level whips the pancreas into rapidly

producing more insulin. A rapidly dropping blood glucose or outright low

blood glucose whips the adrenals into rapidly producing more

glucocorticoids.

 

The most common factor we see interfering with the normal function of this

system is the diet high in refined and concentrated carbohydrates. Repeated

ingestion of foods in this category causes repeated rapid elevations in the

blood glucose, hence overwork of the pancreas in its insulin-producing

capacity.

 

The resultant hyperinsulinism causes the blood glucose levels to rapidly

drop following the initial rapid rise. This rapid drop puts an extra load on

the adrenals and pushes them to make the glucocorticoids necessary in order

to prevent hypoglycemia. Over a period of time, a person eating a diet high

in refined and concentrated carbohydrates may deplete the insulin-producing

cells of the pancreas and become diabetic, or may stress the adrenals to the

point of exhaustion, or both.

 

As the adrenal glands become depleted, the blood glucose levels will tend to

drop below normal levels. In an effort to counter this potential low blood

glucose, the person will get cravings for any agent, which will rapidly

increase the blood glucose. He will eat a candy bar, drink a cup of coffee,

smoke a cigarette, or drink a soft drink. It might be added that the abuse

of alcohol, marijuana, and hard drugs fits this pattern as well. But the

rapid rise in blood glucose provided by the " fix " only serves to re-initiate

the whole cycle again.

 

The symptoms of the hyperinsulinism - hypoadrenia - hypoglycemia patient are

too numerous to mention here. Basically, though, epithelial tissue, nervous

tissue, and the retina of the eye do not store glucose. Hence, these tissues

are the most likely to be affected. Low blood glucose creates symptoms of

blurred vision, headache, nervousness, unstable behavior, allergies, and so

on and so on.

 

 

 

The homepage and the place to sign up for Tracy's Corner is:

Mr_Tracys_Corner