Adrenal Fatigue For Dummies E-Book

Richard Snyder

• Herausgeber: John Wiley & Sons
• Kategorie: Ratgeber
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2014

Seitenzahl: 495

Beschreibung

The easy way to take charge of your adrenal health Despite their small size, the adrenal glands play an important role in the body, producing numerous hormones that impact our development and growth, affect our ability to deal with stress, and help to regulate kidney function. In Adrenal Fatigue For Dummies, you'll find clear self-evaluations and treatment guidelines that will empower you to take charge of your adrenal health through nutrition, vitamins, herbs, bioidentical adrenal hormone supplementation, and self-care practices. Adrenal fatigue is in essence a "tired out" adrenal gland that is not able to support the body the way that it should. The effects can be far-reaching and affect the quality of one's daily life. It can affect the immune system, cause inflammation, decrease sex drive, and inhibit the ability to get up in the morning. But now there's hope! * The 4-1-1 on the structure and function of the adrenal gland * Linking inflammation and adrenal fatigue * Connecting food allergy and adrenal issues * How to test for adrenal fatigue * Information on eating patterns for all-day energy and improved concentration * Dealing with other medical conditions and adrenal fatigue * Relaxation tips to reduce stress Adrenal Fatigue For Dummies helps those suffering from this debilitating illness reclaim their lives by addressing the delicate balance among the adrenal glands--which can make the day-to-day difference between feeling awful and feeling good.

Leseprobe

Adrenal Fatigue For Dummies®

Published by: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774, www.wiley.com

Copyright © 2014 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey

Published simultaneously in Canada

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Library of Congress Control Number: 2013954225

ISBN 978-1-118-61580-5 (pbk); ISBN 978-1-118-61569-0 (ebk); ISBN 978-1-118-61578-2 (ebk)

Manufactured in the United States of America

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Adrenal Fatigue For Dummies®

Visit www.dummies.com/cheatsheet/adrenalfatigue to view this book's cheat sheet.

Table of Contents

Foreword

Introduction

About This Book

Foolish Assumptions

Icons Used in This Book

Beyond the Book

Where to Go From Here

Part I: Getting Started with Adrenal Fatigue

Chapter 1: Facing Adrenal Fatigue

Focusing on Adrenal Gland Function

Figuring Out Adrenal Fatigue Factors, Stages, and Symptoms

Being Tested for Adrenal Fatigue

Digging Deeper into Potential Triggers

Stressing out and sleeping poorly

Being inflamed and out of balance

Handling nutrition issues

Getting Treated

Finding a practitioner

Making the most of medications and hormone supplements

Considering alternative treatments

Eating and exercising well

Taking care of yourself at work

Trying Great Recipes for Combatting Adrenal Fatigue

Chapter 2: Understanding the Basics of Adrenal Gland Function

Checking Out the Anatomy of an Adrenal Gland

Producing Necessary Hormones

Analyzing aldosterone

Confronting cortisol

Surveying sexy hormones

Examining epinephrine and norepinephrine

Recognizing the Adrenal Glands’ Importance to Blood and pH Balance

Highs and lows: Pondering blood pressure

Natural reactions: Looking at blood chemistry

A fine line: Handling pH balance

Interacting with Other Parts of the Body

Chapter 3: Defining Adrenal Fatigue

Focusing on Factors That May Lead to Adrenal Fatigue

Looking at heredity

Examining early stressors

Making sense of medication effects

Evaluating environmental and psychological factors

Staging Adrenal Fatigue

The adrenal surge

Sustained hormone secretion

The turning point stage

Adrenal decline

Adrenal exhaustion

Keeping an Eye on Syndromes That Are Related to Adrenal Fatigue

Surveying Cushing's syndrome

Analyzing Addison's disease

Assessing excess aldosterone

Chapter 4: Recognizing the Symptoms of Adrenal Fatigue

Viewing the Vital Signs

Taking your temperature

Measuring your blood pressure

Surveying Blood Sugar

Developing high blood sugar: Hyperglycemia

Handling low blood sugar: Hypoglycemia

Investigating Salt Issues

Swelling up

Craving salt

Feeling Sick and Tired

Being tired all the time

Having trouble sleeping

Losing your sex drive

Battling recurrent infections

Dealing with recurring allergies

Irritating Your Bowel and Bladder

The bowel

The bladder

Managing the Mental and the Emotional: Brain Fog and Depression

Battling brain fog

Dealing with depression

Checking Out Other Related Conditions

Wanting to dance: Restless legs syndrome

Bad to the bone: Osteoporosis

Chapter 5: Testing for Adrenal Fatigue

Filling Out an Adrenal Fatigue Questionnaire

Walking through the sections

Assessing risk factors and tallying the results

Testing Your Hormones for Adrenal Fatigue

Measuring cortisol levels

Testing for other adrenal hormones

Testing other important areas

Evaluating Your Acid-Base Balance

Measuring acidosis in the blood

Looking at urinary pH levels

Checking out the health of the “big three” organs

Investigating Inflammation and Infection

The basics: Examining the ESR and C-reactive protein

Testing for rheumatologic and infectious conditions

Testing for environmental toxins

Putting It All Together and Making the Diagnosis

Part II: Getting a Handle on Potential Trigger Factors

Chapter 6: The Effects of Stressing Out and Sleeping Less

Connecting Stress to Adrenal Fatigue

Examining common stressors

Surveying the symptoms of chronic stress

Reducing stress in your daily life

Linking Sleeplessness to Adrenal Fatigue

Probing sleep problems

Sleeping longer and better

Chapter 7: The Contributions of Inflammation and Acidosis to Adrenal Fatigue

Clarifying the Role of Inflammation in Adrenal Fatigue

Understanding a normal inflammatory response

Experiencing a continued inflammatory response

Considering Causes of Chronic Inflammation

Fighting fibromyalgia syndrome

Reviewing rheumatoid arthritis

Looking at lupus

Talking about thyroid dysfunction

Digging into Lyme disease

Understanding Acidosis and Its Link to Adrenal Fatigue

Explaining pH and acidosis

Buffering excess acid

Checking Out Common Causes of Acidosis

The Western diet

Diabetes

Kidney disease

Lung disease

Chapter 8: Nutrition's Role in Adrenal Fatigue

Surveying the Small Intestine's Structure

Investigating Intestinal Dysbiosis

Assessing antibiotic use

Considering Candida: A fungus among us

Digging into the standard American diet

Fighting food sensitivities and food allergies

Confronting celiac disease

Navigating Nutrient Deficiencies

Managing magnesium

Looking at potassium and calcium

Talking about trace minerals

Breaking down the B vitamins

Keeping an eye on vitamin C

Dealing with vitamin D

Evaluating vitamin E

Boning up on vitamin K

Part III: Treating Adrenal Fatigue

Chapter 9: Finding and Working with a Good Practitioner

Taking an Active Role in Your Healthcare

Taking Action If Your Doctor Won't Listen to You

Understanding the Holistic Approach to Treating Adrenal Fatigue

Choosing Experts for Your Team

A holistic practitioner

A nutritionist

A practitioner who deals with the mind and the spirit

Working Well with Your Team

Maintaining communication

Holding yourself accountable

Chapter 10: Using Medications and Hormone Supplementation

Raising Low Blood Pressure with Medications and Steroid Hormones

Minding midodrine

Supplementing with salt tablets

Handling hydrocortisone

Using fludrocortisone

Replacing Sex Hormones

Before you begin: Understanding bioidentical hormone replacement therapy

Pursuing pregnenolone

Dealing with DHEA

Teasing out testosterone

Adding estrogen

Probing progesterone

Chapter 11: Assessing Natural Treatments

Managing Mineral Depletion

Replacing magnesium

Knowing your potassium

Choosing your calcium wisely

Zeroing in on zinc and other trace minerals

Taking Your Vitamins

Developing a B complex

Seeing vitamin C

Normalizing vitamin D levels

Eyeing vitamin E

Kicking it with vitamin K

Providing Energy to Your Cells

Adding alpha lipoic acid

Choosing carnitine

Rockin’ it with D-ribose

Investigating iodine

Pressing on with pyrroloquinoline quinone

Utilizing ubiquinone(coenzyme Q

10

)

Reducing Inflammation and Providing Antioxidant Support to Your Cells

Connecting with carotenoids

Drinking green tea

Taking up with turmeric

Including quercetin

Balancing Total Body pH

Savoring the alkaline diet

Drinking alkaline water

Going gaga over greens powder

Normalizing Intestinal Health

Probing probiotics

Breaking down nutrients with digestive enzymes

Fighting fungal overgrowth

Getting Some Sleep with the Help of Supplements

Using Stronger Herbs for a Major Boost

Assessing ashwagandha

Evaluating eleuthero

Loving licorice

Reeling it in with Rhodiola

Detoxifying

Chapter 12: Exercising and Eating the Right Way

Staying Safe as You Exercise

Warming up and stretching

Monitoring your vital signs

Staying hydrated

Cooling down(and stretching again)

At Ease: Performing Meditative Exercises

Incorporating yoga

Taking up t'ai chi

Feel the Burn: Enjoying an Aerobic Workout

Walking around the block

Enjoying aquatherapy and swimming

Rowing with light resistance

Riding a bike

Pump It Up: Adding Muscle Resistance Training

Combining Different Forms of Exercise

Preparing Your Body Nutritionally for Exercise

Timing meals and workouts

Looking at leucine

Promoting efficient energy use

Avoiding certain supplements and foods

Working Out the Body Kinks

Pointing out acupuncture

Incorporating reflexology

Choosing Food: It's More Than “Don't Eat This, Don't Eat That!”

Chapter 13: Managing Adrenal Fatigue on the Work Front

Enjoying Time Off from Work

Recognizing the need to take time off

Making sure you don't waste your vacation days

Switching the amount or location of the work you do

Changing your job

Taking Time Out during the Workday

Turning off technology and talking face-to-face

Meditating for a few minutes

Using your senses to relax

Making the most of your lunch hour

Building Exercise into Your Workday

Going places

Moving during the day

Exercising on the way home from work

Eating and Drinking Well during the Workday

Eating all your meals

Eating great food to keep you going

Avoiding foods and drinks that tax your adrenals

Battling Brain Fog in the Workplace

Part IV: Trying Sensational Recipes to Battle Adrenal Fatigue

Chapter 14: Beginning with Energizing Breakfasts

Examining Breakfast Essentials

Juicing It Up

Centrifugal juicers

Masticating juicers

Making a Solid Start to Your Day

Processing protein

Adding whole grains

Chapter 15: Enjoying Fuel-Filled Lunches

Powering Up with Protein

Keeping Lunch Simple

Chapter 16: Tuning In to Dinnertime

Getting Powerful Nutrients at Dinner

Eating Mindfully at Dinner

Recognizing unhealthy relationships with food

Being aware of your food and your body

Chapter 17: Savoring a Snack or Something Sweet

Snacking with Low Glycemic Loads

Eating for Pleasure: The Three-Bite Rule

Part V: The Part of Tens

Chapter 18: More Than Ten Ways to Help Beat Depression in Adrenal Fatigue

Improving Mood with Exercise

Practicing Yoga

Sniffing Your Way to a Better Mood

Opting for Omega-3s

Seeking Out SAM-e

Taking Your B Vitamins

Visiting Vitamin D

Eliminating Yeast

Taking St. John's Wort

Getting Back to Basics (pH)

Detoxing Your Way Out of Depression

Chapter 19: More Than Ten Supplements for Your Immune System

Taking Your Daily Probiotic

Extending an Olive Branch: Olive Leaf Extract

Supplementing with Vitamin D

Opting for a Good Source of Omega-3s

Assessing the Awesome Astragalus

Seeing Vitamin C

Beefing Up Your Immune Health with Beta-Glucans

Getting Tough with Turmeric

Looking at L-lysine

Getting to the Gut with Glutamine

Powering the Brain with Inositol

Correcting Urinary Tract Infections with Cranberry Extract

Chapter 20: Maximizing the Function of Ten Important Organs and Systems

Maximizing Heart Function

Jump-starting the heart

Getting the blood flowing to the heart

Pumping up the heart

Beating broken-heart syndrome

Taking a Deep Breath: The Lungs

No Bones about It: The Skeletal System

Seeing Is Believing: The Eyes

Loving the Liver

Knocking Kidney Disease

Looking at the Lymphatic System

Keeping Your Blood in Circulation

Thanking the Thyroid

Normalizing the Nervous System

About the Authors

Cheat Sheet

More Dummies Products

Guide

Table of Contents

Begin Reading

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Foreword

I was eager to interview Dr. Rich Snyder about adrenal fatigue on my radio show because I’ve long thought it an important issue. He did for my listeners what he and coauthor Wendy Jo Peterson have done in this book: translate complex issues into lay terms. They distilled their impressive research into a guide so practical that it contains recipes. Every reader can learn to feel better, and lives will surely be saved because readers can relieve their symptoms by coming to the aid of their adrenal glands instead of resorting to worrisome medications.

In writing a book about acid reflux, I was shocked that clever marketing has — by convincing Americans that heartburn requires acid-blocking drugs — boosted annual sales of the medications to more than $14 billion. Acid-blockers relieve pain by stopping normal digestion at the risk of potentially life-threatening side effects. And ironically, the acid-suppression approach ignores the fact that insufficient stomach acid is quite often the cause of the reflux.

It now seems acceptable to assume that any health complaint is due to the deficiency of a prescription drug. For example, if a person is depressed, we’re told that he or she needs an antidepressant drug (or two). Seldom do we hear that the cause might be adrenal fatigue, which the antidepressant won’t fix. The automatic response to high blood pressure is hypertension medication. But again, if an adrenal problem is the cause, addressing it would be a safer, more fundamental solution. Likewise, we see popular drugs for insomnia, anxiety, sexual dysfunction, osteoporosis, and back pain — all conditions that might also be due to stressed adrenals. Although medication may be necessary to manage symptoms (at least temporarily), it carries the risk of side effects and isn’t a good substitute for finding the root cause of the problem and fixing it.

Similarly, consumers appear to think that they’re tired because they’re a quart low on coffee. Little do they suspect that their fatigue (as well as the extra inches around their middles) may be related to stressed-out adrenal glands. Of greater concern is the fact that, like other unaddressed imbalances, unresolved adrenal distress can lead to diabetes and other serious health problems over time.

But then, who can blame anyone for ignoring a body part that they can’t see and that doesn’t call attention to itself? There are no instantly associated clues like direct pain or a dash to the bathroom. Adrenal Fatigue For Dummies pro-vides clues that one’s adrenal glands may be overworked as well as specific steps for confirming a problem and treating it.

We shouldn’t be deterred by mainstream medicine’s rather dismissive attitude about the concept of adrenal fatigue. There’s certainly a wealth of supporting science and a huge number of successes in the clinical experience of integrative medical practices. However, except in naturopathic medical schools, little attention may be given to the subject during doctor training. Perhaps an even bigger issue is that third-party payers like insurance companies and government programs don’t typically reimburse for the time required to do the detective work of tracking down and resolving these subtle imbalances.

Fortunately, armed with the facts in Adrenal Fatigue For Dummies, if readers haven’t solved their problems independently, they can be respectful advocates for themselves when they visit their doctor. The right physician will listen and may even want to read the book, which also contains a great deal of helpful general information about how diet and lifestyle affect health. Happily, most all of Dr. Snyder’s nature-based recommendations and Wendy Jo’s recipes and nutrition tips will help not only the adrenals but also many other body systems at the same time. Natural approaches are like that — they offer fringe benefits instead of side effects.

Martie Whittekin, CCNSyndicated radio hostAuthor of Natural Alternatives to Nexium, Maalox, Tagamet,Prilosec & Other Acid Blockers