2. One potential problem is when you don’t produce enough of a certain hormone. This is known as adrenal insufficiency. You may need to take additional hormones to counteract it.

3. Symptoms of adrenal insufficiency to look out for include weakness, dizziness, loss of appetite, changes in skin color, muscle aches, nausea, irregular periods, low blood sugar and low blood pressure. If untreated, the pain and weakness can become worse and you may experience shock or kidney failure. It can be fatal.

4. Diagnosis is impossible without a doctor. Many of these symptoms can be associated with other conditions. Generally, you will need a blood or urine test to measure your hormone levels. An ACTH stimulation test specifically measures the stress response of the adrenal gland. Scans like CTs and MRIs can be used to check for physical abnormalities causing the glands to malfunction.

5. There are multiple conditions that can cause adrenal insufficiency, including Addison’s disease and congenital adrenal hyperplasia. You may need to take medication for life to replace the missing hormones.

6. Problems also occur when your adrenal hormones are too high. Nodules (benign or malignant) can cause the adrenal glands to become overactive and may require surgery to remove.

7. Conditions associated with excess hormone production include Cushing syndrome for excess cortisol, hyperaldosteronism or Conn syndrome for excess aldosterone, and pheochromocytoma for excess adrenaline. Each has different symptoms and treatment.

8. Cushing syndrome causes weight gain but thin arms and legs. You may have fat lumps at the back of the neck. Other symptoms include weakness, fatigue, stretch marks, excess hair growth and easy bruising that is slow to heal. It can be caused by medication for inflammatory or autoimmune conditions, so that medication may need adjusting.

9. Hyperaldosteronism causes low potassium levels, which can cause weakness, muscle aches and spasms. It can also cause high blood pressure. Treatment may depend on the cause, but you could need a high-potassium diet.

10. Pheochromocytoma is a type of tumor that causes sweating, high blood pressure and an increased heartrate. Depending on the tumor, it may require surgery, radiation or chemotherapy.

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That may be true, but don’t get carried away. Exercising is good. Overtraining is bad, wearing out your body and mind until they can’t function properly. You need time to rest and recover. Without taking breaks, you may be more at risk of what’s known as “adrenal insufficiency” (https://www.omicsonline.org/open-access/overtraining-exercise-and-adrenal-insufficiency-2165-7025.1000125.php?aid=11717).

Adrenal insufficiency is a pretty self-explanatory condition. It’s when your adrenal glands aren’t working properly and don’t produce enough of the hormones you need. This can lead to tiredness, physical weakness and lack of energy. You may also experience low moods.

Lots of things can cause problems with your adrenal glands, but overtraining doesn’t help. That’s especially true when the training is accompanied by significant stress. This can overwhelm the glands and leave your body unable to cope with the extreme demands being placed on it.

The adrenal glands react strongly to stress, whether it’s physical, mental or emotional. It’s the adrenal glands that release stress hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol. These are what control your so-called “fight or flight” response, when things like your heartbeat and breathing change to make you ready to run away or to battle an apparent threat. It’s a state you can only be in for a short length of time before your body starts experiencing damage.

Occasional overtraining probably isn’t going to cause significant issues. It’s when it becomes chronic, or you do it all the time, that it becomes a source of worry. The more and more you overtrain, the less and less time you have for recovery. This can lead to ongoing symptoms and an inability to perform even when you have a major event or competition approaching.

You do need to be aware of the risks of overtraining because symptoms may not be immediately apparent. Your adrenal glands could be overworking and underproducing for a while before you notice anything’s wrong. If the first time the problem is officially acknowledged is when you reach a crisis point, it’s going to be much harder to fix it. The earlier it’s caught, the more chances you have to heal.

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There are several main types of hormones produced in the adrenal glands and all have an important role to play. Hormones are messengers, instructing organs, tissue and other parts of the body on how to behave. They control everything about how we grow and change.

First up are the corticosteroids. Of particular note are aldosterone and cortisol. Then there are sex hormones, particularly androgens. Catecholamines include epinephrine and norepinephrine (adrenaline and noradrenaline in other parts of the world).

Aldosterone is what’s known as a mineralocorticoid. It works by sending messages to the kidneys, telling them when they need to absorb salt/sodium or release potassium. It also has an impact on blood volume. Salt and blood volume are both important when it comes to controlling your blood pressure. Aldosterone also has a role regulating electrolytes in the blood.

Cortisol is the most prominent of the glucocorticoids. Its many roles include influencing your glucose levels, partially because of how it controls protein and fat. It also has anti-inflammatory properties and can reduce the amount of bone your body creates. Cortisol is connected to your circadian rhythms, or sleep cycle. Another famous function is giving you an energy boost in times of high stress.

Androgens are male sex hormones, but in the adrenal glands, they aren’t particularly strong. Instead, they can be converted into the more powerful testosterone or estrogen. This happens in the sex organs, the testes and ovaries. Most important of the adrenal androgens is dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA).

Epinephrine and norepinephrine are even more famous than cortisol when it comes to your stress response. They can make your heart rate rise and your blood flow increase. Your blood pressure may go up, and your blood vessels may narrow. It’s also likely to affect your breathing. This is all part of what is commonly called the fight-or-flight response, one of our most natural instincts when we’re facing danger.

We need all of these hormones to function properly, and that means we need to have healthy adrenal glands. Adrenal health may not sound like the most exciting topic, but it is vital.

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You might not know what your adrenal glands do or why they’re important, but I’m here to tell you that you really need to look after them.

I’ve offered you advice on all kinds of health-related topics, from the supplements you should take and proper exercise regimens to how to get your mind in the right place. Now I’m revealing everything you need to know about adrenal health.

That means knowing how your adrenal glands work, what problems to look out for and how to keep them at their best. Once you’re on top of all that, you can feel confident that your adrenal health is good and will stay that way.

First, you need to know what adrenal health is. Humans have two adrenal glands, one above each kidney. They’re part of the endocrine system, which means they produce hormones. Your hormones are responsible for a range of different bodily functions. In the case of the adrenal glands, the hormones include cortisol, aldosterone and (not surprisingly, given the name) adrenaline.

Cortisol and aldosterone are both steroids. Cortisol can affect your blood sugar levels and immune system, while aldosterone has a big impact on your blood pressure. Adrenaline is what controls the body’s “fight or flight” response, with both adrenaline and cortisol increasing in stressful situations.

As you can see, these are important functions, so it’s worrying when the adrenal glands don’t work as they should. There are several conditions that can disrupt the adrenal glands, including Addison’s disease, Cushing’s syndrome, Pheochromocytoma, adrenal cancer and Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH). These are an autoimmune disease, various types of cancer and a genetic condition. Trouble elsewhere in the endocrine system, particularly the pituitary gland (which controls the adrenal glands) can also cause problems.

The main way to diagnose adrenal problems is with a blood test. Ultrasounds and MRIs can also be used to check the physical shape and condition of your glands. If you do have a recognized condition, treatment could mean hormone replacement therapy if your hormone levels are too low (as in Addison’s disease) or different medication if levels are too high. Hydrocortisone is one of the most common ways to increase cortisol if your body doesn’t produce enough of it.

What this doesn’t cover is adrenal fatigue. This term is used to describe when high stress levels cause your adrenal glands to go into overdrive, though it’s not an official medical term (adrenal inefficiency is official and occurs when you don’t produce enough cortisol because of stress). Too much cortisol and adrenaline means being stuck in your “fight or flight” mode for an unhealthy length of time, causing tiredness and irritation among other symptoms.

Managing adrenal fatigue involves returning to the basics of a balanced, nutritious diet, healthy sleep patterns and regular exercise. This can improve your physical and mental wellbeing, including adrenal health. Avoid too much sugar, caffeine, fried or processed foods and eat more vegetables. You should also try to eat regularly rather than skipping meals. Managing stress is one of the most important ways to stop your adrenal glands from becoming overworked, so find time to relax. These simple steps should help keep your adrenal glands on track.

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