OH! Magazine - Australian Version March 2014 (Australian Version) | Page 14

(OH, Really?)

ARE YOU AT RISK OF
ADRENAL BURNOUT?
Adrenal fatigue, adrenal exhaustion, adrenal burnout…
is this where your stress overload is taking you? Karina Stewart explains.

he adrenal glands, which sit just
above the kidneys, are hormone
producers. As well as secreting
hormones
like
oestrogens
and
testosterone, they are also the
production house for the stress response
hormones, adrenalin and cortisol.
Under normal stress conditions, the
adrenal glands in a healthy individual
are able to adequately regulate hormone

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ISSUE 8 ( OH! MAGAZINE )

secretions. However, with severe or

adrenal burnout.

prolonged stress, the adrenals can take

Excessive stress is the main cause.

a beating. Essentially, what happens is

Working too much, sleeping too little,

that the adrenal glands go into overdrive,

the constant demands of a fast-paced,

trying to keep up with the body’s need

high-stress lifestyle, and even stressful

for adrenalin. Eventually, this wears the

life events can compromise the adrenals.

adrenals

become

Although it can affect anybody, those

underactive. It may begin with mild

most at risk are Type A personalities who

symptoms of adrenal fatigue, but over

are seen as highly productive and highly

time can lead to severely debilitating

successful; the sort of people who burn

down

and

they