The Endocrine System / The Adrenal Glands	Navigate This Article What are the Adrenal Glands? The Adrenal Medulla Symptoms of Adrenal Gland Dysfunction Conditions That Suggest Low Adrenal Function Risk Factors for Low Adrenal Function Adrenal Insufficiency Suggests This Low Metabolic Energy
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Due to our modern society with the many physical and emotional stresses, probably half the population possess varying degrees of adrenal malfunction.

Conditions that suggest Low Adrenal Function / Adrenal Insufficiency:
Autoimmune	Lupus, SLE (Systemic Lupus Erythromatosis)     Lupus is one of the auto-immune diseases, caused by a hyperactive ("hypervigilant") immune system that attacks a person's own protein as if it were foreign matter. One reason for this is poor adrenal function. Adrenal steroids modulate (slow down) the immune system: when there is not enough of these steroids the immune system goes berserk. Hyperthyroidism Chronic Thyroiditis Crohn's Disease Ulcerative Colitis Counter-indicators: {addisons} Addison's Disease
Circulation	Counter-indicators: Anemia (Iron deficiency)
Diet	Sugar Craving
Hormones	Low Sex Drive Low Progesterone or Estrogen Dominance     The inner most layer of an adrenal gland is the zona reticularis which produces small amounts of sex hormones. Specifically, it produces androgen, estrogen and progesterone. Adrenal exhaustion can therefore cause hormone deficiencies. Hypothyroidism   The co-existence of thyroid hormone deficiency and glucocorticoid deficiency is not rare. Primary hypothyroidism due to chronic autoimmune thyroiditis is associated with primary adrenocortical insufficiency due to autoimmune adrenalitis. The very cause of central hypothyroidism in many instances will also result in ACTH deficiency and secondary adrenocortical insufficiency. If the two entities co-exist, it is important to replace glucocorticoid before starting thyroxine. Treatment of hypothyroidism in patients with glucocorticoid deficiency may precipitate an adrenal crises because the adrenal gland is incapable to meet the increasing demand for cortisol induced by the rise of the metabolic rate. Hirsutism (excess facial and/or body hair)
Immunity	AIDS / Risk     Adrenal insufficiency is considerably less common than hypogonadism in people with HIV, but its incidence increases in advanced cases. Weakened Immune System   Adrenal insufficiency can lead to a host of problems, including a weakened immune response, anxiety and panic attacks.
Infections	Shingles (Herpes Zoster) Sinusitis Counter-indicators: Lyme Disease
Inflammation	Chronic Inflammation     The adrenal glands produce hydrocortisol, the major natural anti-inflammatory steroid in the body. Without enough circulating cortisol there may be a tendency to become easily inflamed.
Lab Values	A Low IgM Level
Mental	Stress Unresolved Grief   Adrenal fatigue increases the time it takes to recover from illness, injury and trauma, including emotional trauma. Anxiety   Adrenal insufficiency can lead to a host of problems, including a weakened immune response, anxiety and panic attacks.
Metabolic	Hypoglycemia Headaches, Migraine/Tension
Musculo-Skeletal	{arthritis_rheumatoid} Rheumatoid Arthritis
Nervous System	Fainting / Syncope
Organ Health	Diabetes Type II / Risk Esophagitis
Respiratory	Asthma
Skin-Hair-Nails	Dry skin Hives Cold Hands and Feet {acne} Adult Acne
Symptoms - Muscular	History of/having a fibromyalgia diagnosis
Uro-Genital	Fibrocystic Breast Disease     [The Safe Uses of Cortisol, William Mck. Jefferies, MD 1996, p.156] Erectile Dysfunction (ED, Impotence) Dysmenorrhea, Painful Menstruation   Dysmenorrhea caused by ovarian dysfunction may disappear when low doses of cortisol are used to improve adrenal influence on ovarian function. [The Safe Uses of Cortisol, William Mck. Jefferies, MD 1996, p.157] Metrorrhagia
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An excellent test for determining adrenal function is the Adrenocortex Stress Profile. Read more about the test by clicking the box: