Adrenal Function (4-point) testing

The adrenal glands are located on top of each kidney. They produce a number of important hormones, including cortisol, aldosterone, adrenaline, DHEA, and small amounts of sex hormones called androgens and estrogens.

These hormones have a number of responsibilities, including controlling blood sugar level, burning protein and fat, assisting in regulating blood pressure, and reacting to stressors (mental and physical), for example anxiety and fright, as well as major illness or injury.  One hormone of clinical significance is epinephrine, also called adrenaline. Adrenaline is known as one of your "fight or flight" hormones. It is responsible for increasing your body’s blood pressure by constricting your blood vessels, while doing the opposite in your lungs (helping you to breath better) during times of stress.

In additional, the "fight or flight" hormones cause restriction of blood flow to some regions of your body, especially your digestive system. The purpose of this is to shunt or divert blood flow from non-essential organs to the ones that are of most importance to survival. For instance, if you need to run from a bear, your digestive tract isn't needed at that moment. What is needed is more oxygen and other nutrients to your muscles, eyes, heart, etc. These are essential to your survival at the time. The purpose is to help you become completely alert and have an abundance of quick energy.

Unfortunately, our bodies respond to most types of stress in the same way. It doesn’t know the difference between an actual dangerous situation and an emotional thought, such as the anxiety of meeting a work deadline, or the loss of a loved one. Its response is always to increase adrenaline and other adrenal hormones.

Most of the time the body's response to stress isn't an issue providing that the stressor is short-lived. However, a significance issue can develop when there is constant emotional stress placed on the body. This can lead to various issues, including poor digestion, adrenal fatigue or chronic fatigue, as well as strain on your; thyroid gland, heart, and a number of other health issues.

In addition to increasing adrenaline, constant stress causes the increased production of another hormone called cortisol. Elevated levels of cortisol can lead to increased blood sugar level, weight gain, decreased libido, sexual dysfunction, poor memory, hair loss, as well as other health issues.

We do a thorough adrenal glands evaluation, including a comprehensive 4-point adrenal function test, and various in-office evaluations.