The Amazing Adrenal Glands

by Georgianna Donadio, MSc, DC, PhD

The ability for a human being to adapt to its environment and to deal with the many ongoing challenges and changes it faces is the hallmark of a healthy body. That we can withstand day to day events that challenge our nervous systems and subsequently our immune systems is the expression that our body is working very efficiently.

Understanding the connection between how events affect our stress adaptation system, primarily the adrenal glands, and how the adrenal's hyper-secretions under stress can create havoc with the digestive and immune systems is important so we can make informed lifestyle choices that will preserve and respect our body and our long term health.

Most of us do not know what stressors are. We tend towards the idea that emotional upset is what constitutes stress. However, there are 12 major categories of stress that can impact our body and health. Unfortunately, we are subject to these stressors on a regular basis. A stressor is any activity or event which requires the body to have to change or adapt to maintain its homeostasis, or balance. Therefore, it becomes essential to know the factors we must be mindful of in order to keep our stress levels in check.

Here are the stressors to be aware of in your day to day life:

> Weather – hot cold, exposure
> Sleep and Rest – not enough
> Infection or silent inflammation in the body
> Allergies – all types
> Dental or medical procedures and surgeries
> Reproduction – for women: menstrual cycle, pregnancy, breast feeding, menopause
> Sexual Activity – men and women
> Nutrition – too much or non-nutritious
> Exertion, exercise – too much or not enough
> Trauma – any form
> Fear, anxiety, worry – ongoing
> Loss or grief

By keeping your stress level low you will reduce wear and tear on your body parts, which in the long term will lead to chronic illness and disease. It is not the stress itself that makes you sick, but the ongoing wear on the body that causes dysfunction and dis-ease.

There are many ways to reduce stress and maintain a balanced nervous system. While the list is endless here are some of the most popular ways to do so:

> Exercise
> Music
> Yoga
> Sports
> Gardening

Each person finds their best way to relax and de-stress. It is something we all need to do on a regular basis to balance or nervous systems and stay healthy!

Next time, we discuss the immune system.

With all good wishes,
G

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