cortisol – Hello Doctor

I’m always tired. Could it be Addison’s disease?

January 13th, 2020 by Content Editor

It’s not even 7am and you’re already exhausted… you didn’t even have a late night! Perhaps a third cup of coffee will help keep you alert?

If you’ve been feeling fatigued lately or experiencing pain and/or unexplained weight loss, it’s possible you could have Addison’s disease.

Your adrenal glands, located on top of your kidneys, produce many of the hormones your body needs to function at its best. When your adrenal glands are out of whack, Addison’s disease develops because your body can’t produce enough of the hormones cortisol and aldosterone. These hormones are important because they’re in charge of giving instructions to almost every tissue and organ in your body.

The symptoms for Addison’s disease usually develop slowly over a few months, and include extreme fatigue, low blood pressure, decreased appetite, salt cravings, darkening of the skin, nausea and weight loss. You may also experience muscle and abdominal pain, depression and body hair loss.

You could be at risk for Addison’s disease if you:

Take blood-thinning medication (anticoagulants)
Have a chronic condition like tuberculosis
Had surgery where a part of your adrenal gland was removed
Have an autoimmune disease like Type 1 diabetes or Graves’ disease
Have cancer

Prevention

Although Addison’s disease itself cannot be prevented, taking steps to prevent those conditions associated with it could lower your risk.

Managing these risk factors may prevent Addison’s disease:

Treating fungal infections.
Treating diabetes.
Identifying cancer symptoms to prevent cells from spreading into the adrenal glands and bloodstream.
Treating bacterial infection like tuberculosis

How is Addison’s disease treated?

Treatment depends on the underlying cause of your condition, but both lifestyle change and medication are used to manage the condition.

Untreated Addison’s disease may lead to a severe case of the disease. Once you have your treatment plan, you must follow it correctly.

If you develop other conditions related to Addison’s disease like high blood pressure, your doctor will need to treat that too.

Medications

Usually prescribed to decrease inflammation in the body, medications are taken for the rest of your life to effectively manage your disease. In addition, hormone replacements may be prescribed to replace any hormones your adrenal glands are struggling to produce.

Home care

It’s crucial that you always keep your medication on you. Make sure you have an emergency kit with you and add a medical alert card to let others know about your condition.

Lifestyle changes

Manage your stress levels and keep an overall healthy lifestyle. Talk to your doctor about stress-relieving techniques like yoga, Tai Chi or meditation. Simple exercises like walking or jogging are excellent stress busters too.

References:

Stressed, or just hangry? Try these snacks to calm down

October 21st, 2019 by Content Editor

You just lashed out at your roommate for asking you to pass the TV remote. They haven’t done anything annoying, so what gives? Chances are you’re hangry – a combination of hunger and anger.

If you haven’t eaten for a while, your blood sugar becomes low. When this happens, cortisol (stress hormone) and adrenaline are released to try and raise your blood sugar again. These hormones could also lead to feelings like annoyance and irritability.

In fact, researchers from Ohio State University in America conducted a study surrounding the phenomenon of feeling hangry in relationships. They found that if a participant’s blood sugar level was lower, they were more aggressive towards their partner.

In addition, a hormone called Neuropeptide Y also plays a role in creating the hungry feeling and is also linked to aggression.

So, when does hanger kick in?

Hanger kicks in whenever your blood sugar is low. The lower it is, the hangrier (more irritable) you’ll be. The feelings of hunger and irritation is your body’s way of telling you to eat food, right now. Sadly, when this happens, your body tells you to eat something that will spike your sugar quickly, and before you know it, you’re chomping on biscuits, chocolate and cakes – all treats that will inevitably lead to a crash which will make you cranky again.

Instead of sugary treats, reach for healthier snacks that will help your body maintain your sugar levels. Try these:

Nibble to sustain your sugar levels:

Go nuts
Snacking on nuts is a great way to keep your cortisol levels low. Good options are pistachios, almonds, walnuts and cashews. Don’t eat more than a dozen of nuts per day though as you can wrack up your daily calories.

Nosh on berries
When the hanger kicks in, a dose of Vitamin C could help ease the stress and agitation. Choose strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and blackberries for a boost.

Spread some avocado
Snacking on a few slices of avo could help as it contains B vitamins. Research has shown that B vitamins can ease anxiety. Avocado is rich in potassium and monounsaturated fat which keeps you fuller for longer and lowers your blood pressure.

Have a slice
Good old peanut butter and bread can keep the hunger at bay. Peanut butter contains healthy fats and protein which keeps you fuller for longer. Choose a slice of wholegrain bread with one and a half to two tablespoons of (sugar-free) peanut butter. If you’re cutting carbs, swap the bread for celery sticks.

Indulge in dark chocolate
Research has shown that cacao could help regulate blood sugar levels as it contains a flavonoid called epicatechin. The easiest way to add cacao to your diet is to munch on dark chocolate. Dark chocolate contains more cacao than regular chocolate and is the ultimate endorphin boosting food. Choose dark chocolate with 70% or more cacao. Eat it in moderation and remember to check the sugar content.

Sip on green tea
If you’re especially hangry, green tea could ease your frazzled state. Green tea is packed with theanine, which increases the relaxation alpha waves your body produces.

References:

Under the spotlight: Cortisol

July 16th, 2018 by The Hello Doctor Team

Think of cortisol as your body’s alarm system. It’s the main stress hormone which helps fuel your body’s fight or flight response in emergencies. Cortisol works with certain parts of the brain to help control your mood, motivation and fear responses.

What does cortisol do?

Triangle-shaped hormones called the adrenal glands make cortisol. Almost every cell in your body has receptors for cortisol, so this means that cortisol is involved in different actions in the body.

These include:

Managing how your body uses carbohydrates, fats, and proteins.
Acting as an anti-inflammatory when needed.
Regulating your blood pressure.
Increasing your blood sugar (glucose).
Regulating your metabolism.
Controlling your sleep and wake cycle.
Controlling your salt and water balance.
Boosting energy so you can handle stress and restoring balance afterward.

When cortisol goes out of whack

It’s important that your body produces the right amount of cortisol because too much or too little could wreak havoc on your body. Your body usually produces the right amount, but in conditions like Cushing’s syndrome (too much cortisol), and Addison’s syndrome, (too little cortisol), it doesn’t.

Symptoms of too much cortisol include:

Weight gain, particularly around the abdomen and face.
Thin and fragile skin that’s slow to heal.
Acne.
Facial hair and irregular menstrual periods in women.

Symptoms of insufficient cortisol include:

Exhaustion.
Nausea and vomitting.
Weight loss
Muscle weakness.
Pain in the abdomen.

Balance your cortisol levels

There are ways to keep your cortisol levels in check, naturally.

1. Eat anti-inflammatory foods

Blood sugar imbalances can throw off your body’s processes, including how much cortisol is released from the adrenal gland. This happens because blood sugar imbalances contribute to inflammation. To prevent this, it’s important to follow an anti-inflammatory diet. Cut out excess sugar, processed carbohydrates and grains. Replace these with healthy fats like avocado, fish, olives and coconut. Include some nuts and seeds like almonds, pumpkin seeds and macadamias. Lastly, include moderate amounts of protein, along with fibrous veggies like broccoli, cabbage, beans, asparagus and beetroot.

2. Destress your life

Stress is a big culprit when it comes to imbalances in the body, including adrenal gland dysfunction which affects cortisol levels. It’s important to take proper time out to relax. Start with doing daily meditation, prayer, deep breathing, journalling or stretching. Reflecting on the stressors in your life and doing all you can to minimise these culprits can help, too. For example, if the daily work commute stresses you out, try to reduce your travelling time. If certain people affect you negatively, respect your personal space and limit your time with them. Do things you enjoy in your downtime, like writing, watching a movie or spending time outdoors with loved ones.

3. Up your magnesium levels

Excessive stress drains the body of magnesium. It’s important to prevent this from happening as magnesium helps to balance cortisol levels by improving blood sugar, promoting relaxation, improving sleep and your ability to adapt to stress. Eat magnesium-rich foods like wholewheat, spinach, quinoa, almonds, black beans and tofu. Talk to your doctor about a magnesium supplement. It’s a great way top up your magnesium stores.

4. Sleep well

For your body to cope with stress, you need balance by way of relaxation (quality sleep). Getting a good night’s rest regularly does wonders for the body; more especially, deep sleep. Deep sleep helps rejuvenate your brain and restore your body’s internal balance.

References

Ladies: What’s messing with your hormones?

July 26th, 2016 by The Hello Doctor Team

When you hear ‘hormones’, you probably think of PMS or bodybuilders, but every process in your body is driven by different hormones. Here are a few things that can make it all go wrong. Continue reading “Ladies: What’s messing with your hormones?”