Adrenal Health
Home » Adrenal Health
Physician-led adrenal care in Surfside Beach for people who feel tired for no reason — beginning with a careful history, a physical exam, and a 4-point diurnal saliva cortisol test.
MEET YOUR PHYSICIAN
Allen Smolenski, M.D.
Dr. Smolenski founded Coastal Medical Clinic in 2009 after his own health transformation — losing nearly 60 pounds, then placing third in a national natural bodybuilding contest at age 44. His patients travel from as far as Virginia for help with hormone balance, nutritional deficiencies and age-related illness.
Emergency Medicine physician · Fellowship training in Anti-Aging & Regenerative Medicine (A4M) · Founder, Coastal Medical Clinic
Meet Dr. Smolenski →Could it be adrenal fatigue?
Do you feel tired for no reason, even after 12 hours of sleep? Do you have trouble getting up in the morning? Do you use coffee, colas, or sweet and salty snacks for energy? Do you feel run down and stressed? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you may be experiencing adrenal fatigue.
The adrenal glands are small, triangular-shaped endocrine glands that sit on top of the two kidneys. They are responsible for releasing hormones in conjunction with stress through the synthesis of cortisol and adrenaline (epinephrine). The adrenals also secrete hormones such as DHEA — and, to a lesser extent, testosterone and estrogens. After menopause, the adrenals become the major source for these hormones in women.
The adrenal hormones help to balance your blood sugar, which helps your body manage its demands for energy: when blood sugar drops, the adrenals release cortisol, causing blood sugar to rise and thereby increasing energy. The adrenals also release hormones when we're under stress — the “fight or flight” response from the days when our ancestors needed to fight for their lives in the wilderness. Today, the wilderness has been taken over by traffic jams, arguments, and pressures at work and home. Constant stress takes a toll on your adrenal glands, and eventually they stop producing adequate hormones. Most doctors fail to diagnose this condition because they have been taught to only diagnose extreme dysfunction in the adrenals, such as Addison's disease — a true emergency, where the adrenals fail to produce enough cortisol to keep us alive.
Cortisol: the hormone at the center of it
The hormone cortisol is produced in the adrenal cortex in response to adrenal cortical stimulating hormone (ACTH) produced in the pituitary gland. Cortisol plays an important role in regulating blood sugar, energy production, inflammation, the immune system and healing — and it is the only hormone in the human body that increases with age. Cortisol and DHEA are both made by your adrenal glands, which also make most of your steroid hormones after menopause.
Cortisol's functions include balancing blood sugar, weight control, immune system response, bone turnover rate, stress reaction, sleep, protein synthesis, and mood and thoughts — and it affects the pituitary, thyroid and adrenal systems. If you have too little cortisol, you may suffer from chronic fatigue and exhaustion. If your adrenal glands are producing too much, you may develop weight gain, especially around the abdomen, depressed immune function, accelerated aging and stomach ulcers. Abnormal cortisol levels are also associated with menopause, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, depression, impotence, anorexia nervosa, panic disorders, PMS, infertility, sleep disorders, osteoporosis and heart disease.
All of the hormones in your body work together — for good health, they all have to be balanced at an optimal level. The adrenal glands are not particular: any kind of stress will do. Environmental stress (heat, cold, noise), chemical stress (pollution, drugs), physical stress (overexertion, trauma, infection), psychological stress (worry, fear) and biochemical stress (nutritional deficiencies, refined sugar consumption) are all additive and cumulative in their effects. When your adrenal glands stay hyper-stimulated, they eventually weaken or burn out — which is why DHEA and cortisol levels are so low, and one of the reasons progesterone levels are not optimal. Reaching for coffee, soft drinks or sugar for energy only makes matters worse.
Signs of adrenal fatigue
The signs include brain fog and cloudy-headedness; mild depression; low thyroid function; low blood sugar levels; fatigue — especially morning and mid-afternoon; sleep disruption; low blood pressure; frequent infections; inflammation; salt and sugar cravings; muscle and joint pain; reduced sex drive and erectile dysfunction; and a diminished ability to deal with stress.
What your care includes
Using a functional medicine approach, Dr. Smolenski treats adrenal fatigue and related hormonal imbalance by focusing on the bio-chemically unique aspects of each patient. His interventions treat the cause of adrenal fatigue, not just mask the symptoms. The treatment program incorporates lifestyle modifications, relaxation techniques, and supplements and prescriptions to assist your adrenal recovery and alleviate your symptoms:
History, exam and saliva testing
We diagnose adrenal fatigue based on a careful history, a physical exam and a 4-point diurnal salivary cortisol hormone test — comprehensive saliva testing that determines how much cortisol you are producing, and the time of day it is being produced.
Bioidentical hormone therapy when necessary
Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy is started when necessary. State-of-the-art diagnostic testing utilizing urine, blood and salivary specimens is used to assess your hormone balance.
Nutrients and herbs that support the adrenals
The program is supplemented with pharmaceutical-grade nutrients and herbs. Vitamins B, C and E, minerals such as magnesium and calcium, and herbs including licorice root extract, ashwagandha and ginseng may be used to support your adrenal function — and nutritional supplementation is very valuable in restoring normal cortisol levels.
Stress reduction and scheduled rest
Stress reduction is an essential part of all efforts to normalize cortisol — without it, all therapeutic and support measures will eventually fail. Rest must be managed and scheduled as a deliberate strategy, and stress management practiced with exercise, tai-chi or yoga, meditation, and time with friends whose company you enjoy.
Food and sleep that rebuild
Avoid excessive caffeine, high-glycemic carbohydrates, alcohol and sugar; instead, eat regular meals throughout the day that include quality protein with complex carbohydrates, on a low-glycemic diet. Getting enough sleep at night is essential for the body to regenerate and repair the adrenal glands — night is when your growth hormone levels peak.
Ongoing evaluations
Follow-up focuses on balancing your hormones in accordance with your symptoms. After starting therapy, Dr. Smolenski meets with you to discuss your progress and symptoms and to monitor your hormone levels.
RELATED ARTICLES
Keep reading
Adrenal Fatigue
Cortisol, stress and weight: why cortisol works against weight loss, and how adrenal fatigue is diagnosed.
Read article →Daily Program for Adrenal Recovery
A structured daily program for supporting your adrenal recovery.
Read article →Gastrointestinal Health
The gut's role in overall health, and its connection to the rest of the hormone picture.
Read article →Ready to discuss what's next?
Request a consultation with Dr. Smolenski to discuss your concerns, your evaluation, and the appropriate next steps for your care.