How does stress impact hormone levels? When your brain perceives a threat -- anything from seeing your toddler reach for a hot pan, or sensing the car in front of you swerve suddenly -- your adrenal glands pump out adrenaline.

 

Adrenaline, often called the "fight-or-flight" hormone, quickly signals your stored fat cells to release energy for dealing with the threat. The energy rush is intended to stimulate the body to run away or face the danger, and the adrenaline rush is supposed to recede when the stressful or threatening event is over. However, when the body experiences chronic stress, this healthy process does not work as intended. Instead of pumping out more adrenaline, chronic stress causes the adrenal glands to secrete more cortisol. Initially cortisol levels are elevated, but if stress is ongoing, the adrenal glands become exhausted over time, so that they are unable to produce even normal amounts of cortisol. When cortisol levels remain too high or too low for an extended period of time, the disequilibrium wreaks havoc on the body, creating a condition called " adrenal fatigue." Out-of-normal-range cortisol levels destroy healthy muscle and bone, slow down healing and normal cell regeneration, impair digestion, cause abdominal weight gain, lead to insulin resistance, dull mental processes, interfere with healthy endocrine function, and weaken your immune system.  So what can you do?