The majority of women experience hot flashes, night sweats, heart palpitations, interrupted sleep, and irritability in menopause. And for a large portion of women, these symptoms either pass on their own, or they opt for hormone replacement therapy, which can reduce or eliminate their complaints.
But then there are the patients who wind up in my office: the ones whose hormone levels are ideal, who faithfully take their meds, and who still have hot flashes, night sweats, or heart palpitations. These women inevitably come in and ask for higher doses or a change in meds. I’m happy to oblige, but after two or three tries, I want to address the elephant in the room: It’s not the hormones they think that are causing the problems. Instead of an issue with their female hormones like estrogen and progesterone, it’s a dysfunction in their stress hormones—caused by adrenal fatigue.
The good news is that adrenal fatigue is fixable. The bad news is that it requires you to do less, rest more, and stop pushing yourself so hard. Because the hormones that are likely out of balance are your adrenal hormones, which come from your adrenal glands, what you have is adrenal fatigue or adrenal stress. In my private practice I frequently see individuals who have asked too much of their bodies, slept too little, worked too much, stressed too much, had too much alcohol, or simply crossed the line of what their individual body can handle in a day. So what’s a woman to do? Well, first, I recommend finding yourself a good functional medicine provider! The overall goal is supporting your adrenals so that they can properly function and not be stressed. While you are waiting for your appointment, I recommend the following:
- Stop drinking alcohol.
It’s time to say goodbye to wine, beer, and mixed drinks for a while. Not only do they stress the adrenals, but they raise your blood sugar—which is inflammatory and puts additional pressure on the adrenals.
- Get to bed on time.
Depending on your specific schedule, going to bed “on time” is around 10 p.m.—and you should be eliminating screens at least 30 minutes before that! When you stay up much later, you get a “second wind” of cortisol secretion, and this can impair your sleep or make it hard to fall asleep since your body is ready for work!
- Start meditating.
We don’t all need to be meditation masters, but we do all need to make time to sit in silence with no other inputs (TV, computer, kids, radio, etc.) and breathe. Focus on making your exhale longer than your inhale for at least 20 minutes. This will lower cortisol and improve digestion, blood sugar balance, and the ability of your body to repair itself. What do you have to lose? Meditation is more important now than ever.
- Eliminate processed carbs and sugar.
These foods are inflammatory and therefore put stress the body. In particular, they stress the adrenal glands and disrupt your blood sugar levels. Once they’re feeling better, most people can go back to eating them in moderation.
- Rein in your worries.
This is, by far, the hardest! But it’s so important to stop being anxious about the things you cannot control. Anxiety and stress activate the adrenals, and if they’re busy pumping out cortisol, you won’t be able to heal. Techniques like journaling and cognitive behavioral therapy can help with this.
Overwhelmed? Don’t be. Pick one thing, get comfortable with it, and add in another when you’re ready. Don’t get impatient, either. (It stresses your adrenals!). If you’ve been out of balance for a while, it’s going to take a while to get back into balance!
Article: Mindbodygreen by Wendie Trubow, M.D., MBA
Photo: Guille Faingold
The views expressed in this article intend to highlight alternative studies and induce conversation. They are the views of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of Safe & Chic, and are for informational purposes only, even if and to the extent that this article features the advice of physicians and medical practitioners. This article is not, nor is it intended to be, a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and should never be relied upon for specific medical advice.
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