**I wrote this article for livestrong.com, along with several others over the years. They edit the articles down to the point that they are very generic, and require that the topic is very specific.
They ask "experts" to write a short article with a title that is the very same as a question a person has asked livestrong.com. They also ask "experts" to make videos on topics that people have "googled." So the title of my video series may be "How do I lose weight using shake weight" or some other exercise trend. This is why I do not recommend the company (as well as other professionals i know).
Recently, I noticed that they removed author acknowledgment on my articles posted on their site, and I do not agree with that practice at all, and will post my work, that I find, or links to it.
Does Running Burn Out Your Adrenals? (yes-this is a specific livestrong, user-imposed, question-title)
Status: Accepted
Introduction
Moderation is key in training. Overtraining Syndrome is linked to adrenal problems.
Jupiterimages/Comstock/Getty Images
Running, or any aerobic training in moderation, has a positive effect on health. There is a point of diminishing returns, however, where chronic stress from overtraining, which is common in runners, correlates with problems in the adrenal glands. Overtraining syndrome (OS) has been linked with adrenal insufficiency. There is a direct link between stress and the adrenal glands, and the physical stress of overtraining may cause the hormones produced in these glands to become depleted. It is important to note that only extreme, chronic overtraining can cause adrenal problems.
Adrenal Insufficiency
Adrenal insufficiency is the inability of the adrenal glands to produce a normal quantity of hormones, which leads to a reduced ability to cope with stress. Adrenal depletion is a milder form of insufficiency, while Addison's disease is a total adrenal gland shutdown, which involves more extreme symptoms that require longer to correct. Addison’s disease is an autoimmune disorder, which has life-threatening complications.
Symptoms of adrenal insufficiency can be directly traced to a reduced secretion of certain hormones. Within the medulla, or inner core, of the kidney, both epinephrine and norepinephrine are released during the fight-flight response to stress. Stress in the body can be physical, mental, emotional or even imagined stress; all have the same impact on the release of hormones and the effect of stress on your body.
Symptoms of adrenal insufficiency can be directly traced to a reduced secretion of certain hormones. Within the medulla, or inner core, of the kidney, both epinephrine and norepinephrine are released during the fight-flight response to stress. Stress in the body can be physical, mental, emotional or even imagined stress; all have the same impact on the release of hormones and the effect of stress on your body.
The HPA Axis and Stress
The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is highly involved in your body’s short-term and long-term responses to stress. Other hormones related to the stress response include corticotropin-releasing hormone and adrenocorticotrophic hormone. In cases of adrenal depletion, these other hormones are often found to be in short supply, or they can be found to be abnormally high. The HPA axis functions to maintain hormone levels by balancing hormones at each level of the axis. The hypothalalmus releases corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), which causes the pituitary to release adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH). ACTH causes the outer cortex of the adrenal gland to increase in size and to release cortisol. At times, serum cortisol may be found to be at a normal level while ACTH is low. Adrenal depletion involves the entire HPA-axis; the earlier the problem is discovered, the less the axis will be affected.
Types of Adrenal Insufficiency
Adrenal insufficiency can be divided into two types, a primary and a secondary form, depending on the duration of disease and the primary hormones affected. Primary adrenal insufficiency results from a loss of both cortisol and aldosterone secretion due to the near or total destruction (Addison’s) of both adrenal glands. Most reported cases of primary adrenal insufficiency result from destruction of the adrenal cortex by the body's own immune system, and the process takes months to years. Often, individuals are not aware they have the disease and may be misdiagnosed. Secondary adrenal insufficiency can be traced to a lack of ACTH, which causes a drop in the adrenal glands' production of cortisol but not aldosterone. This is most commonly found with overtraining in athletes. Symptoms are not usually apparent until over 90 percent of the adrenal cortex has been destroyed and very little adrenal capacity is left. This is due to the non-specific nature of symptoms and a slow progression. Symptoms are often missed or ignored until a physically stressful event or crisis, known as an Addisonian crisis, occurs, which is characterized by a sudden, penetrating pain in the lower back, abdomen or legs, along with severe vomiting and diarrhea, followed by dehydration, low blood pressure and a loss of consciousness.
Overtraining Syndrome Symptoms
Overtraining syndrome presents as chronic fatigue, burnout and staleness, where an imbalance between training/competition versus recovery occurs. Training alone is seldom the primary cause. In most cases, the total amount of stress on the athlete exceeds his capacity to cope. A triggering stressful event, along with the chronic overtraining, pushes the athlete to develop symptoms of overtraining syndrome, which is far worse than classic overtraining. Overtraining can be a part of healthy training, if only done for a short period of time. Chronic overtraining is what leads to serious health problems, including adrenal insufficiency.
The autonomic imbalance hypothesis suggests that prolonged training produces an autonomic imbalance; during heavy endurance training or over-reaching periods there is a reduced adrenal responsiveness to ACTH. This is compensated by an increased pituitary ACTH release. During the early stages of OS, despite increased pituitary ACTH release, the decreased adrenal responsiveness is no longer compensated and the cortisol response decreases. In the advanced stage of OS, the pituitary ACTH release also decreases.
Decreased adrenal responsiveness can be the consequence of an overload during heavy preparatory training sessions before an ultramarathon, for example, or of the ultramarathon stress itself, and incomplete regeneration. If a runner continues to chronically overload the adrenals, OS will occur.
The autonomic imbalance hypothesis suggests that prolonged training produces an autonomic imbalance; during heavy endurance training or over-reaching periods there is a reduced adrenal responsiveness to ACTH. This is compensated by an increased pituitary ACTH release. During the early stages of OS, despite increased pituitary ACTH release, the decreased adrenal responsiveness is no longer compensated and the cortisol response decreases. In the advanced stage of OS, the pituitary ACTH release also decreases.
Decreased adrenal responsiveness can be the consequence of an overload during heavy preparatory training sessions before an ultramarathon, for example, or of the ultramarathon stress itself, and incomplete regeneration. If a runner continues to chronically overload the adrenals, OS will occur.
Location
71270
Key Concepts
- adrenal insufficiency
- overtraining
- running and adrenals
References
- "European Journal of Applied Physiology and Occupational Physiology"; Definition, Types, Symptoms, Findings, Underlying Mechanisms, and Frequency of Overtraining and Overtraining Syndrome; Lehmann; May 1999 [http://www.springerlink.com/content/q17m731652421764/]
- "Medicine & Science in Sports and Exercise"; Autonomic Imbalance Hypothesis and Overtraining Syndrome; Lehmann, Manfred; July 1998[http://journals.lww.com/acsm-msse/Abstract/1998/07000/Autonomic_imbalance_hypothesis__and_overtraining.19.aspx]
Resources (Further Reading)
User Bio
Kelly Brooks is a professor and Applied Physiology Lab director. She has worked in physiological and biomechanical research for more than eight years. She is certified by the American College of Sports Medicine (HFS), National Strength and Conditioning Association (CSCS*D) and the American Society of Exercise Physiologists (EPC). Brooks obtained her Ph.D. at the University of Alabama.
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