HPA; It means Hypothalamus - Pituitary - Adrenal axis.

Hypothalamus and Pituitary glands are glands in our brain that produce hormones that control the functioning of our body.

Adrenal glands, also known as adrenal glands, are anatomically located above our kidneys.

These three glands; They work together to regulate stress, mood, metabolism, energy production and the immune system.

Stress can be due to physical, mental and spiritual reasons that we are all exposed to in our daily living conditions. The key is that stress, which would normally be short-term, becomes chronic. Short-term stresses do not harm the body, they are the body's reactions to protect us.

Chronic stress is something that we often do not even notice in our daily lives; There may be reasons such as our work life, taking care of chronic patients, or being subjected to constant mobbing by your spouse.

So how does this happen?

Ongoing exposure to chronic stress causes the release of the hormone cortisol from the adrenal glands. Cortisol is a stress hormone. If the stress situation is short-term and ends; The release of cortisol hormone stops. But if there is a constant state of stress; Since there will be a constant stress stimulus from the HPA axis, cortisol is constantly secreted from the adrenal glands, and cortisol values are high in this phase. After a while, cortisol release gradually decreases due to disruption in the HPA axis regulation and fatigue in the adrenal glands. The situation where cortisol decreases and the body no longer reacts to this situation is the last stage that we define as 'Burnout Syndrome'.

What are the reasons that disrupt the HPA axis?

chronic diseases

Post traumatic stress disorder

Circadian rhythm disorders

Exposure to toxins and heavy metals

infections

Loss of a loved one

malnutrition

What are the symptoms of adrenal fatigue?

Exhaustion, tiredness

Insomnia

Waking up feeling unrefreshed after a good night's sleep

brain fog

Weight gain and difficulty losing weight

poor memory

Muscle aches and joint pains

Getting tired easily after minor exertion

Decreased capacity to cope with stress

Anxiety and depression

Irritability

low libido

Weak immunity and frequent infections

Caffeine, sugar and carbohydrate cravings

Adrenal fatigue – How do we fix the HPA axis?

Causative factors should be determined
Solutions must be found for these factors
For example; If there are sources of stress or past traumas, how can we cope with them? Either eliminate it completely or develop methods to cope with this stress.
Lifestyle that disrupts the HPA axis should be regulated; regulating the intake of foods, sleeping hours, caffeine, and alcohol
To be able to cope with stress or if there are traumatic events, it is necessary to receive therapies such as HRV biofeedback or cognitive behavioral therapy.
If there are chronic diseases, determining their root causes and trying to find solutions to them
Supporting the HPA axis by supporting parasympathetic activity in the body with exercises such as meditation, breathing exercises and yoga.
Your hormone release in the HPA axis can be controlled by using adaptogenic supplements that your doctor will recommend if he deems it appropriate after your examination.