Adrenal Health

The Missing Link in Hormone Balance

Your adrenal glands play a critical role in your overall health. Located above the kidneys, the adrenals are small but mighty. If you think of your endocrine system as a team that works together to keep your body functioning well, the adrenal glands are the MVP. The adrenal glands produce several different hormones that do important jobs like regulating metabolism, supporting your immune system, controlling blood pressure, managing reproduction and sexual function, and responding to stress.¹ When the adrenal glands are not functioning properly, it can cause hormonal imbalance and can even lead to hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis dysfunction, which you may sometimes hear referred to as “adrenal fatigue”.

Adrenal Testing and Treatment in San Diego

At Oasis Hormone Therapy and Wellness Center in San Diego, our Naturopathic Doctors are passionate about educating patients on the role that adrenal glands play in overall hormonal balance. We offer comprehensive adrenal testing and treatment when symptoms indicate a potential adrenal dysfunction. While traditional medical doctors often look at individual pieces of the puzzle, our doctors take a holistic approach to health to ensure that all aspects of the hormonal systems are functioning together to maintain a hormonal balance that supports optimal health and well-being.

Symptoms of Adrenal Dysfunction

Adrenal dysfunction can affect everyone differently and symptoms may be impacted by corresponding hormonal imbalances. Common symptoms include:

Difficulty sleeping
Moodiness and irritability
Heavy periods
Increased PMS symptoms
Hot flashes and night sweats
Brain fog and difficulty concentrating
Weight management issues
Frequent illnesses

What Causes Adrenal Dysfunction?

The adrenal glands are responsible for making cortisol, and chronic stress, even if caused by micro-stressors throughout the day, can cause cortisol production to spike. Cortisol is known as the stress hormone but it does more than just help your body manage stress. The cells in your body have cortisol receptors, so when cortisol is out of balance, it can affect a range of functions.

Adrenal Fatigue and Adrenal Dysregulation

The traditional medical establishment does not accept adrenal fatigue as a legitimate diagnosis. However, our doctors understand that the hormonal system is complex, with a sensitive ebb and flow that can have a huge impact on our health and well-being. While some doctors only treat symptoms, she carefully considers all potential causes for a patient’s individual symptoms in order to treat the underlying issue.

Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis dysfunction is a technical diagnostic term that can be a more accurate way of accounting for symptoms that are linked to adrenal fatigue. HPA axis dysfunction takes a bigger picture look at the endocrine system with the knowledge that symptoms such as sleep issues, digestive problems, and sexual dysfunction may be affected by the adrenal glands, but can also have an underlying cause in the hypothalamus or pituitary gland. Studies also show that adrenal dysfunction can be closely tied to autoimmune conditions such as chronic fatigue syndrome.²

Menopause and Adrenal Dysfunction

For women, the way that we experience the hormone phases of life can be greatly impacted by our adrenal health. It can be difficult to maintain hormonal balance throughout perimenopause and menopause and if you enter this phase in a state of adrenal dysfunction, you can experience severe symptoms of hormonal imbalance.

The building blocks that make cortisol are the same that make progesterone, our primary reproductive hormone. Progesterone helps with estrogen production and influences libido and reproductive health. If you have an imbalance of cortisol or progesterone, you will not have the hormonal support your body needs to handle the decrease of estrogen that occurs with menopause. Our doctors take care to check adrenal function for all patients nearing or in a menopausal age range because she knows that healthy adrenal levels are necessary for managing the hormone fluctuations that can occur at this stage of life.

Contact Oasis Hormone Therapy and Wellness Center in San Diego

You deserve to live life with health and vitality. If you suffer from fatigue, brain fog, difficulty sleeping, or other symptoms that affect your quality of life, our doctors can help. Contact us today to learn more or schedule your consultation appointment.

Dr. Leverone has been instrumental in helping me heal my body from years of chronic issues that my “regular doctors” either dismissed as low-normal, misdiagnosed, or plain ignored. I am so grateful for her thoughtful and informative approach. My quality of life is far better because of Dr. Leverone. THANK YOU!

How It Works

PHASE 1: DISCOVERY
We pride ourselves on our unique approach to patient care, tailored to ensure your success. Begin your journey with us by scheduling a complimentary 15-minute discovery call to explore our methods and determine if we’re the right fit for your wellness goals.

PHASE 2: EVALUATION
Meet with one of our doctors for a 60-minute session to discuss your health history and goals. Together, we’ll map out a personalized plan tailored just for you.

PHASE 3: PERSONALIZED PROGRAM
Embark on your unique path to wellness with our dedicated team supporting you every step of the way. Your journey to better health begins here.

PHASE 4: MAINTENANCE
After completing your tailored program, you’ll be equipped with the tools to sustain your health journey. Rest assured, we’re committed to standing by your side, supporting you through every life stage and change.

¹ John Hopkins Medicine. Adrenal Glands. Available: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/adrenal-glands Accessed March 17, 2021.

² Tomas C, Newton J, Watson S. A review of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis function in chronic fatigue syndrome. ISRN Neurosci. 2013;2013:784520. Published 2013 Sep 30. doi:10.1155/2013/784520