LifeCare Chiropractic

The Best Chiropractic Care in Mesa, Arizona

cortisol

Cortisol, Stress and Prediabetes – (04-16-03)

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Cortisol and the metabolic syndrome in South Asians.

Until the day I quit practising (or die, whichever comes first…) I will always come across patients who skip breakfast in an attempt to lose weight. And, like a robot, I go on to explain that this is probably one of the absolute worst things they can do to lose weight. Remember that the brain needs fuel, and if you deprived the brain of fuel through your diet, cortisol will be secreted to break down lean muscle mass to get the glucose of the brain. Less muscle mass = worsening of insulin resistance and weight gain. This article once again illustrates the intimate connection between insulin and cortisol and the snowball effect one has on the other.

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Snacking patterns influence energy and nutrient intakes but not BMI – (02-10-03)

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Snacking patterns influence energy and nutrient intakes but not BMI

I was just having a discussion with a patient the other day. She was still having occasional morning headaches, which may be a sign of hypoglycemia triggering cortisol release to break down lean muscle mass for glucose for the brain (which, incidentally, would be counterproductive to an exercise/lifestyle routine designed for weight loss…). So I suggested that she eat a healthy snack before bedtime to address the hypoglycemic issue. She got somewhat upset and said that her personal trainer did not want her eating anything after 7 or 8 o’clock. Hmm…insulin/cortisol dysregulation leading to weight gain, diabetes, CVD… or temporary weight loss. Tough call. Well, this article finds that snacking does not affect body mass index. I’ve never had a problem with patients snacking–it’s much more important what they are snacking on then when.

Synergy Abstract

Read entire article here

Cortisol and the metabolic syndrome in South Asians – (04-16-03)

by

Cortisol and the metabolic syndrome in South Asians.

Until the day I quit practising (or die, whichever comes first…) I will always come across patients who skip breakfast in an attempt to lose weight. And, like a robot, I go on to explain that this is probably one of the absolute worst things they can do to lose weight. Remember that the brain needs fuel, and if you deprived the brain of fuel through your diet, cortisol will be secreted to break down lean muscle mass to get the glucose of the brain. Less muscle mass = worsening of insulin resistance and weight gain. This article once again illustrates the intimate connection between insulin and cortisol and the snowball effect one has on the other.

Click here for more information.

Sleep-disordered breathing, glucose metabolism in hypertensive men – (03-26-01)

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Sleep-disordered breathing, glucose metabolism in hypertensive men

I love seeing articles demonstrating the intricate ties between all systems of the body and many of today’s chronic diseases. This study suggests that obstructive sleep apnea may contribute to the risk of diabetes, independent of obesity. Try this…lack of sleep is a known stress to the human body. The stress hormone in the body is cortisol. Cortisol wreaks havoc on many systems in the body, including insulin sensitivity. Thus, it makes complete sense to link sleep apnea with diabetes.

Synergy : Journal of Internal Medicine 249 (2), 153-161

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Subclinical Glucose Intolerance Increases Risk of Death – (05-03-01)

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Subclinical Glucose Intolerance Increases Risk of Death

Do I need to say any more? Insulin resistance, Syndrome X, metabolic syndrome…whatever you care to call it….is a major risk factor for so many chronic diseases. The sad part is that society is not moving away from refined carbs–a known contributor to insulin resistance. Combine this with the fact that cortisol, the body’s stress hormone, also contributes to insulin resistance, and the increasing incidences of many chronic diseases is no longer a surprise.

Diabetes Care 2001;24:447-453 Subclinical glucose intolerance is associated with an increased risk of death in adults. Dr. Frederick L. Brancati from the Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions in Baltimore, Maryland and colleagues used data from the Second National Health and nutrition Examination Survey Mortality Study to compare mortality among adults with known type 2 diabetes, undiagnosed diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance with adults with normal glucose tolerance. Follow-up lasted 12 to 16 years. Impaired glucose tolerance and undiagnosed diabetes emerged as independent predictors of all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality. “There was a gradient of mortality associated with abnormal glucose tolerance ranging from a 40% greater risk in adults with impaired glucose tolerance to a 110% greater risk in adults with clinically evident diabetes,” the investigators report. “These associations were independent of established cardiovascular risk factors.” Early detection and treatment of undiagnosed diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance should help reduce mortality in the US, Dr. Brancati and colleagues conclude.

Management of Chronic Tension-Type Headache – (05-28-01)

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Management of Chronic Tension-Type Headache

This study compares tricyclic antidepressant medication with stress management and the combination of the two on tension-type headaches. They both proved “modestly effective.” I’m sure there are many chiropractors out there that can blow away the numbers seen in this study. If a patient is willing to listen to the recommendations given (regarding management lifestyle to control cortisol, insulin and other hormones) along with trigger point therapy and manipulative therapy, I can pretty much guarantee 100% resolution of headaches. Just like everything else it’s a multifactorial approach that HAS to have chiropractic to address the musculoskeletal component.

Management of Chronic Tension-Type Headache With Tricyclic Antidepressant Medication, Stress Management Therapy, and Their C

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Chronic Insomnia Is Associated and Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis – (08-23-01)

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Chronic Insomnia Is Associated and Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis

This is a technical but interesting article on sleep disorders. The authors suggest that one type of insomnia is not insomnia at all, but rather a state of hyperarousal–the body is not yet ready to shut down. This occurs as a result of increased secretion of cortisol from the adrenal glands. This would indicate that a salivary profile for adrenocortical stress would be strongly indicated in any patients having difficulty falling asleep at night. We would also expect to see problems with estrogen/testosterone levels as the adrenals shunt precursors away from DHEA and over to production of cortisol. Nutritional intervention and exercise can be used to help bring these imbalances under control.

JCEM — Abstracts: Vgontzas et al. 86 (8): 3787

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Elderly show severe impairment of DHEA-S – (08-27-01)

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Elderly show severe impairment of DHEA-S

Given the number of articles appearing related to the topic of adrenal function, a quick review is in order. The medulla (inside) of the adrenals produce epinephrine and norepinephrine…key players in the adrenaline response. The cortex (outside) produce three hormones from cholesterol…aldosterone (regulates blood pressure), cortisol (the body’s stress hormone) and DHEA (which goes on to ultimately become estrogen and testosterone). In the body’s initial response to stress, the body will produce more cortisol at the expense of DHEA (a phenomena known as pregnonolone steal…). Chronic stress will result in both lowered cortisol and DHEA…basically the adrenals “poop out.” All these levels are easily, safely and accurately measured with salivary testing. Synergy : Clinical Endocrinology 55 (2), 259-265

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