A Baton Rouge health care practitioner, Dr. Arthur Copes emphasizes a naturopathic approach to wellness that treats the whole patient, instead of just symptoms. One area of focus for Dr. Arthur Copes is the endocrine system issue adrenal fatigue. This condition reflects an imbalance in hormone levels, in particular underproduction and overproduction of the stress hormone cortisol.

In chronic cases the adrenal glands are unable to handle the pace at which stress points occur. As “flight or fight” responses are triggered too often, the adrenal glands generate cholesterol and pregnenolone (which produces cortisol) at rapidly fluctuating levels. This also impacts levels of hormones such as estrogen, testosterone, progesterone, and DHEA.

The resulting cortisol insufficiency impacts a variety of functions of the body including digestion, circadian rhythm, blood pressure, and blood sugar regulation. Ultimately chronic fatigue arises, as well as more serious conditions such as Addisons’ disease and Cushing’s syndrome.

Adrenal fatigue may also be caused by arthritis and asthma, with cortisol overproduction triggered in fighting inflammation. In addition, it can result from a high-sugar diet, physical trauma, or endocrine system stressors such as chemotherapy and antibiotics. Because of this complexity, it makes sense to consult with an experienced naturopathic practitioner when symptoms are experienced.