Chronic Infections
Chronic, recurring or severe infection is one of the commonly overlooked sources of stress and persistent Adrenal Fatigue. The more severe the infection, the more frequently it occurs or the longer it lasts, the more likely it is that the adrenals are involved.
The diseases themselves are a stress on the body but the pathogenic microorganisms involved act as an additional body burden, draining adrenal resources even further.
Adrenal Fatigue can occur after just one single episode of a particularly nasty infection, or it can take place over time as the adrenals are gradually fatigued by prolonged or recurrent infections. If there are other concurrent stresses, such as an unhappy marriage, poor dietary habits or a stressful job, the downhill ride is deeper and steeper.
The reciprocal is also true; people suffering from low adrenal function often have a propensity toward illness, especially respiratory illness. Adrenal Fatigue often goes hand in hand with decreased immune function, which makes someone more prone to illnesses.
This relationship appears to be both causal and resultant. That is, frequent respiratory ailments can lead to Adrenal Fatigue and Adrenal Fatigue leaves a predilection toward developing respiratory problems.
The relationship between proper adrenal function and respiratory competence is so intertwined it begins before we are even born. Healthy development of the lungs in the fetus is dependent upon an adequate amount of adrenal hormones, especially cortisol. If there is a lack of cortisol from the adrenals in the fetus during development, either as a result of the mother's Adrenal Fatigue or some other cause, the baby's lungs don't develop properly and early respiratory problems are more frequent and more serious.
Respiratory infections, such as colds, bronchitis, pneumonia and flu, are especially hard on the adrenal glands and fatigue them rapidly. This effect was dramatically demonstrated by autopsy results following the 1918 influenza epidemic.
In 106 of the 126 victims autopsied, the infection had actually damaged the adrenal glands. It is not that the adrenals were infected per se, but that the effort they made to try to restore balance to the body led them to a degree of exhaustion that was physically detectable upon autopsy.
Recurrent respiratory infections are one of the most significant body burdens hampering recovery from Adrenal Fatigue so it is often necessary to treat the infection as well as the Adrenal Fatigue before the adrenals can recover. Then when the adrenals have recovered, immune resistance can increase enough to effectively deal with the recurrent respiratory infections.
A complete description of what to do to support the adrenals and help the immune system overcome its susceptibility to infection is too long to cover here but can be found in Adrenal Fatigue: the 21st Century Stress Syndrome by Dr. James Wilson.
Follow the guidelines in Chapter 15 on dietary supplements, with special attention to vitamin C intake. The "Taz" soup given on page 93 was specifically designed to help people with Adrenal Fatigue recover from infectious illness.
In addition, there is a unique product called Nat-Stim that is especially valuable when immune function has been weakened by Adrenal Fatigue and/or recurrent infections. Check the Products section for a description of Nat-Stim and other dietary supplements that are helpful in this situation.