Sacramento adrenal fatigue experts at Sacramento Functional Medicine offer cutting-edge functional medicine treatments that will address adrenal fatigue at the root cause and get you back on the path to feeling energetic and motivated.
Recently gaining more attention, adrenal fatigue syndrome has become a recognized disorder due to ever-changing modern day lifestyles. Many people are experiencing physiological or psychological stress for extended periods of time due to: busy social obligations, overworking, not exercising, and poor dieting. The main trigger is stress–which taxes the adrenal glands. These glands are organs that produce the hormones necessary for your body’s healthy functioning and energy levels. Sacramento adrenal fatigue syndrome expert, Sacramento Functional Medicine can help you eliminate the symptoms of adrenal fatigue syndrome using a comprehensive functional medicine program that offers safe, natural treatments to help regain optimal energy levels, improve your overall health and wellness and give you back your quality of life.
Functional Medicine experts at Sacramento Functional Medicine treat adrenal fatigue syndrome utilizing bioidentical hormone therapy in Sacramento. Call (916) 252-3228 to schedule a consultation today!
Symptoms of Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome
Sacramento adrenal fatigue experts at Sacramento Functional Medicine offer tailored functional medicine treatments for your specific needs as an individual–helping you conquer the health challenges and symptoms that manifest with adrenal fatigue syndrome. Adrenal fatigue presents differently for everyone but some of the most common symptoms associated with adrenal fatigue syndrome include:
Bioidentical Hormones & Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome
The leading cause of adrenal fatigue syndrome is the lack of hormone availability in the adrenal glands and, for this reason, replenishing hormones with bioidentical hormone replacement therapy can help women to nourish their adrenal glands and reduce the effects of adrenal fatigue syndrome. Deficiencies of hormones in the adrenal glands occur when stress eats away at existing hormones, but Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy can restore hormones to normal levels and help women to feel like themselves again. Some of the hormones involved in adrenal gland health that can be replenished with bioidentical hormones include:
Cortisol
When stress is in the mind and body, the adrenal glands are forced to secrete cortisol, which is the hormone that works to counteract the effects of stress. Over time, excessive amounts of cortisol floating around in a person’s body can cause it to eat away at important vitamins and minerals, which can lead to bone loss, thinning hair, and irregular periods in women. Excessive cortisol may also cause women to have reduced amounts of B and C Vitamins, and the adrenal glands may not be able to produce an adequate amount of estrogen and progesterone.
DHEA
DHEA is an adrenal hormone that is a building block for estrogen, which helps to maintain sex and reproductive functions, and testosterone, which contributes to energy, libido, and muscle strength. DHEA also works to reduce allergies, lower cholesterol and triglycerides, and supports the immune system. Women with high stress and adrenal fatigue syndrome may experience their bodies taking DHEA building materials and converting them to cortisol–leading to deficiencies in both DHEA and sex hormones.
Pregnenolone
Pregnenolone is another building block for estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. Men and women with Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome may have used up available cortisol and caused their bodies to transform the substances needed for pregnenolone into more cortisol. Pregnenolone works to regulate the nervous system and the brain. Women with lower levels of pregnenolone may feel burned out and have less tolerance to stress. They may also suffer from mental fogginess and depression because of reduced neurotransmitter effectiveness.
Getting An Adrenal Fatigue Diagnosis
A positive aspect of adrenal fatigue is that any adrenal insufficiency may be detectable through testing. Your doctor may order any number of blood tests that are meant to detect the amount of certain hormones that are produced by the adrenal glands. These tests may include:
Stimulation Tests: these are tests in which the patient will be given an injection to stimulate specific hormones produced by the adrenal or pituitary glands. These hormones will then be measured against normal or expected results.
Body Scans: body scans such as the MRI or CT scans allow your doctor to get a more physical picture of the size and shape of your adrenal or pituitary glands–as well as the areas around them. Any diminishment in size or obstructing influences may help your doctor make the diagnosis.
Find Answers To Frequently Asked Questions About BHRT
Beginning a Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT) protocol typically comes with several questions. We’ve gathered some of the most common questions related to starting BHRT and answered them here below. If you have any further questions or need any clarification, please contact Sacramento Functional Medicine at (916) 252-3228.
How Is BHRT Different From Regular HRT?
The main difference between bioidentical HRT and other forms of HRT is the kind of hormones that are used. In regular HRT, the synthetic hormones used contain additional chemical components that allow the drug manufacturers to patent their chemicals. At best, these added components do nothing for you. At worst, your body may recognize them as foreign chemicals and they may cause unpleasant side effects.
In BHRT, the hormones used are bioidentical, which means that they are the exact chemical structure as the hormones naturally produced in your body. This means there is no risk of your body not accepting them. Plus, they are derived from natural plant sources such as yams and soy.
Can I Buy Bioidentical Hormones Online?
While you may find websites claiming to sell bioidentical hormones, there are many risks involved in purchasing hormones online. First, it is often difficult to trace the origin of these products, meaning they may not be regulated for accuracy. This leads into the second problem, which is that it is very hard to be sure of the ingredients of these products. You may not be getting hormones at all!
Even if you find legitimate bioidentical hormones online, without seeing a doctor you can’t know for certain which hormones you need, what dose you need them in and what form of BHRT will work best for you. Here at Sacramento Functional Medicine, you will receive proper care and treatment while experiencing minimal side effects.
What Form Does BHRT Come In?
Bioidentical hormones are prepared by a compounding pharmacy where they are produced into several forms including: pills, patches, subdermal pellets, creams, injections and more. Everyone responds to these various forms differently, and your BHRT doctor can help find the form that will most benefit you and your body.
What Is The Cost Of BHRT?
The cost of BHRT varies by the hormones needed, the doses needed, the form of BHRT, and the length of time that you receive treatment. For a more accurate quote, please call Sacramento Functional Medicine at (916) 252-3228 to schedule a consultation.
Is BHRT Covered By My Insurance?
Because insurance plans and providers vary considerably, there is no way for us to provide a blanket statement. Your plan may cover BHRT under certain circumstances. The best course of action is to call Sacramento Functional Medicine at (916) 252-3228 to discuss whether we accept your current insurance plan and provider. After you call us, we recommend contacting your insurance provider as a follow-up to ensure that your treatment is covered or to discuss how your treatment may be covered.
Are Bioidentical Hormones Safe?
When prescribed and supervised by a BHRT doctor, BHRT is generally safe. Any risks or side effects associated with your particular treatment will be reviewed thoroughly before you begin BHRT.
What Conditions Are Treated With BHRT?
Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy is used to treat a number of conditions caused by hormone imbalance or that result in hormone imbalance. In some cases, BHRT is used to treat the underlying condition while in others it is used to treat the symptoms. You can find some common conditions that BHRT may be used to treat listed above.
What If My Question Is Not Listed Here?
Patients often have a great many questions before beginning BHRT. We will be happy to answer any questions that you may have before, during and after treatment. Contact Sacramento Functional Medicine today with any further questions or to schedule your initial consultation.
Start Feeling Better With A Customized BHRT Plan Today!