A low tolerance to exercise can be a sign of a defective Adrenal gland. Hormones do regulate the body’s ability to respond to stress and its effect. If a person goes to gym daily and still can’t burn his fats, he is maybe having an insufficiency of Cortisol in his system that is secondary to Adrenal fatigue.
The Adrenal glands is a pair of almond shaped organs located right above each kidney. It produces number hormones necessary by several functions of the body including the response to stress and exercise. The main hormone involve is called Cortisol which is also known as Glucocorticoid.
Cortisol is a steroid produced in the Adrenal cortex of the Adrenal glands. It is essential in response to stress like exercise. It increases protein catabolism in muscles and decreases protein synthesis providing more amino acids for gluconeogenesis in the liver yielding glucose for energy production. In Adrenal fatigue, there is a decrease or absence of Glucocorticoid or Cortisol production which means that there will also be a decrease in muscle catabolism and growth. The energy production will also be low providing less energy for exercise. A person with Adrenal Fatigue will have lesser tolerance to exercise and stress.
Cortisol also increases lipolysis decreasing fat accumulation and producing more glycerol for energy production. In Adrenal fatigue, the decrease in Cortisol results to a decrease in lipolysis causing accumulation of fat and energy deficiency. Exercise will be insufficient and ineffective in burning fats.
Glucocorticoids also have anti inflammatory effects by inhibiting the release of histamines and prostglandins. A person with Adrenal fatigue will be more prone to easy muscle fatigue and muscle injury and inflammation. Glucocorticoids or steroids are gaining popularity in athletes and body builders because of its effect to exercise.
Other important hormones affected in Adrenal fatigue are the Cathecolamines namely Epinephrine and Norepinephrine, and the sex hormones called Androgens. The Cathecolamines reduction leads to a decrease in cardiac output causing decreasing tolerance during exercise. The Androgen in males called Testosterone, when deficient due to Adrenal Fatigue, decreases masculinity and also decreases exercise tolerance.
In females, Adrenal fatigue causes a decrease in the hormone called Estrogen. The hormone helps form the female curves and distinct physical features like the breast and butt. When there is Adrenal fatigue, Estrogen levels fall which means that aside from the decrease in exercise tolerance, there will also be a less effect seen on the exercise as to the goal of obtaining the perfect female body.
In some instances, Sexual intercourse is considered an exercise. Adrenal fatigue also affects sexual performance in both males and females in the reproductive age group. As the activity of the Adrenal glands turns dull, Testosterone levels in males and Estrogen levels in females go down causing a change in sexual performance. There will be a decrease in libido, a decrease interest to sex and a decrease in pleasure or sensitivity making it very difficult to attain orgasm.
Adrenal fatigue limits a person’s tolerance to exercise as the result of the decrease in the production of hormones which aids in the production of energy, utilization of fats, building of muscles and inhibition of inflammation. Exercise is an important aspect in people’s lives. So Adrenal fatigue should be diagnosed early and treated early in order to avoid the bad complications that will follow in the future.