We all know we need exercise to get healthy, right? It doesn’t matter what part of the body it is; it takes work to get it to its best. That includes the adrenal glands, which are so important to the production of vital hormones like adrenaline and epinephrine.
That may be true, but don’t get carried away. Exercising is good. Overtraining is bad, wearing out your body and mind until they can’t function properly. You need time to rest and recover. Without taking breaks, you may be more at risk of what’s known as “adrenal insufficiency” (https://www.omicsonline.org/open-access/overtraining-exercise-and-adrenal-insufficiency-2165-7025.1000125.php?aid=11717).
Adrenal insufficiency is a pretty self-explanatory condition. It’s when your adrenal glands aren’t working properly and don’t produce enough of the hormones you need. This can lead to tiredness, physical weakness and lack of energy. You may also experience low moods.
Lots of things can cause problems with your adrenal glands, but overtraining doesn’t help. That’s especially true when the training is accompanied by significant stress. This can overwhelm the glands and leave your body unable to cope with the extreme demands being placed on it.
The adrenal glands react strongly to stress, whether it’s physical, mental or emotional. It’s the adrenal glands that release stress hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol. These are what control your so-called “fight or flight” response, when things like your heartbeat and breathing change to make you ready to run away or to battle an apparent threat. It’s a state you can only be in for a short length of time before your body starts experiencing damage.
Occasional overtraining probably isn’t going to cause significant issues. It’s when it becomes chronic, or you do it all the time, that it becomes a source of worry. The more and more you overtrain, the less and less time you have for recovery. This can lead to ongoing symptoms and an inability to perform even when you have a major event or competition approaching.
You do need to be aware of the risks of overtraining because symptoms may not be immediately apparent. Your adrenal glands could be overworking and underproducing for a while before you notice anything’s wrong. If the first time the problem is officially acknowledged is when you reach a crisis point, it’s going to be much harder to fix it. The earlier it’s caught, the more chances you have to heal.
