Is there a connection between your adrenal glands and your thyroid glands? The symptoms of poor functioning adrenal glands and thyroid are similar, it can b e confusing!
Do you have a problem with the adrenal glands or the thyroid gland, or both?
Adrenal fatigue and thyroid issues often go hand in hand. Often practitioners will often focus on thyroid treatment, especially if the person is a heavier weight person and fatigued, yet neglect to treat the person’s adrenal glands. If they do treat the adrenal gland, they may often just recommend an adrenal support product.
But how do you know if you suffer more with a thyroid problem, or have an adrenal problem? There is a common but often overlooked connection between the thyroid gland and the adrenal gland. The adrenal glands’ main purpose is to produce and release certain regulatory hormones and chemical messengers. The connection between the thyroid and adrenal glands is a very important clinical consideration.
The two primary adrenal hormones, adrenaline and cortisol, help control body fluid balance, blood pressure, blood sugar, and other central metabolic functions. Low adrenal function can actually cause someone’s thyroid problem to be much worse than it would be otherwise, primarily due to the decreasing amount of circulating cortisol.
Cortisol affects the thyroid gland in three ways:
1. Cortisol is required to facilitate the release of TSH from the pituitary gland.
2. Cortisol facilitates the conversion of the inactive T4 hormone to the active T3 form.
3. Cortisol allows each T3 cell receptor to more readily accept T3.
Hypothyroid patients need to be aware of their adrenal hormone levels, since many of the symptoms of adrenal problems are the same as hypothyroid symptoms. Many conventional medical doctors commonly overlook adrenal problems, except in extreme cases such as Cushing’s Syndrome (excess adrenal function) and Addison’s Disease (extreme decreased adrenal function).
According to Associate Professor of Medicine at the Dunedin School of Medicine, Dr. Patrick Manning, adrenal fatigue “simply does not exist” despite over 3000 scientific papers published on the topic. He states that Addison’s Disease is the only medically recognized form of adrenal insufficiency.
Conventional tests aren’t adequate for adrenal functions since they comprise a 24-hour urine test that does not consider different levels of hormones in the urine at different times of the day. A more accurate test would be to collect samples of saliva at four different times of the day, giving a more detailed picture of the patient’s daily cyclical adrenal function.
| Symptom | Hypothyroidism | Adrenal Fatigue |
|---|---|---|
| Fatigue | All day long | Early morning and mid-afternoon |
| Energy patterns | Consistent | Diurnal (tired AM & PM) |
| Food cravings | Sweet foods and caffeine | Fats, protein, and caffeine |
| Temperature tolerance | Intolerance to cold | Low body temperature if severe |
| Hair loss | Scalp, brows | Lateral calf in men |
| Skin condition | Dry skin | Dry skin |
| Constipation | Stubborn | Alternates with diarrhea |
| Stamina | Can’t increase | Varies within a day |
| Depression | More constant | Intermittent |
| Blood pressure | Normal to low | Low, with dizziness |
| Weight gain/distribution | Hips and thighs, difficult to lose weight | Abdominal apron, varies with stress and diet |
| Menstrual cycle | Heavy and longer | Irregular, varies in intensity |
Both conditions share many symptoms, making it difficult to distinguish between the two.
Common symptoms include:
– Fatigue
– Depression
– Dry skin
– Decreased immunity
– Poor short-term memory
– Sleep disturbances
These conditions are often misdiagnosed or overlooked in conventional medicine.
Understanding the connection between adrenal fatigue and thyroid issues is crucial for effective treatment. Addressing both glands can lead to better overall health outcomes.
Read our article on the adrenal fatigue treatment diet or watch our Youtube video about Thyrodine Iodine and Adrenal Fatigue
