Without a doubt, running provides benefits and stress to the human body. On the positive side, it exercises the heart, burns calories and improves physique. The downside is that it places stress on the bones and joints, exhausts the body of energy and causes fatigue and muscle ache. To some extent, running may temporarily drain the adrenal glands, but overall it yields greater benefit than harm.
Adrenal Glands
The Merck Online Medical Library describes the adrenal glands as two finger-sized organs situated above the fist-sized kidney on each side of the abdomen. The inner part of the adrenal gland, called the medulla, supplies the body with the hormone epinephrine, responsible for regulating blood pressure, sweating, heart rate and other functions related to exercise. The outer part, called the cortex, regulates corticosteroids, used for increasing activity and preparing the body for its fight-or-flight response.
Variations in Adrenal Gland Activity
Adrenal function varies throughout the day, reaching peak activity in the morning or when the body is stressed and quieting at night, according to the Merck Online Medical Library. In addition, the Kansas University Medical Center reports that the adrenal glands can drain from over-activity and become insufficient when the body encounters great stress, either from physical pain or excessive anxiety and fear. It seems plausible that extreme physical exertion, like continuous running, may deplete the adrenal glands at least temporarily or in relation to the amount of pain and stress the running produces.
Adrenal Insufficiency Symptoms
The Kansas University Medical Center states that "a lack of adrenal hormones" can cause you to experience the following symptoms: dizziness when standing up, diarrhea, fatigue, nausea, loss of appetite or a craving for salt. Often, the body undergoes adrenal insufficiency due to the excess release of a stress hormone called cortisol. This hormone prepares the body in case of emergency, accelerating your heart rate and overdriving the immune system until it potentially crashes. Running can trigger similar effects, especially if your body feels it is in danger, and it can wear down the adrenal glands, but they will recover with time and rest.
Overcoming Adrenal Insufficiency
According to the Yoga Journal, repeatedly activating the adrenal glands, whether through stress or continuous exercise like long-distance sprinting, can exhaust the body, making it susceptible to a variety of illnesses. To counteract this and to allow the adrenal glands to recover, consider engaging in yoga poses. With your legs crossed, your body bent and your mind relaxed, your body and your adrenal glands should recover from any losses.
Warning
In severe cases of chronic stress and exertion, you may feel tired, weak and depressed. While some doctors suggest this is a milder form of adrenal insufficiency, Todd B. Nippoldt, M.D., of the Mayo Clinic, claims depression or a heightened sense of pain may be to blame. Thus, any long-lasting negative effects of running are more likely due to another underlying cause.
References
- MayoClinic.com: Adrenal Fatigue: Is There Such a Thing
- Merck Manual: Adrenal Gland Disorders - Introduction
- Kansas University Medical Center: Managing Adrenal Insufficiency
- Newport Children's Medical Group: Pediatric Endocrinology
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Endocrinology Health Guide
- Yoga Journal: Yoga Expert Q&A -- Treating Adrenal Exhaustion
