Fatigue Stress and Sleep Issues

Stress

According to Johns Hopkins University, the typical American has more stress in 30 days than their grandparents had in an entire lifetime. We know from research that chronic stress has a tremendous negative impact on our health, weakening our immune system, causing inflammation, increasing cortisol levels, and disrupting the natural microbiome in the gastrointestinal system. The effects of stress can lead to chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, gastrointestinal complaints, low libido, insomnia, mood fluctuation, weight gain, and much more. With appropriate analysis and testing, we can provide a personalized, comprehensive approach to managing stress response.

Symptoms of Stress Imbalance

• Fatigue
• Insomnia
• Mood issues like anxiety or depression
• Digestive problems
• Irritability
• Low Libido
• Weight Gain
• Frequent Illness
• Lowered Immune Function link to the immune page

Managing Stress

• Assess the stress hormones.

The first step in assessing a patient’s stress load includes functional testing that evaluates stress at multiple points of the day. State-of-the-art testing utilizes urine or saliva and measures awakening cortisol.

The optimal morning stress hormones are resilient, creating a relaxed, energetic start to the day. Stress hormones above the range indicate a “fight or flight” response. This response is often linked to anxiety, insomnia, and trouble concentrating. First, a high cortisol pattern can cause excessive energy and multitasking. This frequently connects to mood issues, such as anxiety or panic attacks. Concentration issues become common. Low morning cortisol levels are often associated with chronic fatigue or a “wired but tired” feeling. A low cortisol pattern is also described as a time of chronic fatigue, depression, and low motivation. Dysregulated patterns—too high, too low, or mixed—are associated with middle weight gain, mood issues, and chronic fatigue.

• Assess the Nervous System. Even a slightly elevated (but normal) heart rate tells us that the nervous system is out of balance. This is termed sympathetic dominance. We use the latest natural approaches and new wearables to address this pattern.
• • Sympathetic Dominance directly correlates with stress, difficulty losing weight (especially belly fat), sleep problems, blood sugar issues, and mood disturbances.

• Balance the Stress Hormones
• • At Innovative Health, we have years of experience optimizing the stress response, recognizing that stress is a root cause of illness.
  • Balancing these hormones requires a proper functional approach that encompasses both endogenous and exogenous sources of stress.

• Balance Sex Hormones.
• • Balancing sex hormones is often tricky, as stress is usually the underlying problem.
  • Symptoms are often mistakenly associated with perimenopause or menopause. For example, night sweats are often associated with a cortisol spike in the middle of the night.
  • Bottom line- Balancing sex hormones starts with balanced stress hormones

• Manage Stress We offer comprehensive plans with techniques such as yoga, meditation, and breathwork.
• Optimize Nutrition
• • A poor diet is a significant stressor. Balancing includes nutritional support. At Innovative Health, our health coaches are ready to take your nutrition program to the next level.

• Utilize Nutraceuticals. Supportive Nutraceuticals—targeted supplements. Humans have used natural herbs, called adaptogens, to help modulate stress for centuries. Expertise means knowing which herbal remedies best fit your situation.
• Understand the role of exercise: Understanding the benefits and timing of exercise is imperative for stress control, as too much or too little can contribute to overload.

Sleep Issues

Causes of sleep issues

• Stress
• Blood sugar regulation. Drops in blood sugar can spike the stress response and wake us in the night. These nighttime disturbances affect our sleep phases.
• Alcohol consumption. Alcohol is sugar.
• Caffeine. Caffeine is found in both foods and drinks as well as medications.
• Electronics. Electronics include the television in the bedroom, your phone, and a tablet.
• Medications and Supplements
• Environment. The environment includes pets in the bed, an uncomfortable

Fatigue

Functional Approaches

• Functional Approaches to fatigue start with a comprehensive blood panel. Assessment of sex, stress, thyroid hormones, micronutrients (vitamin D3, B12, folate, magnesium, etc.), blood sugar, and inflammation is essential. Environmental Triggers can impact fatigue. Biotoxins such as mold, heavy metals, and environmental chemicals are often called Fibromyalgia or Chronic Fatigue by conventional medicine.