Overtraining

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Examples of issues that over exercising can cause
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MWi Summary:

Excessive exercise can be linked to problems with the adrenal glands.
Symptoms of over-training or adrenal insufficiency include fatigue, sugar cravings, and increased achiness.

Running, or any aerobic training in moderation, has a positive effect on health. There is a point of diminishing returns, where chronic stress from overtraining, which is common in runners, may be linked to problems in the adrenal gland. Overtraining Syndrome (OS) has been linked with adrenal insufficiency. There is a direct link between stress and the adrenal glands, and the physical stress of overtraining may cause the hormones produced in these glands to become depleted.

Adrenal insufficiency: Symptoms and causes

Adrenal insufficiency refers to the inability of the adrenal glands to produce a normal quantity of hormones, which leads to a reduced ability in the individual to cope with stress. Adrenal depletion is a milder form of insufficiency, while Addison’s disease is a total adrenal gland shutdown, which involves more extreme symptoms which require longer correcting. Addison’s disease is an autoimmune disorder, which has life-threatening complications.

There are several symptoms of low cortisol levels, although they are vague and often related to other disorders. Some symptoms include:

Fatigue
Unrefreshing sleep
Ill-defined malaise
Loss of ambition
Increased fear and apprehension
Scattered thinking
Decreased concentration and memory
Short fuse
Hypoglycemia symptoms
Sugar cravings
Slow recovery from illness
Allergies or autoimmune disease
Increased achiness or arthritis
Nausea/no appetite in a.m.
Excessive consumption of caffeine or other stimulants Tendency to feel best towards evening
Decreased sex drive

Chromic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) could be caused by or mistaken for Adrenal Insufficiency (AI). There is commonly a decrease in exercise capacity in CFS, which may be result of AI. Overtraining may contribute to or even cause AI. Cortisol levels are lowered and Adreno Cortico Trophic Hormone (ACTH) is increased during overtraining, while a reduced responsiveness to ACTH, and a reduced responsiveness to Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone (CRH) are found. If the physical stress of overtraining is not removed, adrenal issues may continue or become more severe. Severely over trained athletes may develop Addison’s Disease.