This topic brings to mind something I read recently, cannot recall the
source.  

 

The writer suggested that part of the body's response to short term stress
is to raise Cortisol and DHEA.  (Having Addison's disease, this peaked my
attention, I must say!  I had of course known that cortisol goes up for
short term stress, however didn't realize it could affect DHEA levels as
well.  It does make sense, since dhea is also mediated by ACTH.)  The
article continued to discuss longer-term stress, chronic stress, in which
the body's response is to sustain the high cortisol level, but DHEA level
drops low.  And low DHEA, the author suggests, is another factor that
affects metabolic rate, besides low thyroid levels.

 

Has anyone heard of DHEA affecting metabolism?  (I take a very small amount
daily, due to zero adrenal function, and DHEA-S levels-which were '0'-- are
interpreted as 'perfect' now, by my endo.)

 

With very high stress, dread reaction, etc., I need to take extra oral
cortef, or use injectable steroids immediately.  Normal adrenal glands would
pump out lots of cortisol in that case!  Either way, increased
glucocorticoids would cause more reverse T3 and therefore less T3,
temporarily, until the pituitary adjusts endogenous levels a bit on its own.
But I hadn't thought about DHEA.  Should I keep level the same during high
stress/higher steroids?  interesting

 

Thanks, and regards to all

Holly

 

 


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