Adrenal Fatigue and Heat Stroke

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Prevent adrenal fatigue, heat stroke and heat exhaustion with real salt to keep you hydrated. Himalayan or Sun-Dried Solar salts are essential to electrolyte balance. (See my Electrolyte Hydration Drink below). Water alone will not hydrate you. In fact….

Too much plain water can flush away your minerals

With adrenal fatigue we tend to excrete salt and be somewhat dehydrated since the cells can’t hold water without salt.  If you then become overheated, you can experience heat exhaustion or, even worse, heat stroke from the dehydration.

The reverse is true too. If you have had heat exhaustion, it can damage your adrenals and lead to chronic fatigue.

I know this — it happened to me.

Heat never bothered me until I did the 6-Day Course – similar to the old Outward Bound program. Spend a few days conquering your fears by jumping off cliffs with a zip-line, running uphill in the heat, and various physical and mental exertions. Crowded bunk cabins had no A/C and bathrooms were far away. Water was not encouraged nor was salt.

The Adirondacks were in a heat wave that summer but there was no reduction in activities. I got severely dehydrated, overheated from exercise and hot cabins, and stopped sweating. I began to hallucinate and had to leave the Course.

Over the next 2 weeks my Adrenals crashed. I lost 13 pounds of muscle which I never got back. (Adrenal Cortisol is strongly connected with muscle function). I have struggled with low Cortisol and chronic fatigue ever since. I still can’t sweat and must restrict many outdoor activities.

My Electrolyte ReHydration Drink 

Fill a bottle 2/3 rd’s full of Spring or Mineral water, or reverse-osmosis water (NOT alkalized water). Top with 100% Organic Juice.

Add 3 large pinches of Himalayan Salt, about a tsp., or our Pink Salt 

Shake and drink after sweating.

Symptoms of Heat Exhaustion and Heat Stroke

• A change in sweating is a key symptom. If you are hot and stop sweating you are headed for heat stroke
• You feel overheated or disoriented
• Flushed red skin
• Throbbing head or nausea
• Your temperature elevates as high as 105

Heat Exhaustion can wipe you out for weeks. Heat Stroke can kill you.

What to do if you suspect Heat Stroke 

1. Quickly get body temperature down. Find shade and drench with water, or get into water.
2. Drink water slowly, with 2 tsps. added salt and some kind of sugar such as fruit juice or actual sugar (see below).
3. Call 911 for an IV saline solution and cooling body packs.
4. Find a fan and air conditioning!

Who is susceptible to Adrenal Fatigue and Heat Stroke?

Everyone! Playing sports, hiking, gardening, sitting in saunas or by the pool can all cause critical overheating. The elderly, ill and those on diuretics are less able to handle heat.

Swimming is a common cause of dehydration. Hot sun, active play… You’re sweating even though you don’t realize it.

Preventing Heat Exhaustion and Adrenal Fatigue

The adrenals regulate sodium, potassium , calcium and magnesium – the 4 key electrolytes. If you’re overheated, the adrenals burn out trying to keep sodium and potassium in balance. Supporting your adrenals now can prevent heat exhaustion. I have many articles on the adrenals and adrenal support products in my online store such as this one and this one. Test and treat your adrenals!

A craving for salt is a common symptom of low adrenal function. I use finely ground solar Salt like this one generously on my food and add it to my water in the Texas summer – maybe 1/4 tsp. several times a day. Or make a salt sole (So-Lay) – the briny liquid mixes quickly in water.

Don’t overeat salts if you are not overheated or sweating. Just use Pink Salt on your food to taste.

Avoid commercial white salt. It is highly processed and contains additives that make it hard to absorb. Choose Himalayan or Sun-Dried Sea Salt. And stay cool!