Smoking and Adrenals

[Guest guest]

Smoking Status and Salivary Free Cortisol Secretion

According to Endocrine News (March 2007), researchers at University

College London examined the association between smoking status and

salivary free cortisol secretion in 4,431 subjects. They reported that

smoking raised cortisol secretion, in terms of daily cortisol

production. When smoking ceased, the diurnal pattern of cortisol release

returned to that of people who had never smoked, indicating the impact

smoking has on HPA axis and the potential for consequences on downstream

endocrine function.

--Just thought I would share what smoking does to Cortisol. So,

basically, it states that smoking raises cortisol secretion. Now, that

I have stopped smoking, my natural Cortisol is returning to normal. Or,

below normal, I should say, now that I have stopped smoking........This

would explain why many people's Adrenals got worse when they stopped

smoking! Also, may explain why Thyroid function also got worse after

smoking cessation. I have read that some Thyroid function INCREASES

with smoking, which actually really surprised me. I read that smoking

actually lowers TSH and increases FT3 & FT4 numbers. Well, my latest

TSH, was higher than it has ever been since started treating my low

Thyroid. But, I also reduced my HC too, which may explain " why " my TSH

is higher too. Add to all of that the fact that I had an almost

complete hysterectomy and only have one ovary left......yikes!

BTW--just had some blood work done yesterday morning. They are checking

my RT3 (smile) and are checking my ovary function. They actually have

to send the blood work to the Mayo health clinic bc the lab that my

clinic uses does not check RT3! So, will probably know something at the

end of next week. Will let you all know the results, when I get them.

I pray it is actually a high RT3 issue, so that I can get rid of these

palps! I have had them ever since March, 2007. Sick of them!!