The Science Behind Your Symptoms: The Cardiovascular System

Why can adrenal insufficiency affect your heart and circulation in ways that many people don't expect?

In this episode, we explore the vital connection between adrenal insufficiency and the cardiovascular system. While fatigue is often considered the hallmark symptom, cortisol also plays a critical role in supporting blood pressure, circulation, heart function, and the body's ability to adapt to physical and emotional stress.

We break down how cortisol helps maintain vascular tone, supports healthy blood flow, and works alongside adrenaline to keep you upright and functioning throughout the day. We also explain why symptoms such as dizziness when standing, heart palpitations, racing heart, brain fog, heat intolerance, cold hands and feet, and fluctuating blood pressure can all be connected to changes in circulation rather than the heart itself.

This episode also explores the important differences between primary adrenal insufficiency, where aldosterone deficiency can contribute to salt loss and reduced blood volume, and secondary, tertiary, and steroid-induced adrenal insufficiency, where aldosterone is usually preserved. We discuss orthostatic intolerance, perfusion, adrenaline compensation, and why some people with adrenal insufficiency can still have high blood pressure despite the common belief that blood pressure should always be low.

Most importantly, we focus on understanding the science behind these symptoms so you can better recognize patterns, have more informed conversations with your healthcare team, and appreciate why cardiovascular symptoms can vary so much from person to person.

If you've ever wondered why standing up makes you dizzy, why your heart races unexpectedly, or why heat affects you so differently, this episode will help explain the physiology behind those experiences.

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