Why Test For Cortisol And Adrenal Fatigue
By | Submitted On January 18, 2011
If you’ve been struggling with a chronic health condition that hasn’t been getting better – maybe it could be your adrenal glands? Are you dealing with prolonged stress? Has your doctor mentioned your adrenal glands or possible adrenal fatigue being the root of the problem?
We all know that stress is a huge factor in our health, unfortunately mainstream medicine only recognizes it as a general term. They don’t factor in the overall effects and consequences of having cortisol and adrenaline constantly pumping through your body.
The reason for that is two-fold and I will get to that in a moment, but the more stress you are under the more cortisol and adrenaline your adrenal glands will be asked to produce. It’s called the ‘fight or flight’ mode and your body is designed to handle stress. It’s not designed to handle long-term, prolonged stress. We are supposed to get out of harms way, relax and give our body a chance to recover.
Your adrenal glands can only pump out so much cortisol and adrenaline before they become exhausted and depleted, which is referred to as adrenal fatigue. But you can only squeeze out so much juice from a lemon. Stress depletes your body of specific nutrients, which is why rest and proper nourishment are important in keeping your adrenal glands functioning properly.Cortisol and adrenaline are two primary hormones – you can’t live without. They are basically survival hormones.
Can I Take The Test At Home
There are commercially available at-home cortisol tests. These tests involve collecting a sample or blood, urine, or saliva and mailing it to a laboratory for analysis. Because cortisol levels change throughout the day, some tests require a sample to be collected in the morning, while others use samples taken at several different times during the day.
At-home cortisol tests may also be called at-home stress and sleep panels and measure other substances that can affect sleep and the bodys stress responses.
At-home tests can provide a snapshot of cortisol levels, but they are not able to replace physician-ordered tests. A doctors evaluation of your symptoms is very important when investigating potential problems with cortisol levels.
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How Can Naturopathic Treatments Help
Naturopathic Doctors provide treatments that support the natural circadian rhythm of cortisol and help to manage any underlying stressors that are affecting the adrenal glands. In each patient these underlying causes may be different. For example, if a patient regularly experiences hypoglycemia, this will trigger the release of cortisol from the adrenal glands and over a prolonged period of time contributes to adrenal fatigue. Naturopathic treatments for this patient would then include nutrition and lifestyle management to balance blood sugar levels.
In another patient, insomnia may be a root cause of their adrenal fatigue and the naturopathic doctor would then offer natural treatments that support deep, restorative sleep.
Adaptogens are often included in the program. Since adrenal adaptogens have a wide variety of different properties these are individually chosen to match the patients needs. For example, some adaptogens improve energy levels, whereas others are more calming in periods of intense stress. Some adaptogens lower high levels of cortisol, and others are supportive for patients with low levels of cortisol. Combinations of adaptogens can also be included and timed precisely in the day to match a patients symptom picture and pattern of cortisol more exactly.
Cortisol Saliva Adrenal Test
The Adrenocortex hormone profile is a non-invasive saliva test that serves as a reliable marker of stress response and a critical tool for revealing adrenal imbalances. Lifestyle, physical and psychological stresses put constant demands on the adrenal glands. If they become depleted adrenal fatigue or insufficiency may be experienced.
Each person has two adrenal glands both located on top of each of the bodys two kidneys. These glands are important to the bodys endocrine system. Adrenal fatigue is a very common condition in todays society through the physical and physiological demands we put on our adrenal glands. Each gland is composed of two distinct zones, the large outer cortex and the inner medulla.
Salivary cortisol testing is an effective non-invasive salivary hormone test that evaluates bioactive levels of the bodys important stress hormones, cortisol and DHEA. This hormone test serves as a critical tool for uncovering biochemical imbalances underlying anxiety, depression, chronic fatigue syndrome, obesity, dysglycemia, and a host of other clinical conditions that may affect our day to day lives. This hormone test examines 4 saliva samples over a 12-hour period for levels of cortisol and DHEA. The Adrenocortex test should be used as a general screening test as it plays such an important role for a healthy life.
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Consult A Medical Professional To Treat The Root Causes Of Adrenal Fatigue
Adrenal fatigue can be caused by a variety of factors, but regardless of the origin, controlling your cortisol levels play an important role in alleviating this condition.
Insufficient cortisol levels are linked to weight fluctuation because it makes you feel hungry even if your body doesnt need extra energy.
The trained staff at Paramount Mens Medical Center in St. Louis can provide a medical consultation and treatment plan to best support adrenal fatigue, erectile dysfunction, hormone therapy, and overall health. We will tailor the plan to your unique needs, history, and circumstances so you can get the best results possible. Give us a call today to set an appointment with our expert medical team.
What Are Adrenal Glands
Your adrenal glands are two small organs that sit on top of each kidney. The adrenal glands make different types of hormones you need to stay alive and healthy. Hormones are chemicals that travel in your bloodstream and control how different parts of your body work.
The adrenal glands make the hormones cortisol, aldosterone, adrenaline, and noradrenaline. They also make hormones that your body uses to make sex hormones . All of these hormones do many important jobs, including:
- Turning food into energy and managing blood sugar levels
- Balancing salt and water
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Distinction From Addisons Disease
Adrenal fatigue is closely related to, but not to be confused with, Addisons Disease, a disorder characterized by insufficient cortisol production due either to a pathology directly affecting the adrenals or a disruption of signaling between the brain and the adrenals. While symptoms of Addisons Disease are similar to adrenal fatigue, the primary difference is that adrenal fatigue is considered a possible result of the overuse of otherwise healthy adrenal glands due to stress.
The adrenals are necessary to have gluconeogenesis to take place in the liver, as well as the glycogen storage where it stimulates the production of blood glucose, says Dr. Wilson. So, most of the major symptoms of either adrenal fatigue or Addisons Disease are a result of either a lack of cortisol or a lack of blood glucose and the many effects that it has systematically throughout the body.
He theorizes, Unlike Addisons, adrenal fatigue doesnt have a pathological origin, with the exception of the overuse of antibiotics which may partially shut down the use of the adrenal glands. So, you do get different symptoms with versus adrenal fatigue, because youre talking about the difference between a body that cant secrete cortisol versus a body that isnt secreting sufficient cortisol.
How Do You Find Out If You Have Adrenal Fatigue
You can buy an adrenal fatigue test online and test your adrenal function by collecting saliva samples in the comfort of your own home.
To understand how your adrenal glands function throughout the day, you need to collect and measure more than one cortisol and DHEA sample and track how these change over a 24-hour window.
Usually, youll need to collect your first sample immediately on waking, and then at least three further samples at different times throughout the day. This helps you to see your circadian rhythm of cortisol.
The Healthpath adrenal function report is based on an assessment of both your test results and symptom picture. It comes with an easy-to-follow health plan, and gives you personalised recommendations too.
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Are Test Results Accurate
Cortisol tests are likely to accurately reflect your cortisol level at the time the test was taken, though no test is without some potential for error.
Accurate testing requires proper sample collection, and some patients who are collecting 24-hour urine samples may find it difficult to follow collection instructions precisely. If too little or too much urine is collected, test results can be affected.
To try to get the most accurate results, a doctor will make careful selection of initial and, if needed, repeat or follow-up testing. To interpret your results, your doctor will take individual factors into account, including your symptoms, the medications you take, and your sleep schedule.
Cortisol tests are complex to interpret, so any questions about their accuracy or significance should always be addressed in consultation with a medical professional.
Is Adrenal Fatigue Real
- By , Contributor
Low energy and tiredness are among the most common reasons patients seek help from a doctor. Despite being so common, it is often challenging to come up with a diagnosis, as many medical problems can cause fatigue. Doctors engage in detective work, obtaining a medical history, doing a physical exam, and doing blood tests. The results often yield no explanations. It can be frustrating for clinicians and patients when a clear-cut diagnosis remains elusive. An attractive theory, called adrenal fatigue, links stress exposure to adrenal exhaustion as a possible cause of this lack of energy.
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Ways To Diagnose Adrenal Fatigue
Keep in mind, you can get a blood test that shows cortisol levels if your holistic doctor does a very extensive bloodwork. This is not the most accurate reading because it only measures it at one time during the day and it also measures bound and unbound cortisol. The saliva test taken throughout the day, described at the bottom of this post, is the gold standard for diagnosis.
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Get Quality Sleep Levels
A strict exercise schedule and a proper diet wont do your body justice if you only bring in 5 hours of sleep or less. Sleep helps improve immune function and cell reproduction in the brain. Moreover, it also helps ease symptoms of adrenal fatigue.
While its not unusual for people who suffer from chronic stress to have unhealthy work habits, its still crucial to try finding time for 7 to 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep every day. To help you sleep better, try to stick to a schedule and avoid using electronics right before going to bed.
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What Is Adrenal Insufficiency
Endocrinologists stress that adrenal fatigue isnt the same as the scientifically proven disease adrenal insufficiency, also known as Addisons disease. People diagnosed with adrenal fatigue dont have the same symptoms and dont meet the diagnostic criteria for Addisons.
There is a stage of adrenal disease prior to full-blown adrenal insufficiency that is subclinical, before the disease becomes serious enough to require treatment.
This pre-disease state may be what people are looking at when they suspect adrenal fatigue. However, calling this stage adrenal fatigue isnt medically accurate.
Some signs and symptoms of adrenal insufficiency include:
What Is The Outlook
Most people with adrenal fatigue will recover quite quickly but severe symptoms may take some months to recover, or even longer. The time for recovery will vary enormously from person to person and will also depend on the cause of stress and the severity of symptoms. Following a good treatment plan, as described above, will help you to recover more quickly.
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Try This Easy Adrenal Fatigue Test At Home
If you feel like you are suffering from some of the symptoms on the checklist above, especially if youve been exposed to chronic stressors or suffered a traumatic experience, you can take this easy adrenal fatigue test at home to check. This is not an alternative to seeing a medical professional and receiving an official diagnosis, but it can help you come to a better understanding of your health.
To test for adrenal fatigue, you want to do an iris contraction test. This measures your bodys response to light stimulation. If your body lacks stamina in its response, that is, if it is unable to hold its reaction, this may indicate you are suffering from adrenal fatigue. In addition to your other symptoms, this is an easy way to both check and monitor over time your bodys reactions.
What Is Adrenal Gland Fatigue
The term adrenal fatigue is a bit misleading in that it doesnt refer to the adrenal glands themselves wearing out. Rather, its a breakdown in how the adrenal glands communicate with the brain through a connection known as the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis.
When the body is under prolonged or severe stress it can lead to a communication breakdown in the HPA axis leading to either adrenal overactivity or underactivity .
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What Is Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome
Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome is a collection of non-specific yet often debilitating adrenal dysfunction symptoms. It is not a myth but rather an increasingly common and often debilitating condition.
Fatigue and lethargy are the most common complaints amongst adults. If you have symptoms such as tiredness, fearfulness, allergies, frequent getting sick, aches and pains of unknown origin, anxiousness, depressed mood, reduced memory and difficulties in concentrating, difficulty sleeping, inability to lose weight, you may be suffering from Adrenal Fatigue. The onset of Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome is often slow and insidious.
Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome should not be confused with another medical condition called Addisons disease, where the adrenal glands are not functioning. While Addisons disease is often caused by autoimmune dysfunction, Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome is primarily driven by stress.
How Low Cortisol Levels Adrenal Fatigue And Weight Gain Are Connected
Do you feel a constant sense of fatigue that wont go away? Even with a proper diet and regular exercise, do you still have a belly that wont seem to shrink?
If yes, and if your doctor cant diagnose you with any specific condition, you may have a case of adrenal fatigue.
Adrenal fatigue is a condition where the adrenal glands are no longer functioning optimally. Its often a follow-up of an episode of chronic stress, but it can also follow conditions such as flu, bronchitis, or pneumonia.
Adrenal fatigue symptoms are often caused by adrenal insufficiency, depression, among other health problems. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, adrenal insufficiency occurs when the adrenal glands dont make enough of the hormone cortisol.
Cortisol levels tend to be low in cases of adrenal fatigue, which may also be referred to as underactive adrenal glands. This is because the adrenal glands are unable to produce cortisol that is needed in stressful conditions.
This, in turn, leaves your body vulnerable to illnesses and infections. In essence, if youre fatigued and sluggish, your adrenals may be to blame.
Lets explore how low cortisol levels and weight gain affect each other.
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Is It All A Myth
Endocrinologists are scientists and doctors who treat and research diseases of the glands and hormones. According to the Endocrine Society, which is the largest organization of endocrinologists in the world, adrenal fatigue isnt a legitimate diagnosis.
Members of the society are concerned that a person diagnosed with adrenal fatigue might stop seeking a more accurate diagnosis. They also worry that people who believe they have adrenal fatigue will take cortisol, which could pose a health hazard.
However, some practitioners do advocate treatments that happen to be good for your health in general, such as the adrenal fatigue diet.
The Two Tests To Rule Out Real Adrenal Organ Issues Are:
The above information is in ALL of my books.
The term Adrenal Fatigue is discussed all over the Internet. It is even present in some cortisol saliva test companies test results. In terms of cortisol saliva test results, I am one of the biggest fans of doing these. It is just the term that I think is misleading.
When people talk of stages of adrenal fatigue, it simply means stages of failure to produce cortisol and Dhea . It is not just nomenclature or giving things the right name. It is about understanding what is really causing the problems.
Nursing the adrenals back to health by supporting with adrenal glandulars or adrenal cortex, is not going to fix the fundamental issue with low cortisol.
I realise that a lot of these comments may cause consternation, but I believe them to be true, based on the research I have done, the incredibly smart people that I have spoken with, and the experience I have had with working with many low cortisol patients.
I hope you found this helpful.
Best wishes,
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