Adrenal Stress Testing

Adrenocortex Stress Profile is a powerful and precise noninvasive salivary hormone test that evaluates bioactive levels of the body’s important stress hormones, cortisol and DHEA. This hormone test (stress 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. This hormone test examines 4 saliva samples over a 24-hour period for levels of cortisol and DHEA.

The adrenal hormones cortisol and DHEA function to influence:

  • Metabolism
  • Anti-inflammatory response
  • Thyroid function
  • Resistance to stress

Diseases and conditions associated with adrenocortex stress:

  • Anxiety
  • Back pain
  • Cardiovascular disease
  • Celiac disease
  • Chronic fatigue syndrome
  • Depression
  • Hypoglycemia
  • High blood pressure
  • Insomnia
  • Migraine headaches
  • Obesity
  • Thyroid dysfunction
  • Ulcers
  • Weak immune system

Changing the amounts of cortisol and DHEA can profoundly affect:

  • Energy levels
  • Emotional states
  • Resistance to disease
  • General sense of well-being

Although both DHEA and cortisol are hormones produced by the adrenal cortex, they exhibit many opposing actions.

Cortisol: Many of cortisol’s physiological actions are geared toward the mobilization of reserves. Cortisol is released in large amounts in response to physical, physiological, and/or psychological stress. When stressors persist, the secretion of glucocorticoids can be prolonged, leading to maladaptation of the adrenal cortex and adrenal hyperplasia.

Excess cortisol can adversely affect:

  • Bone and muscle tissue
  • Cardiovascular function
  • Sleep
  • Thyroid function
  • Weight control
  • Glucose regulation
  • Immune defense
  • Aging

Over time, cortisol secretion can become impaired, resulting in the inability to respond to stress as demonstrated in conditions as:

  • Chronic fatigue syndrome
  • Allergies
  • Menstrual problems
  • Arthritis

DHEA, in contrast to cortisol, exerts mostly anabolic actions and balances the body’s stress response.

DHEA functions to:

  • Provide substrate for the synthesis of sex hormones
  • Guard against degenerative conditions associated with aging
  • Influence immune function and energy production
  • Affect insulin sensitivity, thyroid function, protein synthesis and others

Imbalances of DHEA have been associated with:

  • Impaired immunity
  • Depression
  • Insulin resistance
  • Cancer
  • Panic disorder
  • Obesity
  • Alzheimer’s disease
  • Cardiovascular disease

Test Type: Salivary Test