02 Sep What is Your Best Option to Get an At-Home Cortisol Test?

Most people’s blood pressure, heart rate, and weight are recorded at the doctor’s office on a routine basis. If you’re more focused on your body than most people, chances are that you track these things in some way or another. But what about cortisol? Chances are you haven’t heard of this hormone before reading this article.

Background on Cortisol

Cortisol is a hormone that is produced by the adrenal glands. It is sometimes referred to as the stress hormone because it helps the body respond to stress. Cortisol testing can be used to measure the level of cortisol in the body. There are several potential benefits of getting tested for cortisol, including helping to diagnose adrenal gland disorders, monitoring the effectiveness of treatment for adrenal gland disorders, and checking for side effects of certain medications.

Cortisol is closely linked to hormone and stress levels. People with high cortisol levels are more likely to experience fatigue and anxiety. They may also experience weight gain or difficulty sleeping. Low cortisol levels are associated with depression, irritability, poor memory, low energy, and other symptoms associated with chronic fatigue syndrome or fibromyalgia. Knowing when you should get tested is important so you can take steps to help manage your condition before it gets worse. You should consult a doctor if you have any changes in your health or moods.

How Cortisol testing works

A cortisol test measures the level of the hormone cortisol in the blood. Cortisol is produced by the adrenal glands and helps the body respond to stress. The test is usually done with a blood sample. The doctor may also order a saliva test. The results of a cortisol test can help diagnose conditions such as Cushing syndrome, Addison disease, and adrenal insufficiency.

Cortisol tests are often ordered by doctors who test for Cushing syndrome or Addison disease. A cortisol test may also be done if a person has symptoms that might mean they have either of these conditions. Symptoms include fatigue, increased appetite, weight gain around the waist, depression, and mood changes.

The benefits of knowing your Cortisol levels

Cortisol is a hormone produced by the adrenal glands. It’s often referred to as the stress hormone because it’s released in response to stress. Cortisol testing measures the level of cortisol in your blood, urine, or saliva. The test can diagnose Cushing’s syndrome, Addison’s disease, and other conditions. There are several potential benefits of getting a cortisol test. For one, it can help determine if you have a hormonal imbalance. If there’s too much cortisol production, you might feel tired and uninterested in things that used to interest you.

On the other hand, if there’s not enough cortisol production, your body might respond with hyperactivity. If this sounds like what you’re regularly experiencing, consider talking to your doctor about getting tested for high or low cortisol levels. Another benefit is that when people know their levels, they may be able to make adjustments, so they feel better overall.

When should I get tested?

If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms, you should consider getting a cortisol test: fatigue, body aches, unexplained weight loss, abdominal pain, or dizziness. A cortisol test can help identify if these symptoms are due to your body’s high or low cortisol levels. Low levels of cortisol may indicate adrenal insufficiency, which is a hormonal disorder that results from not producing enough hormones and usually needs to be treated with hormone replacement therapy. High cortisol levels may indicate Cushing’s syndrome, which often starts with high-stress levels and causes fluid retention, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, and other health problems over time.

At-home tests vs. medical services

There are two ways to do this: buy a DIY kit that requires saliva samples from you and sends them off for testing, or have a medical professional come out to your house and take blood samples from you. DIY kits may be cheaper upfront but require more time and expense if they come back with false results. In-home medical services offer convenience and peace of mind that comes with expert care from a medical professional. Tests are drawn properly by a medical professional and sent directly to their labs. And while there are other in-home options for testing cortisol levels, DIY kits aren’t as reliable as going through a mobile medical service due to the risk of contamination during shipping and incorrect handling. No wondering if the at-home kit was done properly or if mailing them out affected the results. Concierge medical services are ideal because you get the convenience of seeing medical professionals during times that work for you in the comfort of your own home.

Bottom line

Chronic stress can lead to serious health issues, so it’s important to monitor your cortisol levels. A cortisol test can help you do that. There are a few different ways to get a cortisol test, but a mobile medical service is the most convenient and accurate way. Mobile medical services allow you a visit with medical professionals, and they’ll collect samples using collection tubes.

Afterward, they will send the samples to a lab to analyze them before reporting the results.

Cortisol levels are an important thing to monitor because chronic stress can have detrimental effects on one’s physical and mental health. Through a cortisol test, one may be able to identify if chronic stress is leading to any of these negative effects.

After you’ve tested your cortisol levels, it’s important to determine what to do next if they fall outside a normal range. Treatments include lifestyle changes (reducing stress), therapy, or medication. It’s important to follow through with the recommended treatments because long-term chronic stress can lead to serious diseases such as hypertension, depression, stroke, diabetes mellitus type 2, cardiovascular disease, and obesity.

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