Cortisol is a hormone that is essential to the body. For example, it helps the body use glucose for energy and manages stress.
If you’re concerned about your cortisol levels, take an at-home saliva test. These tests can help diagnose disorders that affect the adrenal glands, such as Cushing’s syndrome and Addison’s disease.
Table of Contents
You can take an at home saliva cortisol test if you have a health issue or want to monitor your levels. This test is an important first step in speaking with your doctor since it might give you an idea of what is causing your symptoms.
Your body makes a hormone called cortisol that helps regulate blood pressure, glucose, metabolism, and how your body responds to stress. It is generated by two little glands located on top of your kidneys called the adrenal glands.
A problem with your adrenal glands, a problem with your pituitary gland, or a tumor in one of your adrenal or pituitary glands can cause abnormal cortisol levels. These disorders are called adrenal diseases, including Addison’s disease and Cushing’s syndrome.
Several tests can diagnose an adrenal disorder. These include ACTH stimulation and dexamethasone suppression tests, which measure how your adrenal glands react to a shot of artificial ACTH or a manufactured version of cortisol.
Alternatively, your doctor may prescribe you a urine test to see how much cortisol is in your urine over 24 hours. It is a more accurate way to test your cortisol level than blood tests and is a faster option.
An at-home saliva cortisol test is easy to do and can help you better understand what’s causing your symptoms. The best at-home saliva cortisol testing kits have a quick turnaround time and offer accurate results.
Your cortisol levels fluctuate throughout the day, so tracking them can help you see whether they are higher or lower than normal. If your levels are lower than normal, you might experience symptoms such as difficulty waking in the morning, going to sleep at night, and craving sugary snacks incredibly late in the day.
Your body releases cortisol when you feel stress or discomfort. This hormone helps regulate blood sugar levels and energy metabolism (how your body uses sugar and fat to create energy).
The amount of cortisol in your body should be high when you wake up in the morning, low when you go to bed at night, and be about the same between these times. However, your levels can vary if you have a problem with your adrenal glands or certain diseases or tumors that affect the production of this hormone.
If your healthcare provider believes you have an adrenal gland problem, they may recommend a test to measure your cortisol levels. They can do this in the blood, urine, or saliva.
Suppose your cortisol levels are abnormally low or excessively high. In that case, you might experience signs and symptoms such as weight loss, unexplained fatigue, a change in mood, muscle weakness, darkened skin, and changes in appetite. These symptoms can be a sign of a health problem that needs attention.
Cortisol is a hormone generated by the adrenal glands that regulate several bodily functions such as metabolism, bone development, blood pressure management, and immunological function. It also triggers the fight-or-flight response and helps you react to a threat.
Usually, your cortisol levels peak in the morning and fall throughout the day to the lowest level at night. This pattern is called a diurnal rhythm, and it’s similar for most people, although it may change if you work a night shift or have a different sleep schedule.
If you’re concerned about high cortisol, your doctor might recommend taking an at-home saliva cortisol test. It is a noninvasive test that involves collecting a sample of your saliva in a container after you wake up and at various times during the day, such as 11 a.m., 3 p.m., and 7 p.m. The test results will help your doctor decide how to treat any problems that may be causing elevated cortisol levels.
Cortisol is an important hormone that regulates many functions throughout the body, including the fight or flight response. It also plays a role in metabolism and sleep.
In the right circumstances, such as when you encounter a threat or an emergency, cortisol helps your body react to the danger by raising your blood pressure and glucose levels, which gives your muscles the fuel they need to respond quickly. Once the threat passes, your cortisol levels return to normal, and homeostasis resumes.
However, too much cortisol can be bad news. It can lead to weight gain and high blood pressure, among other health concerns.
The good news is that stress and cortisol levels may be reduced. These techniques include limiting your exposure to stress, exercising regularly, and practicing deep breathing exercises.
If you’re concerned that you might have excess cortisol levels, talk to your doctor. They can order a series of tests to help them determine the cause of your high cortisol levels and make recommendations to get you back on track to a healthier life.
You may also find out what caused your high cortisol levels with an at-home saliva cortisol test. It will involve collecting a sample of your saliva and submitting it to the laboratory for analysis.
Mike Morgan is a health enthusiast and has written several health articles for various health magazines.
Comment:*
Nickname*
E-mail*
Website
