The adrenal glands are a source of vital hormones for the body. Some of the hormones they produce are adrenalin, sex steroids and cortisol. In females they produce fifty percent of the testosterone, and estrogen and progesterone after menopause. In males they are a source of estrogen and progesterone, and testosterone after andropause (male menopause). 

Did you know that 43% of all adults suffer stress related adverse health effects, and 75-90% of all visits to the doctor are for stress related complaints or disorders. It is estimated that one million workers are absent each day due to stress related complaints. Stress hormones can effect the body in its entirety and have been linked to all the leading causes of death such as cardiovascular disease, cancers, accidents and even suicide. Stress can cause decreased thyroid function, glucose and insulin elevations, decreased kidney functions, depressed immune functions, poor absorption of nutrients from the GI tract, change in the sex hormones, and sleep disturbances.

Cortisol is a potent hormone that has effects on the metabolism of carbohydrates, fat, proteins, and glucose levels, as well as causing other numerous effects in our body. Our cortisol level usually rises and falls at particular times during the day. It is typically elevated early in the morning and gradually decreases to its lowest point around midnight. Sometimes the earliest indication of an adrenal problem will be the loss of this normal day-night pattern found out by testing. Unregulated it can cause increased heart rate, increased blood pressure, increased blood sugar, causes muscle wasting, suppresses your immune system, can cause thyroid problems, sleep difficulties, increased lipids in the blood, bone loss, increased fat and other effects. What does a dysfunctional adrenal gland show as? Some of the symptoms are fatigue, apathy, depression, decreased ability to handle stress, irritability, and cravings for foods high in salt, coffee or other stimulants and craving for high fat foods.

Does this sound like you? Hard to get up and going in the morning? Do you like to sleep in? Feel fatigued till lunch, and then don’t get your energy till about 6 pm. Feel tired again around 9 -10 pm, then get a second wind around 11 pm. Do you get your best work done late at night? Have cravings for high fat foods, salt, caffeine, nicotine, sugar and stimulants?

Testing for cortisol is fairly simple. At Affinity Body Solutions we utilize the ZRT Saliva Test Kits. This is the best method for testing your cortisol levels as it is measured four times during the day. It will show your cortisol production throughout the day, which is much superior to just an AM and PM level.

Saliva testing was first noted back in the 1960’s and was made commercially available in the 1990’s. It is used for testing not only your cortisol levels, but also your other hormones. Salivary testing measures the bio-available, active hormone. It is testing the levels in the saliva, which is secreted by the salivary glands. These glands are considered end-organs, where the hormones would be active. This is in contrast to obtaining the level from the blood, which is where the hormone is freely floating and not involved in an end-organ where it exerts its effect. It is also a painless way to obtain the samples for testing cortisol, as well as very good for measuring the effectiveness of topical hormones.  

So how do you now if you are having cortisol / adrenal gland issues, and what can you do about it? As stated previously, we use the saliva testing to determine both hormone and cortisol levels. Once these are obtained a physician will review the results with you, and show you how you can make changes in your current lifestyle to decrease your stress and the effects of the stress on your body. There are also adrenal support supplements that we offer such as Adaptogens, which the physician will review with you.

Learn how to feel better, improve your health and decrease your stress. Call now for an appointment with an Affinity Body Solutions physician.