Cortisol

What is Cortisol?

Cortisol is the primary stress hormone. It regulates many important processes in the body. Nordic Wellth’s blood cortisol test is a single cortisol reading, that is tested between 7 and 8 am.

The results of cortisol testing need to be interpreted in the light of other test results as well as signs and symptoms. Cortisol levels are usually low at bedtime and highest just after waking. Studies have shown that people with optimal cortisol levels throughout the day often feel healthier. A normal cortisol pattern is altered if a person works rotating shifts and sleeps at different times on different days. Long-term and acute stress can disrupt the cortisol rhythm.

Bodily rhythms and cortisol patterns

‘Stress’ refers to things we typically think of as stressors, like managing family life, work, deadlines, intense studying, deaths, and financial problems, and factors like overeating, poor nutrition and consumption of inflammatory foods, frequent infections, injury, trauma, obesity, chronic inflammation, depression, nutrient deficiencies, exposure to environmental toxicants, pregnancy, and chronic illness.

Cortisol is a key part of our natural stress response pathway. It is critical to our health. Collectively known as the HPA Axis, the hypothalamus, the pituitary gland, and the adrenal glands work together to regulate functions like the stress response, mood, digestion, the immune system, metabolism and energy levels. The HPA Axis controls critical functions including digestion, heart rate, and blood pressure. Chronically elevated or low levels of cortisol increase the risk of several diseases. Several factors can either increase or decrease the normal, healthy stress response.

Why test cortisol?

Testing cortisol levels is important for several reasons. Firstly, it helps discover your risk factors for lifestyle diseases in time to do something about them. Secondly, monitoring cortisol allows you to observe changes in your blood values as you make lifestyle changes or undergo treatments, providing insight into your body's response. Lastly, cortisol levels can significantly impact how you manage other health conditions, such as thyroid disease.

What do the results mean?
Your results will tell you how much cortisol is in your blood at the time of the test. The results will tell you if your cortisol is in the expected range.

Cortisol is normally low in the evening and high in the morning after waking. This may not be true of everyone. People who work irregular hours may have a different cortisol pattern.

Causes of high cortisol

High cortisol levels can be caused by chronic stress, Cushing's syndrome, prolonged use of corticosteroid medications, adrenal gland tumours, pituitary gland tumours (resulting in Cushing's disease), and certain medical conditions such as depression, obesity, and severe infections.

Symptoms of high cortisol
Symptoms of high cortisol levels include weight gain, particularly around the abdomen and face, thinning skin that bruises easily, slow healing of cuts, acne, muscle weakness, fatigue, high blood pressure, mood swings, anxiety, depression, and irregular menstrual periods or decreased libido in women.

Causes of low cortisol

Low cortisol levels can be caused by Addison's disease, which is an autoimmune disorder affecting the adrenal glands, long-term use of corticosteroids followed by abrupt discontinuation, pituitary gland disorders that reduce ACTH production, and congenital adrenal hyperplasia, a genetic condition affecting cortisol synthesis.

Symptoms of low cortisol

Symptoms of low cortisol include fatigue, muscle weakness, weight loss, low blood pressure, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and skin darkening, especially in areas exposed to the sun. These symptoms can be indicative of adrenal insufficiency or Addison's disease.

Preparations for this test
No preparation is needed for this test. Try to go to bed at the usual time and avoid stressful activities.

On the day
This test should be taken between 7 and 8 am after a normal night’s rest. Always take I.D. with you when going to take a test. Arrive early and sit down quietly for 15 minutes before taking a test.