Hormonal Testing
Adrenal Stress Profile + Sex Hormones + Melatonin
The Importance of Hormonal Testing
The adrenal glands produce the complementary hormones cortisol and DHEA. The Functional Adrenal Profiles involve a series of saliva tests that measures the level of cortisol four times daily to establish its circadian rhythm. Additionally, this test measures DHEA and related metabolites including progesterone, estradiol, estriol, testosterone, and melatonin.
Having youthful levels of these hormones is crucially important for overall health, especially for maintaining ideal weight, for skin quality, for heart health, and energy production.
Cortisol affects the heart, vasculature, blood pressure, water excretion, and electrolyte balance. It mobilizes protein stores in all tissues except the liver; it mobilizes fatty acids from adipose; it is the precursor of cortisone and acts as an anti-inflammatory; and it is the primary hormone directing immune function. Cortisol can stimulate or inhibit gene transcription, promote apoptosis, and affect bone metabolism and calcium dynamics. It affects behavior, mood, neural activity, and a variety of central nervous system biochemical processes. Cortisol affects the eyes, gastrointestinal tract, reproductive function, and the production and clearance of other classes of hormones. It is a major marker of the complex control loops regulating the sex hormones. The general effect of excess cortisol is usually stimulatory and catabolic; a deficiency of cortisol usually results in a slowing of physiology.
Adrenal dysfunction may be associated with the following symptoms:
- Excessive Fatigue
- Chronic Stress and Related Health Problems
- Dizziness Upon Standing
- Weakness
- Hypoglycemia
- Nervousness
- Irritability
- Depression
- Inability to Concentrate
- Confusion
- Poor Memory
- Insomnia
- Premenstrual Tension
- Sweet Cravings
- Headaches
- Excessive Hunger
- Alternating Diarrhea and Constipation
- Neck Pain
- Poor Resistance to Infection
- Food and/or Inhalant Allergies
- Migraine Headaches
- Low Body Temperature
- Diminished Sex Drive
SUMMARY
Evaluating the Cortisol circadian (24-hour) rhythm along with DHEA provides an accurate assessment of adrenal function and can reveal maladaptation to stressors. Saliva (free fraction) testing determines the bioactive level of these hormones at the cellular level, thereby providing a functional assessment of the effects of environmental and physiological stressors.
You can participate in this program from the comfort of your own home. Pre-testing and result consultations can be done over the phone. Test kits are either given to you in-person or can be mailed out to you for pre-paid mail return.