Adrenal Stress Test + Health Coaching Consult

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The adrenal glands are pyramid shaped organs that sit on top of the kidneys and are
known as the bodies “stress glands.” They enable our body to cope with daily stressors
and environment. Stressors can be defined as anything from external environment such as
a natural disaster, or stress from within, such as public speaking. The adrenals help us
adapt to any given situation by releasing key hormones such as epinephrine (adrenaline)
to help with the “fight or flight” response in an emergency, and cortisol, the primary
stress hormone to fine tune the stress response.

Cortisol is the primary stress hormone that responds to daily stressors and is
physiologically highest in the morning. It should then take a steady dip through the day
and reach its lowest point by the evening.

DHEA is an abundant hormone in the body that is made by the adrenals and is a
precursor to estrogens and testosterone. DHEA can also decrease inflammation in the
body and balance negative effects from high cortisol.

If someone experiences stress long-term, cortisol will continue to elevate and DHEA will
decrease, which can lead to hormonal imbalances. Eventually, the adrenals can
experience exhaustion and fatigue and can be a major symptoms in those individuals. Cortisol
and DHEA have a natural balance, and there are many interventions via lifestyle and
supplementation that can help support them. By testing a 4-point saliva cortisol curve, we
can navigate and pinpoint areas to address for the adrenal rhythm, as opposed to a
singular static reading. A healthy rhythm will demonstrate cortisol highest in the
morning, then a gradual decline through the day, with the lowest reading in the evening.