Who is This Test For?
Often we talk with our friends, family and health care professionals about feeling tired and burnt out when we’re otherwise moving right along and going about our daily lives, but yet we don’t feel optimal. In the fast-paced, stressful world we live in today, none of this is surprising. Our adrenal glands are where we produce cortisol, the key “stress hormone,” and repeated or continuously high levels throughout the day may indicate an inability to adapt to continued stress.
The Adrenal Check measures the levels of the key stress hormone, cortisol, over the course of a day as well as DHEA-S and the ratio between the two. When viewed together, they can help us understand if there may be an imbalance in adrenal function.
About Cortisol
Cortisol levels typically follow a curve. They are at their highest in the morning and decline as the day continues. They may fluctuate high or low at any of the four measurement times throughout the day due to acute or chronic stress. Sustained high or low levels are often found in individuals with an imbalance in adrenal function.
About DHEA-S
DHEA is the most abundant circulating steroid hormone. We test DHEA-S, the sulfated form, whose levels are approximately three times greater than DHEA. This hormone plays an important role in the synthesis of sex hormones, energy production, and protection against the degenerative effects of aging.
The Adrenal Check test provides the ratio between cortisol and DHEA-S, an important indicator of adrenal output of the two hormones.
Understanding the Cortisol / DHEA-S Ratio in Adrenal Check
When the body experiences chronic stress, it begins to overproduce cortisol at the expense of other steroidal hormones, including DHEA and its metabolites, which include sex hormones. This can create an elevated cortisol-to-DHEA ratio. If the ratio is lower than normal for a given age and the DHEA-S level is within the normal range, it may reflect the maintenance of DHEA-S output with advancing age. However, if the ratio for that age is lower than expected, it may be due to high DHEA levels, low cortisol, or both.
Testing is always chosen intentionally, in sequence, and with a clear purpose.
Ready to Get Started?
If you’re not sure where to begin, the first step is simply identifying which system needs attention first.
Explore Other Testing Options
Different tests provide different pieces of information.
Not sure which test is most appropriate? Testing is usually most helpful after symptoms, history, and physiology have been reviewed first.
