Why Evaluate Adrenal Function?

Chronic stress can wear down the body, causing fatigue, hormonal imbalance, and insomnia. The adrenal glands determine how well your body handles stress and testing your adrenal function is the first step in restoring your energy levels.

The Adrenal Stress Test provided at Progressive Medical Center gives a clinical snapshot of your hormone and immune function. It gives your doctor information about the effects chronic stress may be having on your body. The test will measure your stress hormones and immune system markers: cortisol, DHEA, secretory IgA, and anti-gliadin antibody. It is a simple saliva test you can do at home.

Adrenal stress may lead to:

• Fatigue
• Insomnia
• Anxiety
• Abdominal weight gain
• Poor coping skills
• Exercise intolerance
• Depression
• Pain
• Low blood pressure
• Shakiness and irritability between meals
• Increased susceptibility to infections

Biomarkers in the Adrenal Stress Test:

• Cortisol x 4
• DHEA
• Secretory IgA
• Anti-gliadin antibody

Cortisol is often called the “stress hormone” because of its involvement in the fight or flight response. Each of the four cortisol measurements in the Adrenal Stress Test gives your clinician important information about the effect of stress on your body. Chronic stress can drag down your hormone levels, resulting in low cortisol and DHEA.

Stress can also damage your immune system. The Adrenal Stress Test helps your doctor evaluate your immune health. Secretory IgA measures the health of your gastrointestinal tract and your immune system while anti-gliadin antibody will tell if your immune system is attacking gluten, a major protein in wheat.

SYMPTOMS AND CONDITIONS ASSOCIATED WITH STRESS:

WHAT DOES THE TEST TELL ME?

The Adrenal Stress Test will show you if your body is having trouble making hormones or if your immune system is out of balance. This test can help your doctor figure out the underlying cause of stress-related illnesses, such as mood disorders, sleep disturbance, fatigue, gastrointestinal symptoms, hormonal imbalance, inflammation, or pain.

The Adrenal Stress Test helps your doctor pinpoint exactly what kinds of treatments are needed to get you feeling better.

WHAT WILL MY DOCTOR RECOMMEND IF MY RESULTS ARE ABNORMAL?

If your results are abnormal, your doctor may prescribe nutritional and adrenal support, lifestyle modifications, hormone supplementation, or adaptogenic herbs. If your immune system is out of balance, your doctor may recommend a gluten-free diet , or probiotics and other nutrients that can heal and soothe the gastrointestinal lining.

WHAT NOW?

If you would like to schedule your adrenal function evaluation, then please contact us. We look forward to getting you back on the right track to optimal health. Learn more today!