At-Home Stress Test (Cortisol)

A cortisol test is used to accurately measure an individual’s levels of cortisol hormone. There are several different types of cortisol test. The most accurate and popular type is a cortisol blood test, which can effectively measure cortisol levels and determine whether they’re high, low, or at a normal value. 

Proper testing is the best way to measure cortisol levels and pinpoint whether there’s a deficiency or excess of hormones present.

What is Cortisol?

Cortisol is the primary stress hormone. It is responsible for increasing sugars (glucose) in the bloodstream, enhancing your brain's use of glucose and increases the availability of substances that repair tissues. Cortisol also curbs functions that would be nonessential or harmful in a fight-or-flight situation. 

What Causes High Cortisol Levels?

Elevated cortisol levels can occur as a result of a number of factors, ranging from emotional and psychological (e.g. stress) to physical and biological triggers, including:

• Stress response in the body, either caused by physical or emotional stressors, can cause cortisol levels to increase. This response can be triggered from many occurrences, such as trying to meet a tight work deadline or catching a cold or illness.
• Malnutrition, such as consuming an unhealthy diet filled with animal-based fats, refined sugar, and alcohol, can contribute to elevated cortisol. Similar, certain eating disorders can result in cortisol imbalances.
• Pituitary gland problems, for example an overactive pituitary gland or pituitary tumour, may stimulate your adrenal glands and result in too much cortisol production.
• Medications like corticosteroids used to treat asthma, arthritis, certain cancers can, mimic cortisol as they are similar in structure and action.
• Adrenal gland tumours can disrupt normal cortisol production, thereby causing either too much or too little. Most often, such tumours can contribute to high cortisol levels.

There are also several different conditions that can influence increased cortisol, such as depression and psychological disorders, diabetes, and alcoholism.

How does the test work?

While cortisol testing can be done with blood, urine, or saliva tests, a blood cortisol test is the most common and accurate method. Conducted in a laboratory setting or with a simple finger-prick blood sample taken at home using a blood collection kit, a blood sample can help you determine if your cortisol levels fall in the normal range. 

You can test your cortisol levels from the comfort of your own home, This is a finger prick, blood test. These kits allow you to take a blood sample and submit for laboratory testing. Please note that this test best taken in the morning while "at rest"