Are you always tired? Are you stressed out? Maybe it's time to learn about a Cortisol Test!

Do you sometimes feel incredibly tired for no reason? Or do you feel very heavy, like you're always under a lot of stress? Sometimes your weight may suddenly increase or decrease. When you go to see a doctor with these things, and he says, "Let's do a cortisol test," you might wonder what that means. Don't worry, today we'll talk about this cortisol test in a very simple way.

Let's first see, what is Cortisol?

Simply put, Cortisol is a very important hormone in our bodies. It is produced by two small glands located above our kidneys, the adrenal glands. Many people call it the "Stress Hormone," meaning it is the hormone that is produced in excess when we are stressed. That is true, but Cortisol's work is not limited to that.

Imagine your body as a big company. Cortisol is like a very efficient manager in that company. It is the one who manages the body's work in emergencies and stressful situations.

• Controls energy: When our body needs energy quickly, Cortisol helps us use the sugar (glucose), fat, and protein in our body.
• Regulates the immune system: This hormone also helps control things like inflammation in the body.
• Controls blood pressure: Cortisol also contributes to keeping our blood pressure at a normal level.
• Regulates sleep and wakefulness: Changes in cortisol levels are what give us energy when we wake up in the morning and prepare us for sleep at night.

So you probably understand that Cortisol is not just a hormone related to stress, but is involved in many important processes in our body.

Why is the doctor asking you to do this cortisol test?

Now you probably understand how important it is to have the right level of cortisol. If this level is too high or too low , various problems can occur in our body. The doctor will only order this test if he or she suspects that your symptoms are due to an imbalance in your cortisol levels.

This test mainly helps diagnose several medical conditions:

• Cushing Syndrome: This is a condition caused by high levels of cortisol in the body. A doctor may suspect this if you have any of the following symptoms:
• Only the stomach protrudes, and the limbs become thin.
• The face becomes round and plump (moon face).
• A layer of fat appears on the back of the neck and between the shoulders (buffalo hump).
• The skin becomes thin, bruises easily, and develops purple streaks (stretch marks).
• Increased blood pressure and blood sugar levels.
• Irregular menstrual cycles in women and unwanted facial hair growth.

• Addison's Disease: This is a condition in which the body does not produce enough of the hormone Cortisol. Symptoms may include:
• Feeling extremely tired all the time.
• Loss of appetite and weight loss.
• Dizziness and low blood pressure.
• Some areas of the skin, especially folds of the skin and areas like the gums, become dark.
• Excessive craving for salty foods.

• Other Tumors: Sometimes, certain types of tumors in the adrenal glands or pituitary gland can cause abnormally high cortisol levels.

How to check cortisol levels? What are the types of tests?

There are several ways to test your cortisol levels. Your doctor will determine which test is best for you based on your condition. Sometimes, you may be asked to take the test twice a day. This is because our cortisol levels do not stay the same throughout the day. Cortisol levels are usually higher when we wake up in the morning, then gradually decrease as the day goes on, and then drop to very low levels at night.

Let's simply understand these test types from the table below.

Let's look at how to do this test in some detail .

Now let's take a look at how to do this test one by one in detail. Then you won't have to have any fear or doubt about this.

Cortisol Test (Blood Test)

This is just like a blood test you would normally do.

1. You will be seated in a chair and someone in the lab will find a vein in your arm. Usually, the blood will be taken from the inside of your elbow.

2. Then the area is cleaned thoroughly, a small needle is inserted into the vein and a small amount of blood is drawn. At this point, you may feel a pain like being bitten by a small ant.

3. After the required amount of blood has been taken, the needle is removed and a piece of cotton is placed in that place and pressed down.

4. Then a small plaster is applied to the area. It's all over in less than 5 minutes.

Saliva Test

This is usually a test you can do at home. Your doctor will give you a special kit for this. You need to follow the instructions exactly.

1. Do not eat, drink, brush your teeth, or smoke anything for 30 minutes before taking the test.

2. Place the swab in the kit inside your mouth without touching it with your hands.

3. You should hold it in your mouth for a few minutes, until it is well moistened with saliva.

4. Then, without touching it, place it inside the test container in the kit.

5. The doctor will then instruct you on how to return it to the lab.

Urine Cortisol Test

This test asks you to collect every drop of urine you pass over a 24-hour period . While this may seem like a hassle, it is important to get accurate results.

1. Choose a time to start your day. Let's say it's 8 a.m. Don't collect the first urine you pass at that time, just go to the toilet as usual. But write down the exact time.

2. After that, you should collect every urine you pass, throughout the day and throughout the night, in a special container provided by the lab. Be careful not to miss a single drop of urine. Also, do not let any feces or pieces of toilet paper get into it.

3. Store this urine bottle in the fridge or cooler when not in use.

4. The next morning, at the same time you started work (for example, at 8 am), try to collect the last urine in the bottle.

5. Clearly write your name, start time, and finish time on the bottle, and deliver it to the lab as soon as possible.

Let's understand the values ​​of the report.

You will receive the report within a few days of the test. Don't panic when you see the values ​​in it. Only your doctor can explain it exactly.

Normal blood cortisol levels are as follows:

• Between 6 - 8 am: 10 to 20 mcg/dL (micrograms per deciliter)
• Around 4 pm: 3 to 10 mcg/dL

You may notice that the levels are higher in the morning and lower in the evening. However, these values ​​can vary slightly from lab to lab and from person to person. So don't jump to conclusions about the values ​​in the report.

If your cortisol levels are high... (High Levels)

There may be several reasons why cortisol levels are higher than expected.

• Some medications you take, especially those like corticosteroids.
• A tumor in the pituitary gland causes excessive production of the hormone ACTH.
• Excessive production of cortisol due to a tumor in the adrenal gland.
• A tumor elsewhere in the body, such as lung cancer.

If your cortisol levels are low... (Low Levels)

Several reasons can cause low cortisol levels.

• Pituitary gland not functioning properly.
• Damage to the adrenal glands or decreased function.

If there is something unusual in the report, what happens next?

This is the most important thing. Just because a test report shows an abnormal value, it does not mean that you have a serious illness. There are many other reasons why cortisol levels can change.

• Stress: If you are under a lot of stress on the day of the test, the values ​​may change.
• Physical activity: Things like excessive exercise.
• Other medical conditions: Things like fever, infections.
• Your sleep pattern: The cortisol pattern of someone who works the night shift is different.
• Some medications.

Therefore, the doctor will come to a conclusion by comparing your report, your symptoms, and your complete medical history. If necessary, he may recommend some more tests to look deeper into the cause.

• ACTH stimulation test: This tests how your adrenal glands respond to the hormone ACTH.
• Dexamethasone suppression test: In this test, you are given a medication and then your cortisol levels are measured.
• Imaging tests: You may also be asked to do something like an MRI or CT scan to look at the condition of your glands.

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