Adrenal Stress Test – Is Stress Making You ill?

Whether you’re experiencing symptoms or simply seeking to enhance your well-being, an adrenal stress test can be a crucial step towards restoring balance and vitality.

Dive into how chronic stress can wreak havoc on hormones, mental clarity, and energy levels, and how specific tests can measure stress levels and adrenal function.

Chronic stress can have profound effects on the body, particularly through its impact on hormones, mental clarity, and energy levels.

When we view stress, zero stress also wouldn’t be a good thing.  

Looking at this bell curve we are aiming to have enough cortisol to be in the optimal performance yellow part of the graph. If stress is very low, the orange to the left of the diagram, then boredom and apathy will set in. As cortisol levels rise it can be linked with more drive and energy, until you reach the top of the bell curve in yellow. After this and as we head back into the orange, we see the rising cortisol levels linked with reduced productivity and the negative effects of stress such as anxiety, depression and low energy.

This is great to set the scene for talking about stress as when we talk about lowering cortisol levels and stress, we want these still to remain around the optimal level.

Our Smart Nutrition Adrenal Stress Index Test not only measures these stress levels but it also looks at the pattern throughout the day, which is important when we are considering stress. We do this by collecting 4 samples throughout the day. As you can see from below, cortisol levels are much higher in the morning and then tail off through the day. We would want lower levels at night so that we can have a healthy sleep cycle.

Above shows you the traffic light system that is used across the four measurements so that you can easily ascertain whether your stress levels are too high or low and equally whether they are in the alarm ranges or not.

The sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems are two branches of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) (automatic), which controls involuntary bodily functions. These systems work together to maintain balance (homeostasis), but they have opposite effects on the body’s processes. The Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS) activates the body’s “fight-or-flight” response to perceived threats or stress. This increases alertness, energy and prepares the body for action. The Parasympathetic Nervous System (PNS) activates the body’s “rest-and-digest” response to conserve energy and promote recovery after stress. This is the calming influence and means routine bodily functions can be completed.

When we are chronically stressed the SNS may stay switched on and although the advantages of the “fight or flight” response can be seen for a short period, prolonged time in this state will have negative health implications on the body. In this state we see heart rate and breathing increase, pupils dilate, blood vessels constrict, sweating and the release of adrenaline and norepinephrine to enhance alertness and energy. The digestive system is also slowed down as energy is redirected to the muscles and glucose and fats are released to provide immediate fuel. This is how chronic stress can impair digestion.

Chronic Stress and its implications

  1. Hormonal Imbalance

Chronic stress causes a cascade of hormonal disruptions. The main hormones involved in the stress response include cortisol, DHEA, adrenaline, and norepinephrine. Chronic stress can also disrupt the delicate balance of reproductive hormones in both men and women. In women, elevated cortisol can lower progesterone levels, contributing to conditions like PMS, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and infertility.

Cortisol is often called the “stress hormone,” and helps the body respond to immediate threats by increasing blood sugar, enhancing brain function, and suppressing non-essential functions (e.g., digestion and immunity). In short bursts, cortisol is adaptive. However, chronic stress keeps cortisol levels elevated for prolonged periods, which can lead to adrenal fatigue, thyroid dysfunction and sex hormone disruption.

Elevated cortisol also increases glucose production, which can lead to persistently high blood sugar levels. Over time, this can result in insulin resistance, a precursor to type 2 diabetes, and further hormonal imbalances involving insulin.

DHEA (Dehydroepiandrosterone) is a hormone naturally produced by the adrenal glands, which are located just above the kidneys. It’s a precursor to both male and female sex hormones, including testosterone and oestrogen. This means that the body can convert DHEA into these other hormones as needed. DHEA and cortisol are often viewed in balance, as both hormones are produced by the adrenal glands. While cortisol is catabolic (breaking down tissue to respond to stress), DHEA has anabolic properties (promoting tissue growth and repair). A healthy DHEA-to-cortisol ratio is crucial for maintaining physical and psychological well-being. In chronic stress situations, this balance can be disrupted, with cortisol levels rising and DHEA levels dropping, which may contribute to the negative effects of prolonged stress.

  • Cognitive Function

Chronic stress can have a significant impact on brain function, particularly areas related to memory, focus, and decision-making. High levels of cortisol over time can damage the hippocampus, a brain region critical for memory formation. This can result in memory problems, difficulty in learning, and cognitive decline. Studies have shown that chronic stress can even shrink the hippocampus, impairing both short-term and long-term memory.

Stress can alter levels of neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine, and GABA. This can lead to a number of stress related symptoms including anxiety and depression that are linked with imbalances in serotonin and dopamine. GABA helps promote relaxation and quality sleep, and its disruption can worsen insomnia.

The prefrontal cortex, responsible for logical thinking and decision-making, can also be impaired by chronic stress. This often results in emotional instability, poor decision making and difficulty concentrating.

  • Energy Levels

Chronic stress wreaks havoc on energy levels, largely due to hormonal and neurotransmitter imbalances, as well as its effects on sleep and metabolic function. Over time, the adrenal glands can become less efficient at producing cortisol, leading to what’s commonly referred to as adrenal fatigue. People with adrenal fatigue often experience low energy, constant tiredness, difficulty waking up in the morning and afternoon energy crashes.

Chronic stress interferes with the body’s circadian rhythms, making it difficult to maintain regular sleep patterns. High cortisol levels at night can result in insomnia or poor-quality sleep, leaving individuals feeling unrefreshed. Over time, this sleep deprivation further depletes energy reserves and impairs mental clarity.

Chronic stress can damage the body’s mitochondria, the energy powerhouses of cells. This results in lower cellular energy production, manifesting as fatigue, sluggishness, and a sense of physical exhaustion. Prolonged stress can trigger chronic fatigue syndrome that is also linked with poor mitochondria function.

Given this is just a snap shot of some of the implications we have picked the three that seem to most effect people but this is not an exhaustive list. Chronic stress effects the immune and digestive system and triggers inflammation that underpins most chronic disease.

In summary, chronic stress disrupts the delicate hormonal balance in the body, leading to cascading effects on mental clarity, emotional stability, and energy levels. The elevated levels of cortisol, combined with disruptions to neurotransmitters and sleep, create a vicious cycle that can impair cognitive function and leave individuals feeling physically and mentally drained. Left unchecked, chronic stress can lead to long-term health issues, making stress management essential for overall well-being.

Check your stress levels now. Our Adrenal Stress Index can be ordered HERE.

Take a look at the sample report below:

https://smartnutrition.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Smart-Nutriton-Adrenal-Stress-sample-report-2.23.pdf

Finally, if you are concerned about stress, we also have a team of fully qualified Functional Medicine practitioners, Nutritional Therapists and GP’s on hand that we can refer you to to help.

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Please do not return samples to the laboratories that may arrive after Wednesday 27th March and up to and including Monday 2nd April.

The laboratories are closed from the 28th March – 2nd April for the Easter Holiday.