Stress Check

Why should my hormone levels be tested for stress?

DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) and cortisol are your body’s two main forces for coping with stress. An imbalance of these hormones puts your body at a great disadvantage for handling the sometimes overwhelming feelings that stress brings. DHEA and cortisol are hormones that serve as markers of stress response, regulating how your body reacts during stress.

These two hormones balance each other to ensure a healthy stress response. DHEA is anabolic, a constructive hormone that can boost the immune system, decrease blood pressure, and helps to regulate sleep, among its many functions. Cortisol is a catabolic hormone, a disruptive hormone that, in an unbalanced state, can weaken and break down the immune system, increase blood pressure, and prevent restful sleep. Cortisol maintains and raises your energy levels to assist your body during that stressful period. Together, these two hormones work to provide your body with optimal stress response and good overall health.

Low hormones levels have been shown to be the underlying cause for symptoms associated with:

• High Blood Pressure
• Sleep Disorders
• Fatigue
• Anxiety / Depression
• Irritability
• These are just some of the major areas these two hormones influence. If you are
• experiancing any of these symptoms or conditions, a simple diagnostic test such as StressCheck can help to establish the cause.

How does the test work?

Saliva testing is a simple, stress free and a noninvasive means that allows you to assess hormone levels relative to your age and gender. Included with your test kit are an instruction sheet, three collection tubes, three labels, a biohazard bag with absorbent pad, a prepaid mailing envelope, a return box (with biohazard label) and a health screen request form.

Simply follow the enclosed instructions and mail your sample to Great Smokies Diagnostic Laboratories. Your results will be mailed directly to your home within seven business days.

When do I collect the samples?

Saliva should be collected first thing in the morning (before any hormone supplements are taken, if applicable) and again just before you go to sleep.

Special Note

If you are taking Pregnenolone, Progesterone, Cortisol, DHEA, Androstenedione, Androstenediol, Testosterone, Estrone, Estriol, Estradiol or any other steroid hormone, please note the following special instructions for collection:

1. Make sure at least one month has passed since you started taking hormone supplements before beginning any of the HormoneChecks. Time is required before the hormone reaches equilibrium with binding proteins in the blood, specimens collected too soon do not accurately reflect hormone concentrations in the saliva.
2. The specimen must be collected 24 hours after last dose. Preferably, the specimen should be collected in the morning, before the daily morning dose is taken. If you are taking one of the hormones or supplements twice a day, consult with your Health Care Provider about reducing your dosage to once a day. Since hormones all affect each other, these two rules apply to ANY screen if ANY of the above items are being taken.

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