Cortisol, the body’s primary stress hormone, is produced by the adrenal glands.  Normal levels of cortisol are released when you wake up in the morning or exercise.  In small doses, cortisol can heighten memory, increase your immune system and lower sensitivity to pain.  Overproduction of cortisol caused by chronic high stress causes negative side effects such as increased blood sugar levels, weight gain, suppressed immune system, digestive problems and heart disease which leads to high blood pressure, heart attack, and stroke.

Research has shown that chronic stress and anxiety can have a negative impact on our immune system. This is due to the body’s overproduction of cortisol for sustained periods of time. When cortisol is doing its job, it works quickly during times of high stress to reduce inflammation throughout the body. It does this by reducing the antibodies that cause inflammation. While this process is necessary in small doses, it is not ideal in the long run. If you have chronic stress, cortisol is suppressing the antibodies you need to fight off infection on a regular basis, making it harder for you to recover from illness. 

You’ve been exercising and managing your diet and it’s paying off –  the number on the scale is decreasing.  Yet you can’t seem to lose that stubborn belly fat. This could be due to the stress hormone cortisol. Research has shown that high cortisol levels increase the accumulation of fat for men and women in the belly area. Cortisol influences things like digestion and metabolism, mood, and immune system responses. Finding ways to manage your stress will help get your cortisol levels under control, which could help you in targeting that unwanted fat.

Please prepare to test first thing in the morning. Be sure to drink plenty of water before testing! Being well hydrated will help increase blood flow and improve the testing experience. 

*Note: Do not test on a Friday, Saturday, Sunday, or Holiday. Your sample must be picked up, dropped at a dropbox location or brought to FedEx on the same day you test.

MLD’s Stress Test At Home test results will provide detailed information regarding your cortisol levels.  Our easy to navigate patient dashboard will tell you if yourcortisol levels are low, normal or high. 

Your results can be easily shared with your healthcare provider, and in fact, we encourage you to share your data in order to obtain the treatment you might need.  Contact us for a network of healthcare providers that specialize in treating hormone deficiencies.