Who should test adrenal function with a saliva cortisol test?

Cortisol receptors are present and almost every tissue in the body and affect nearly every organ system. Cortisol affects your nervous system your immune system, your cardiovascular system your respiratory system your reproductive system and your muscular skeletal system - your muscles, tendons, ligaments and bones.

Appropriate amounts of cortisol help balance blood sugar, control weight, keep your bones strong and your immune system healthy. Cortisol helps with good sleep, and mood. It affects protein synthesis, influences your testosterone/estrogen ratio your DHEA/insulin ratio and your pituitary and thyroid glands.

CAUSES of EXCESS CORTISOL

Stress, depression, oral contraceptives, infections, poor sleep, inflammation, hypoglycemia, pain, and exposure to toxins.

CAUSES of LOW CORTISOL

Nutrient deficiencies, stress, Dysbiosis (too many bad bacteria not enough good bacteria in the gut), chronic inflammation, chronic pain, toxic exposure, over exercising, hypoglycemia, poor sleep, depression, and severe allergies.

EXCESS CORTISOL results in compromised immune function, confusion, shaking us between meals, impaired memory, low energy, night sweats, binge eating, increased blood pressure, high cholesterol, high triglycerides, high blood sugar, increase risk of osteoporosis, increase insulin resistance and risk of diabetes. Increased infections, thin skin, fatigue, irritability, sugar cravings,, muscle weakness, weight gain, sleep disturbances, impaired thyroid function—especially conversion of T4 to the active form T3, increase risk of leaky gut syndrome.

ABNORMAL CORTISOL levels are associated with menopause, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, depression, impotence, anorexia nervosa, diabetes, memory loss, irritable bowel syndrome, exacerbation of multiple sclerosis, panic disorders, premenstrual syndrome, fertility, sleep disorders, osteoporosis, heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis, breast cancer, and Alzheimer’s.

Reduce stress by releasing chronic patterns of tension in muscles and joints with non-force chiropractic and tailored stretches.

Case Report: 57 year-old man with severe knee pain, addicted to OxyContin.

This show aired Friday August 2nd on KDAR 98.3 FM.