Cortisol is an essential hormone that regulates blood pressure and reduces inflammation. The adrenal glands produce cortisol, but the pituitary gland regulates how much the adrenal glands release.
If either of those glands is damaged, the result is too much or too little cortisol. Without the proper cortisol levels, your body responds with various signs and symptoms.
If Dr. Inga Zilberstein suspects a problem with your adrenal or pituitary glands, she may suggest a cortisol saliva test. She uses the test as part of her personalized medicine services to determine the cause of your symptoms and develop a targeted treatment plan.
Cortisol is an essential stress hormone produced by the small glands on top of your kidneys. The hormone is crucial for various functions throughout the body:
Some problems affect cortisol production and secretion. If you have too much or too little cortisol, the body reacts in various ways that signal a problem.
Cortisol levels change throughout the day and are typically the highest in the morning. They drop overnight and peak again the next day.
You may require a cortisol saliva test if you're experiencing specific symptoms that Dr. Zilberstein suspects are due to a cortisol imbalance. Very high or low cortisol levels exhibit different symptoms that signal a problem with your body. For example, extremely high levels of cortisol often signal Cushing's syndrome.
The symptoms of high cortisol levels include:
These are all signs that your body is producing and secreting too much cortisol. However, you can have the opposite problem as well. Low levels of cortisol may signal Addison's disease, with symptoms such as:
If you experience any of the above symptoms and there’s no obvious cause, it may prompt Dr. Zilberstein to check your cortisol levels.
The cortisol saliva test is pretty simple — you can do it at home. Dr. Zilberstein provides the test kit and gives you instructions on how and when to obtain the sample. The kit comes with a test tube and a swab. Avoid eating, drinking, or brushing your teeth 30 minutes before the collection.
Most people should get a saliva sample around midnight when cortisol levels are the lowest. At the proper time, put the swab in your mouth and roll it around for a few minutes to collect enough saliva.
Put the swab into the test tube container, seal it, and send it to the lab the next morning. You should get results within a few days. Dr. Zilberstein reviews your results, explains what they mean, and, if you have abnormal cortisol levels, provides a treatment plan.
If you want to learn more about cortisol saliva testing or personalized medicine, contact Inga Zilberstein, MD, today by calling or texting 830-254-5941 or by sending a message through our website.
