Stress

In medical terms, a stress test is also called a cortisol test because it is the main hormone that is released and activated during a stressful situation. Cortisol needs to perform a very compressed series of tasks when you are in stress. Since you need to be alert and active, it rises glucose levels in your blood so that your brain can use it. Non-essential functions are put on hold so that all your physical resources are focused on handling the current situation. Even your immune system is adjusted. Cortisol controls your mood, motivation, and fear levels so that you can give an appropriate response to the stressful situation. Since your entire biological system goes through a trauma, a repeat excitement of the cortisol hormone begins to take its toll.

Here are a symptoms that show that your body is producing excessive cortisol:

• Severe fatigue
• Irritability
• Weight gain
• High blood pressure
• Anxiety or depression
• Erectile dysfunction
• Irregular menstrual periods
• Persistent headaches Constipation, bloating or diarrhea

There are many more symptoms that can be associated with increased levels of cortisol in your body.

Why is it important or essential to go for a stress test or a cortisol test?

The rising levels of cortisol can help you take precautions. The brain needs glucose to function. When the brain thinks that there is an alarming (stressful) situation, it instructs the body to produce more cortisol and this cortisol in return produces more sugar needed by the brain. Your body goes into a small trauma. Remember that when your brain is processing a thought by itself it cannot know whether the situation is really happening, or you are just imagining it. All the reactions happening inside your body are the same when something is really happening. Hence, whether you are imagining a stressful situation or you’re actually going through a stressful situation, your cortisol levels rise, and this raises the levels of glucose.

Not medically testing your stress levels or cortisol levels may give rise to the following illnesses:

• Type II diabetes
• Sleep deprivation
• Osteoporosis
• Obesity
• Compromised immunity
• High blood pressure

Since the problem of stress is mostly controlled by your brain, the best way of finding whether you’re going through chronic stress is going for a cortisol test. Other than that, since constant tension can also increase your cholesterol levels, you should also get a lipid profile test. A diabetes test is advised because the rising level of cortisol also raises your blood sugar levels. Chronic stress also messes with your thyroid levels so your doctor may also suggest a thyroid test along with other tests affecting other parts of your body.