How to read cortisol saliva test results?

So, your doctor ordered a cortisol saliva test? And now you’re wondering what stands between the result and enlightenment about your well-being. Fear not! With my help, you will soon learn how to read cortisol saliva test results like a pro.

What is Cortisol and its Impacts on Your Health?

Cortisol is a hormone produced by the adrenal glands that plays an essential role in our body’s stress response mechanism. High levels of cortisol over prolonged periods can weaken our immune system, elevate blood pressure, increase heart rate, impair digestion. Low cortisol production leads to burnout syndrome or chronic fatigue.

Understanding your cortisol saliva test result helps check for any anomaly with the adrenal gland functioning so that necessary interventions could occur. Before interpreting these tests’ results though, it’s time for understanding five critical things:

1) Timing of Sample Collection

Cortisol secretion follows a diurnal variation meaning there are fluctuations throughout the day e.g., highest amounts are seen within 30 – 45 minutes after waking up before gradually reducing until bedtime (unless someone has night-shifts). Early morning samples provide more reliable estimates as they consistently reflect peak concentrations.

2) The Interpretation Depends on Timeframes

Saliva cortisol level interpretation depends upon various time frames- daily cortisol rhythm (~24 hours), awakening response (AR), CAR (at least first two hours after waking up), post-meal responses et al.

3) Range Values Vary Widely

Reference ranges vary depending on labs’ methodologies who handle assays differently e.g., high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).

4) Indicators such as Stress Must be Considered

Stressful situations disproportionately drive up salivary cortisol; thus changes out-of-the-nowhere must compel considering external factors such as severe illness or prescription drugs which could potentially impact test results.

5) You Will Have to Read and Take the Result Seriously

When taking a cortisol saliva test, you should read the result diligently. Otherwise, it could be misread as there are specific details required to interpret correctly.

Decoding Cortisol Saliva Test Results

Saliva collected for testing measuring total cortisol might show different ranges based upon clinical or laboratory variables. The following chart shows different levels of Total Cortisol with variables in nanomole (nmol):

Cortisol Level Stress level
>22 Mild stress
22-32 Moderate stress
<32 High-stress responses

Your sample’s concentration is either higher (hypercortisolemia) or lower (hypocortisolemia), always being sure that causes like endogenous administration of steroids have entirely been excluded. Now let us see how to interpret your lab values in detail,

1) Under this interpretation range developed by SAMJ volatility-

  • Optimal rhythm.
    • Morning level should be high between around five – ten units
    • Midday tapers off
    • Evening patients approach the same unit value from midday but slightly lowers.
  • Reverse rhythmic pattern.
    • Highest value at night (whereas lowest present during morning).

2) At general intervals –

  • Serum-free cortisol less than seven gallium units can indicate adrenal function impairment where free serum cortisol above nineteen indicates hypothalamic-pituitary disorders unless stressed by chronic Anxiety / increased heart rate indirectly driven Hypothyroidism; symptoms typically include premature aging, constant tiredness as seen among Cushing’s Syndrome patients who experience anxiety diagnosis diagnostically incorrect more often than not if obstructive sleep apnea remains unaddressed due to suppressed growth hormone secretion leads health oscillation widely unnoticed except lethargy, easy bruising or brittle bones, high blood pressure.

3) Using the GAF Score –

  • A score of around a minimum 50 points out of hundred could indicate post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, Panic disorders although it usually assesses overall health by evaluating general behaviors.

4) Summary to be noted
The more prominent cortisol fluctuations normally indicate increased psychological and physical distress.
AA.. These standard results are guidelines but definitive diagnostic protocol varies among countries.

In Conclusion,

Interpretation of cortisol saliva test results is not rocket science. It becomes simpler when you recognize what influences laboratory readings. Sleep patterns can affect dailycortisol rhythms too- particularly REM (<30 minutes). Like other hormones used for diagnosis such as insulin resistance checks done over time frame due to its day-to-day fluctuation; reading multiple tests together also helps understand necessary interventions. Your final interpretation must always be done in consultation with your doctor! Don’t hesitate if something looks fishy you book an appointment ASAP! That being said best wishes awaiting you from my end hooman!

Source: Cortisol Saliva Test Result Interpretations – http://link-replaced-by-an-AI-due-to-GDPR-net

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