Blood tests & health checks
Stress hormone check
Cortisol, the hormone your adrenal glands release under stress
CortisolFinger prickResults in about 5 minutes
Cortisol follows a daily rhythm, peaking in the morning and falling through the day. Persistently high levels point towards chronic stress or Cushing's syndrome, and low levels towards adrenal insufficiency such as Addison's disease.
Who it is for
- Anyone exhausted despite sleeping, or wired and unable to switch off
- People with unexplained weight change
- Anyone with dizziness on standing or persistent low blood pressure
Getting ready
Book a morning slot. Cortisol is highest shortly after waking, so an afternoon sample is hard to interpret
Also called
Stress, Adrenal, Addison, Cushing
What happens next
Results in about 5 minutes. The pharmacist goes through what the number means with you, and tells you plainly if it is something to take to your GP