Looking in more detail at the production of stress hormones and thyroid hormones can give useful insights into reasons for fatigue, mood swings, hormone imbalances and weight gain.
Testing for cortisol and DHEA (adrenal hormones) is via saliva testing and testing. Where cortisol is the main stress hormone, the adrenal glands also produce DHEA which is the precursor to our sex hormones oestrogen and testosterone.
Thyroid hormones are measured via blood test. The key hormone is Thyroxine (T4), this is converted into it’s active form T3 which can also be measured. We can also look at thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) as well as antibodies to thyroid gland and thyroid hormone. If antibodies are raised this indicates and autoimmune response to the thyroid.
