An RN Shares The 6 Best At-Home Cortisol Tests + Signs Of Abnormal Levels

We're guessing you've heard the term fight or flight, but did you know a little hormone called cortisol is responsible for this ancient biological response? Our bodies need a healthy production of cortisol in order to aptly respond to potential stressors, but it's equally important that these levels go down when it's time to relax. If this delicate balance isn't right, it can cause a cascade of health issues. While you should always discuss symptoms with a medical professional, at-home testing for cortisol is a convenient way to discover these imbalances and avoid unwanted symptoms.

To help you take control of your own stress response, we spoke with experts and researched the best at-home cortisol tests available today. Below, find our top picks that are the most accurate, easy to use, and a good value for your money.

Cortisol is a stress hormone produced by your adrenal glands. When someone is feeling stressed, their cortisol levels rise accordingly. Staci Holweger, founder of Lifepatches, defines cortisol as "A hormone that helps us adapt to stressful stimuli in our lives."

Cortisol's primary function is to convert protein into glucose, a form of energy. It does this by breaking down the protein in the liver and muscles, explains Daniel Boyer, M.D., of The Farr Institute. Glucocorticoid receptors are present in almost all tissues in the body. Because of this, cortisol is able to affect nearly every organ system: nervous, immune, cardiovascular, respiratory, reproductive, musculoskeletal, and integumentary.

This essential hormone regulates blood pressure, heart rate, energy levels, and metabolism. It's released by our adrenal glands after stimulation by various stressors including physical illness, psychological distress and mental illness, and even lack of sleep. Cortisol levels that are too high or too low can cause unpleasant symptoms throughout the body.

Also known as Cushing syndrome, producing too much cortisol hormone for an extended amount of time can cause the following symptoms (to name a few):

Failure to produce enough cortisol, also known as Addison's disease, is caused by an autoimmune reaction when your own body's immune system attacks the cells in the adrenal glands, hindering the production of cortisol. Symptoms of low cortisol include (to name a few):

Treatment for these conditions is dependent on the cause, among other factors. Your own individual treatment plan should be discussed with your doctor.

In many cases, yes, you should have your cortisol levels checked. According to Holweger, cortisol levels are most often tested when there has been a disruption in the circadian rhythm. Testing can also be done to check whether or not a patient has a tumor on the pituitary gland or any adrenal cancers.

If you're feeling hyperactive, it may mean that your stress levels are affecting your brain function. Additionally, if you have a history of heart disease or suffer from chronic pain, you should check to see if your cortisol levels are normal. Boyer adds that if you have been feeling stressed out, are having difficulty sleeping, or are experiencing lower energy than usual, you should test your cortisol levels.

Normal cortisol levels are based on the time of day. Cortisol levels peak in the early morning and gradually decrease throughout the day, reaching their lowest point in the middle of the night. Because of this, when high cortisol levels or Cushing syndrome are suspected, cortisol levels are usually measured at night. If low cortisol levels or Addison's disease are suspected, cortisol levels are often measured early in the morning, as that is when cortisol levels should be naturally high.

Everyone's baseline cortisol levels are different, but Cleveland Clinic defines normal cortisol levels as:

Should you discover that your cortisol levels are high, there are recommended foods to eat and supplements to take. As with all at-home testing, any abnormal results should be discussed with your health care provider, to create a treatment plan for your individual circumstances.

There are three different methods to test cortisol levels.

Blood test: Taken first thing in the morning prior to eating or drinking, this will give you the most accurate but limited cortisol result when it should be at its highest.

Urinary free cortisol (UFC) test: Measures how your body is producing cortisol levels multiple times throughout the day.

Saliva sample: This noninvasive collection method provides detailed results of cortisol levels throughout the day.

The best testing method depends on your individual preferences. If you are looking for a less invasive method, choose the saliva or urine samples. However, for the most accurate results, a blood test is best—although it does not provide insight into how your body produces cortisol throughout the day.

Stress is a normal part of everyday life. However, chronic stress can cause higher levels of cortisol for extended periods of time, which can be detrimental to your health. At-home cortisol tests are a convenient way to get a glimpse into these potential abnormalities. If you're concerned about your cortisol levels, learn a few ways to keep things in check.