No one likes to feel stressed, but stressors are everywhere. From work and your colleagues to the current problem with the pandemic and the news about it, it’s almost impossible to not be stressed right now. This is where the danger lies. Once stress becomes “normal,” it becomes a problem that goes beyond mental and affects us from a physiological viewpoint.

What happens when you’re always stressed out? What tests should you look into if you feel stressed all the time? Are there any supplements you can take for stress?

Today, we discuss HPA Axis Dysfunction, what it is, and how to test for it. We explain how stress happens, what cortisol does, and the various physiological processes involved in feeling stressed. We describe the difference between adrenal fatigue and HPA Axis Dysfunction. We also share the reasons why people are more likely to take supplements for stress rather than addressing the source.

“To have to stop and actually address your stressors and reconnect is difficult for people, so it's easier for them to ask for supplements.” - Patti Devers

This week on The Lab Report Podcast:

• How stress works and the way our brain processes it.
• What our hypothalamus has to do with our stress response.
• Adrenal fatigue and how it relates to cortisol secretion.
• The difference between HPA Axis Dysfunction and Adrenal Fatigue.
• What cortisol does and why it's bad over time.
• What we are looking at when measuring saliva.
• How raising cortisol affects DHEA content.
• What the Cortisol Awakening Response is and what it means clinically.
• Botanicals and herbs that work to lower stress levels.

Question of the Day: 

• What if you're a night-shifter and you need to evaluate your HPA Axis? How do you use the ASP in that case?

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Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Lab Report, presented by Genova Diagnostics, with your hosts, Michael Chapman and Patti Devers. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe to the show and give us a rating and review.

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Disclaimer: The content and information shared in The Lab Report is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. The views and opinions expressed in The Lab Report represent the opinions of Michael Chapman and Patti Devers and their guests.

For medical advice, diagnosis, and/or treatment, please consult a medical professional.