Allergy Screening (ALEX 2.0)

Cortisol is a steroid hormone produced by the adrenal cortex in response to ACTH from the pituitary gland. It is the body’s primary stress hormone, responsible for mobilising energy, regulating blood sugar, modulating immune responses, and maintaining blood pressure. It follows a pronounced daily rhythm, peaking in the early morning.

Chronically high cortisol driven by lifestyle factors responds well to regular physical activity (particularly moderate-intensity exercise rather than intense training), adequate sleep, stress management techniques such as mindfulness and controlled breathing, and reducing caffeine and alcohol intake. If cortisol is elevated due to a medical condition such as Cushing’s syndrome, treatment needs to be guided by a specialist.

For stress-related cortisol elevation, the most effective approaches include improving sleep quality, practising relaxation techniques, spending time in nature, reducing workload where possible, and maintaining social connection. Adaptogenic herbs such as ashwagandha have some supporting evidence but should be used with caution. If your cortisol is elevated on testing, our clinician will help you understand the likely cause and the most appropriate response.

 You can book directly, though you must ensure your appointment is between 8am and 9am for the result to be interpretable. Many patients choose private morning cortisol testing when investigating fatigue, burnout, or stress-related symptoms.

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 A low morning cortisol, particularly below 100 nmol/L, may indicate primary adrenal insufficiency (Addison’s disease) or secondary adrenal insufficiency due to pituitary or hypothalamic dysfunction. Our clinician will discuss the result with you and advise on urgent follow-up with your GP if the result is significantly low, as this requires prompt further investigation.

 “Adrenal fatigue” is a term used in popular health culture but it is not a recognised medical diagnosis. However, the symptoms associated with it, including persistent fatigue, poor stress resilience, and disrupted sleep, are real and can have multiple causes. Morning cortisol testing is a useful first step in determining whether the adrenal glands are producing adequate cortisol, which is a meaningful clinical question even if the term adrenal fatigue itself is not formally endorsed.