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What Labs Can Show if Stress is Affecting Your Adrenal Glands

tired, burned out person with adrenal fatigue

You already know that stress can drain your energy, disrupt your sleep, and make it harder to lose weight. What many people don’t realize is how profoundly chronic or even short bursts of stress can affect your energy, sleep and hormone balance. The adrenals produce cortisol, DHEA, and other hormones that control energy, mood, metabolism, and inflammation. When stress becomes a constant, those hormones stop working in sync and create a myriad of problems that are often managed by pharmaceuticals - all without addressing the underlying cause and correcting it.


The good news is, you can measure this. Functional adrenal testing gives a clear picture of how your stress response is working throughout the day, and whether it is impacting your sex hormones, thyroid, or overall metabolism.







The DUTCH Test: A Deeper Look at Adrenal and Hormone Balance through labs

The DUTCH test (Dried Urine Test for Comprehensive Hormones) is one of the most advanced and widely trusted hormone panels available. It goes far beyond basic cortisol readings. Instead of one or two snapshots of hormone levels, the DUTCH test measures cortisol rhythm throughout the day, along with DHEA, progesterone, testosterone, and estrogen metabolites.


This test can show:

  • Whether your cortisol is high in the morning and crashes mid-day, or stays flat all day

  • If chronic stress is suppressing your cortisol production (a common cause of exhaustion and burnout)

  • How your body is metabolizing estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone

  • Whether inflammation or poor detoxification is contributing to hormone imbalance


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For many patients, seeing their DUTCH test results is a wake-up call. It shows that the “fatigue” and “brain fog” aren’t just in their head. Their hormones are genuinely out of rhythm due to chronic or cumulative stress, nutrient deficiencies and toxic burden.


Doctor’s Data Saliva Adrenal Lab Panels

For a more budget-friendly but still highly informative option, Doctor’s Data offers several saliva-based adrenal and hormone panels. These include the Adrenal Stress Profile, Comprehensive Hormone Profile, and Comprehensive Plus Profile.


The Adrenal Panel provides insight into:

  • Morning, noon, evening, and nighttime cortisol patterns

  • DHEA and its balance with cortisol


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The Comprehensive and Comprehensive Plus panels also assess adrenal function, but also:

  • Sex hormone levels (estrogen, progesterone, testosterone)

  • Comprehensive panel looks at just E2, estradiol, while the Comprehensive Plus looks at 3 different forms of estrogen, E1, E2 and E3, and is better for women or those with a family or personal history of uterine cancer as well as breast cancer or estrogen dominance (which can be men too!).


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Comprehensive PLUS Saliva Hormone Profile- Doctor's Data
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depression and anxiety can be caused by adrenal fatigue leading to neurotransmitter imbalances.

The Neuroadrenal Panel also assesses urinary neurotransmitter levels:

  • Ideal for those looking to assess burnout, chronic fatigue and mood and emotional changes that could be associated.

  • Chronic adrenal fatigue can lead to generalized anxiety and depression.




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Because these samples are collected at home over a 24-hour period, you get an accurate reflection of how your body responds to real-life stress and what is happening throughout the day. The Comprehensive and Comprehensive Plus panels also give a more complete hormone picture, making them excellent options for anyone dealing with ongoing fatigue, sleep disruption, hormonal mood changes, irregular cycles, perimenopause or stubborn weight issues.


how functional lab testing and home works.

What These Labs Reveal About Stress

Both the DUTCH and saliva adrenal panels often confirm what patients feel but can’t explain. Common findings include:


  • Cortisol spikes in the evening leading to poor sleep

  • Steep cortisol drops leading to afternoon fatigue

  • Flattened cortisol curves that make mornings miserable and afternoons foggy

  • Low DHEA reflecting burnout and poor resilience

  • Imbalanced sex hormones that link back to chronic stress load


Seeing these results helps guide personalized treatment plans that include adrenal support, adaptogenic herbs, nutrition changes, and stress regulation strategies.



tired woman, adrenal fatigue

When to Test

If you have been under chronic stress, rely on caffeine to push through the day, or feel wired but tired at night, it’s time to test. Adrenal and hormone panels give the clearest picture of how your body is coping with the pressure. These labs are available as part of our Functional Lab Testing offerings. You can order kits directly, collect samples from home, and review results with or without a virtual consultation to provide you clear understanding of the results and a path forward.





If you have been under chronic stress, rely on caffeine to push through the day, or feel wired but tired at night, it’s time to test.

Next Steps

If you suspect stress has been affecting your hormones, don’t guess. Start with real data. Learn more about the DUTCH test, Doctor’s Data Adrenal Panels, and our other Functional Lab Testing options.


Testing is often the missing piece for people who have tried everything—supplements, diet, meditation—but still feel exhausted, moody, or hormonally off balance. Once you know how your adrenals and hormones are responding to stress, you can finally target the root cause and get your energy and balance back.


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FAQ: Adrenal Stress and Hormone Testing

  1. What are the best labs for testing adrenal function?

    1. The best options for adrenal testing are the DUTCH Test and Doctor’s Data Saliva Adrenal Panels. Both measure cortisol patterns and DHEA. The DUTCH test uses dried urine and provides the most detailed breakdown of cortisol and hormone metabolism and includes sex hormone metabolism markers. Doctor’s Data offers saliva-based panels that are more affordable while still giving a clear picture of stress impact by measuring direct hormone levels.

  2. Can stress really affect my hormones?

    1. Yes. Chronic or acute stress increases cortisol and can throw off progesterone, estrogen, testosterone, and thyroid hormone levels. Over time, this imbalance leads to fatigue, anxiety, poor sleep, and changes in weight or menstrual cycles. These effects show up clearly on adrenal and hormone lab tests.

  3. What’s the difference between the DUTCH Test and a saliva adrenal panel?

    1. The DUTCH test provides a more comprehensive view of hormone metabolism through the urine. It tracks cortisol rhythm and how hormones are being metabolized and detoxified. Saliva panels measure direct cortisol and DHEA at four points in the day, giving a practical snapshot of adrenal function. The DUTCH is best for complex hormone concerns or when you need a complete map of how the hormones are flowing through the process of use. The saliva panels are ideal for a first look at stress and adrenal patterns and when you want a direct look at measured levels of free hormones.

  4. How do I know if I should get tested?

    1. You should consider adrenal testing if you experience chronic fatigue, poor sleep, anxiety, weight gain around the middle, irregular periods, or constant stress that doesn’t resolve. Testing helps confirm whether stress is affecting your adrenals and hormones and guides targeted support instead of guesswork.

  5. Can I collect these samples at home?

    1. Yes. Both the DUTCH test and Doctor’s Data adrenal panels are home collection kits. You’ll collect saliva or urine samples at specific times during the day, then ship them to the lab. The results are reviewed in your consultation so we can create a personalized plan based on your data.

  6. How long does it take to get results?

    1. Results usually take 2 to 3 weeks after the lab receives your samples. Once your report is ready, we can review your cortisol rhythm, DHEA balance, and hormone levels together and outline next steps for adrenal support and recovery if you choose an optional review session with a provider.

  7. Can I order adrenal testing directly?

    1. Yes. You can order these functional labs through our Functional Lab Testing page. Kits are shipped to your home, and results can be reviewed virtually or in person. Testing is available nationwide with select restrictions on lab shipping.



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The entire contents of this website are based upon the opinions of physicians at Pacific Clinic of Natural Medicine, unless otherwise noted. Individual articles are based upon the opinions of the respective author, who retains copyright as marked. The information on this website is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice. It is intended as a sharing of knowledge and information from the research and experience of our physicians and their community. PCNM encourages you to make your own health care decisions based upon your research and in partnership with a qualified health care professional. If you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a medical condition, consult your health care professional before using products based on this content.


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