Blog — Stress

Hormones are like the body's messengers, orchestrating various physiological processes. While they play essential roles in growth, metabolism, and reproduction, they also have a profound impact on your mood and emotions. The delicate balance of hormones can sway your emotional state, leading to mood swings, irritability, or even mood disorders. In this blog, we'll explore the intricate relationship between hormones and mood changes. 1. The Key Mood-Modulating Hormones Several hormones have a direct influence on your mood:a. Serotonin: Often referred to as the "feel-good" hormone, serotonin plays a crucial role in regulating mood. Low serotonin levels are associated with depression,...

In today's fast-paced and demanding world, stress has become an integral part of our daily lives. While stress in moderation can be beneficial in certain situations, chronic and prolonged stress can take a toll on our health, particularly on our adrenal glands and hormone balance. The adrenal glands, also known as the "stress glands," play a vital role in helping us cope with stress and maintain overall well-being. However, excessive and unmanaged stress can lead to adrenal fatigue and hormone imbalances, affecting various aspects of our health and quality of life.Recognising Adrenal ImbalanceMany of us might be experiencing symptoms of adrenal...

  By Nina Silberstain, BA The COVID-19 pandemic has only magnified what we already know: Working in health care can be stressful. A survey conducted by Mental Health America between June-September 2020 of 1,119 health care workers found that 93% were experiencing stress in addition to anxiety, frustration, exhaustion, burnout, and feeling overwhelmed. (1) Why Is Self-Care So Hard? Without a doubt, a large part of taking care of yourself is managing your stress levels. People attracted to the world of health care are often empathetic and caregivers by nature. Providing care can be rewarding but at the same time it...

By Dr. Beth Baldwin, ZRT Laboratory If one were to create a word cloud of our clinical consulting calls in 2020, the word “phosphatidylserine” would likely float to the center in a large, bold, brightly colored font. After a year spent coping with a global pandemic, record high unemployment, social distancing, and remote learning for students, accompanied by not only an extreme wildfire season but also a contentious presidential election in the U.S., people are stressed – and it shows. We are seeing plenty of patients with abnormal salivary cortisol profiles, absent, blunted or exaggerated cortisol awakening responses, and symptoms typical of both high...

Dr. Sanjay Kapur, ZRT Laboratory.  Stress and depression have both been linked with diabetes and heart disease, and if left untreated, can lead to more complications. Understanding these two contributing factors can help doctors formulate suitable treatment plans for their patients, so it is important to discuss the possibility of having either stress or depression with our health care providers even if they forget to ask.  Stress can come from many sources, including one’s occupation; having lost or the threat of losing our jobs or homes; or taking care of our elderly parents or children with disabilities. Stress in all...