Blog — HPA Axis

Cortisol testing helps evaluate how the body responds to stress by measuring daily hormone patterns linked to energy, sleep, mood, and immune balance. Through saliva and blood spot methods, clinicians can identify adrenal and HPA-axis imbalances early, enabling more personalized strategies to address fatigue, burnout, and stress-related health concerns.

PMS and PMDD are more than hormonal mood swings—they are complex neuroendocrine conditions driven by interactions between sex hormones and neurotransmitters like serotonin, GABA, and cortisol. This article explains the science behind menstrual mood disorders and highlights how advanced hormone and neurotransmitter testing from Hormone Lab UK and ZRT Laboratory can help identify imbalances and guide personalised treatment.

Stress, Cortisol, and the Hormonal Loop of Anxiety When the body perceives danger, the brain activates the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis — an internal alarm that releases cortisol, the body’s primary stress hormone. For short-term challenges, cortisol is beneficial. It sharpens focus, boosts energy, and prepares muscles for quick action — the classic “fight or flight” response that once ensured survival. When Stress Becomes Chronic Trouble begins when stress never switches off. Prolonged cortisol exposure interferes with healthy brain function, damaging neurons in the hippocampus (responsible for memory) and the prefrontal cortex (which governs decision-making and emotional control). As these areas...

Stress is something nearly all of us experience — in fact, 55% of Americans report feeling stressed daily, and the majority cite work or school as the primary cause. Among U.S. employees, a staggering 83% experience work-related stress, while students, from middle school to college, are increasingly feeling the pressure too. A significant number of college students even consider dropping out due to emotional strain.

Discover how saliva and blood cortisol testing reveal adrenal function and help diagnose stress-related hormone imbalances like fatigue, anxiety, and burnout.