Anxiety can have an impact on your stress system (adrenal glands) and other systems.
The following blood test can help build a picture of stress and the impact on the rest of the body:
- CBC, ferritin, fibrinogen, ESR, CRP, vitamin B12, vitamin D (25-OH), creatinine, eGFR, fasting glucose, HbA1C, cortisol, DHEAs, testosterone, TSH, free T3, free T4, cholesterol (TG, HDL, LDL), GGT, urate.
- The blood work should be done after a 12 hour fast. It is easiest to eat dinner, then get blood work done the next morning before eating breakfast (7-8am)
Blood testing rationale:
Stress can effect inflammation:
The following lab tests are inflammation markers. Fibrinogen, ESR, CRP, ferritin and urate.
Stress can effect blood sugars:
HbA1C and fasting glucose are blood sugar markers.
Stress has an impact on the adrenal system and hormone system:
Morning cortisol is a stress maker that can be tested in blood and DHEAs and testosterone are hormone markers that are effected by stress.
Stress and the impact on cholesterol:
Good cholesterol makes hormones such as cortisol the hormone involved in stress. Too much cholesterol is bad for the heart but too little cholesterol creates a deficiency when managing stress.
Stress and energy and absorption:
Stress can effect energy and absorption. Testing nutrient markers such creatinine, ferritin, vitamin B12, and vitamin D can help determine nutrient intake and absorption issues.
Stress and thyroid function:
A thyroid issue can cause anxiety and this system should be tested to rule out a medical cause for anxiety. TSH is a thyroid marker and free T3 and free T4 are also active thyroid hormones.
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