Blood Testing to assess anxiety

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.

Our Naturopathic Team can help by recommending testing and treatment for symptoms of anxiety.  We are just a call or email away!

IT’S OKAY TO NOT BE OKAY!