Both high and low levels of cortisol -- also known as the "stress hormone" -- can leave you dealing with symptoms that make ...

I got a blood test to figure out my cortisol levels and learned a lot about stress in the process. Anna Gragert (she/her/hers) was previously the lifestyle editor at HelloGiggles, deputy editor at ...

This medication helps balance sodium and fluid levels in the body. When testing blood cortisol levels, a healthcare professional will usually take two blood samples in 1 day. They will take one in ...

The second will be later in the day or evening when cortisol levels are lower. You can also take a urine or saliva test at home. You may need to collect all of your urine during a 24-hour period.

Cortisol can be measured in blood, but this only gives a snapshot of an individual's levels of the hormone in that moment. And since blood tests themselves can be stressful, this can potentially ...

I have been diagnosed with low cortisol and put on 15-mg hydrocortisone tablets daily for life by my endocrinologist. I was told that if I get sick with an infection, I should double the medication. I ...