Kickstart Your Day: What Your Cortisol Awakening Response Says About Your Stress Resilience
When it comes to understanding your stress resilience, energy levels, and overall adrenal health, testing your Cortisol Awakening Response (CAR) can be a game-changer. This often-overlooked test can provide a clear picture of how well your body responds to daily stress and recovers from life’s challenges. It can be especially valuable for busy professionals, athletes, shift workers, parents, or anyone feeling the effects of burnout, fatigue, or chronic stress.
👉 Ready to understand your stress response? Order your Cortisol Awakening Response Check here.
What is the Cortisol Awakening Response (CAR)?
Cortisol is your body’s primary stress hormone, released by the adrenal glands as part of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. It helps you wake up, stay alert, and handle physical or emotional stress. The CAR is a specific spike in cortisol that occurs within the first 30-60 minutes after waking, acting as a natural energy boost to kickstart your day.
This rapid rise in cortisol is essential for:
- Boosting energy and alertness
- Preparing the brain for the demands of the day
- Regulating immune function and inflammation
- Balancing blood sugar levels
- Supporting memory and focus
What Does a CAR Check Involve?
Testing your CAR typically involves collecting multiple saliva samples within the first hour of waking. This is usually done using a salivary cortisol test kit that measures cortisol at:
- On waking (0 minutes)
- 30 minutes after waking
- 60 minutes after waking
- i-screen's comprehensive CAR Check also includes a midday, afternoon and evening cortisol, as well as a DHEA-S test for deeper insights into overall adrenal function, daily energy patterns, stress resilience, and hormonal balance.
These samples capture the natural cortisol surge that should occur upon waking and give you a detailed view of how your adrenal glands are functioning.
👉 Curious about your cortisol patterns? Order your CAR Check now.
What the Results Mean
Understanding your CAR results can provide valuable insights into how well your adrenal glands are functioning and how your body handles stress. Here’s what different CAR patterns might indicate:
- Normal CAR: A healthy response involves a sharp rise in cortisol (50-100% increase) within 30 minutes, followed by a gradual decline. This indicates resilient adrenals and a well-regulated stress response.
- Low or Flat CAR: A blunted or low CAR can indicate adrenal fatigue, burnout, chronic stress, or even depression. It may also reflect poor sleep quality or chronic inflammation.
- Excessive CAR: An exaggerated CAR (more than 150% rise) can signal high stress, anxiety, or a hyper-reactive HPA axis. This is often seen in people with PTSD or those under extreme psychological pressure.
👉 Wondering if your stress response is balanced? You can view a demo of our CAR results page here to get a feel for the level of information we provide as standard.
How to Take Action Based on Your CAR Results
Once you understand what your CAR results mean, the next step is to take action. Here are some practical strategies to optimise your cortisol response and support your adrenal health:
Low CAR:
- Prioritise quality sleep and consistent wake times.
- Consider adaptogenic herbs like ashwagandha, rhodiola, or holy basil.
- Increase morning light exposure to support cortisol production.
- Consider vitamin C, B vitamins, and magnesium for adrenal support.
Excessive CAR:
- Practice mindfulness, meditation, or deep breathing to calm the nervous system.
- Reduce caffeine and alcohol, as they can over-stimulate the adrenals.
- Consider calming supplements like L-theanine, GABA, or phosphatidylserine.
Normal CAR but Persistent Fatigue:
- Assess other factors like thyroid function, nutrient deficiencies, or mitochondrial health.
👉 Take control of your stress response today. Order your CAR Check here.
Why CAR Testing is Worth It
Understanding your Cortisol Awakening Response can provide actionable insights into your stress resilience, energy levels, and overall well-being. It’s an essential piece of the puzzle for anyone struggling with fatigue, anxiety, or poor stress tolerance. If you’ve been feeling worn out, anxious, or constantly tired, CAR testing can help you pinpoint the root cause and take back control of your energy and focus.
Ready to get a clear picture of your stress response? Order your CAR Check now.
