The Sleep / Stress Relationship
Stress is part of everyday life, but feeling wired, tense, or exhausted all the time isn’t “just how it is.” When stress becomes chronic, it can quietly disrupt your hormones, mood, sleep, and long-term health. Two of the most important stress hormones involved in this process are Cortisol and DHEA-S, both produced by your adrenal glands.
Cortisol helps you respond to short bursts of pressure, while DHEA-S acts as a protective counterbalance. When they drift out of range, you’re more likely to experience burnout, anxiety, low energy, and a weaker immune system.
By testing cortisol and DHEA-S together, you can see how your body is actually responding to stress - beyond how you feel on a given day. An at-home Cortisol & DHEA-S Test makes it easy to spot patterns, catch problems early, and take targeted steps to restore a healthier stress response.
Cortisol: your primary stress hormone
Cortisol is often called the “stress hormone” because it rises whenever your brain senses a threat. In the short term, this response is helpful: cortisol mobilizes energy, sharpens focus, and prepares your body for “fight or flight.” Problems start when cortisol stays elevated for too long. Chronically high cortisol is linked with anxiety, low mood, brain fog, abdominal weight gain, high blood pressure, and a suppressed immune system.
Over time, this can increase the risk of heart disease and metabolic problems. Regularly checking your cortisol levels with a cortisol blood test helps you see whether ongoing life stress is keeping your body on high alert.
DHEA-S: the buffer that balances Cortisol
DHEA-S (dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate) works like a built-in buffer against cortisol. Healthy DHEA-S levels support resilience, better mood, stable energy, and immune function. When DHEA-S is low relative to cortisol, you may feel overwhelmed more easily, struggle to recover from stress, and experience faster burnout.
Looking at both hormones together provides a clearer picture than testing cortisol alone, helping you understand whether your body has enough “anti-stress” support.
Simple ways to support healthier Cortisol and DHEA-S
Once you know your numbers, you can target lifestyle changes more precisely. Moderate exercise, quality sleep, and daily relaxation practices (like breathing exercises, meditation, or gentle yoga) have been shown to lower cortisol and support healthier DHEA-S levels. A nutrient-dense diet rich in leafy greens, nuts, berries, and omega-3 fats can also help maintain a more balanced stress response.
Using an at-home Cortisol & DHEA-S test turns these ideas into data: you can measure your hormones, make changes, and track improvements over time.
Identifying Imbalances
In many workplaces and lifestyles, feeling stressed every day has become so common that it’s easy to ignore. But consistently high cortisol and low DHEA-S are clear warning signs that your body is under more pressure than it can comfortably handle. Left unchecked, this imbalance can contribute to serious issues—from mental health challenges to cardiovascular and metabolic disease.
Testing cortisol and DHEA-S is a proactive way to move beyond guessing. With a simple at-home Cortisol & DHEA-S Test, you can see how your stress system is functioning, then make informed changes to your sleep, exercise, and daily habits. Understanding your stress hormones today is a meaningful investment in your future energy, mood, and long-term health.
What Is Cortisol?
Cortisol is a hormone made by your adrenal glands that helps your body respond to stress, regulate blood sugar, control inflammation, and manage your sleep–wake cycle.
Is Cortisol A Stress Hormone?
Yes. Cortisol is often called the “stress hormone” because your levels naturally rise when you’re under physical or emotional stress. It’s helpful in short bursts, but long-term high levels can be harmful.
Does Stress Increase Cortisol?
Yes. When you’re stressed, your brain signals your adrenal glands to release more cortisol. Ongoing stress can keep cortisol higher than normal for longer, which may affect sleep, mood, weight, and energy.
How To Lower Cortisol?
You can help lower cortisol by improving sleep, exercising regularly (but not overtraining), practicing relaxation techniques (like deep breathing or meditation), reducing caffeine and alcohol, and managing workload and screen time. If you’re concerned, speak with a healthcare provider.
What is DHEA-S?
DHEA stands for dehydroepiandrosterone, a naturally produced steroid hormone precursor in the human body. It is primarily synthesized by the adrenal glands and circulates in the blood, largely as DHEA sulfate (DHEAS), which serves as a reservoir to be converted into more potent male and female sex hormones like testosterone and estrogen as needed in various tissues
Why Take DHEA at night?
Some people take DHEA at night to reduce daytime side effects like feeling wired or jittery and to keep all their hormone supplements on a simple evening routine. There’s no universal “best” time to take DHEA - timing should follow your provider’s guidance and how you personally feel on it.
