Adrenal function
Long-term stress and a disrupted cortisol rhythm suppress the thyroid and slow the activation of its hormones.
How it affects your thyroid
Your adrenal glands release cortisol in a daily rhythm: high in the morning to get you going, low at night so you can sleep. Long-term stress can push this rhythm too high or flatten it.
High cortisol suppresses TSH, slows the conversion of T4 into active T3 and increases reverse T3. Disturbed cortisol also affects immune regulation, which matters in Hashimoto’s.
This is why we consider adrenal testing essential, not optional, in thyroid care.
Signs it may apply to you
- Feeling wired but tired
- Poor tolerance of stress
- Afternoon slumps
- Light-headedness when standing up
- Broken sleep or waking unrefreshed
How we test for it
- Salivary cortisol rhythm (four samples across the day)
- Cortisol awakening response
- DHEA-S
Your baseline shows whether this is a priority for you before any further tests are recommended.
Get to the root of your thyroid symptoms
Start with the Thyroid Profile, or book a Discovery Consultation at our Llandudno clinic.