The urine cortisol test is also called the no-urine cortisol test or UFC test... This test measures the amount of cortisol in your urine.

Cortisol is a hormone that is produced by the adrenal glands located above the kidneys. Cortisol is often released in response to physical or mental stress.

Follow this article with GCORP LLC to learn how this test works.

What is the urine cortisol test?

Cortisol works by:

• blood sugar control
• Blood pressure regulation
• fighting infection
• Role in mood regulation
• Role in the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats and proteins

Cortisol levels naturally rise and fall throughout the day. Cortisol is usually highest in the morning and lowest around midnight, but there are variations that depend on the individual.

If this 24-hour cycle is disrupted, the body can still produce too much or too little cortisol. There are different types of cortisol tests, including blood, saliva, and urine tests.

There are several different types of cortisol tests that may be done, including blood, saliva, and urine tests. Urine tests are done within 24 hours.

The urine cortisol test is usually more comprehensive than other types of cortisol tests. This test measures the total amount of cortisol excreted in the urine over a 24-hour period.

While a blood test or a saliva test measures cortisol levels only at a specific time of the day.. Some people find blood tests stressful, and since the body produces more cortisol when stressed, the results may not be accurate.

In some cases, a urologist may order a urine cortisol test and another type of cortisol test together to get more accurate results.

Why is urine cortisol test done?

If you show symptoms of a disease that causes increased or decreased cortisol levels, your doctor may order a urine cortisol test.

Symptoms of high cortisol levels

Cushing's syndrome is a set of symptoms associated with high levels of cortisol. The most common symptoms are:

• Increased urination
• Increasing thirst
• Deposition of fat in the tissues, especially in the middle part of the body and the upper part of the back of the body
• Pink or purple stretch marks on the skin
• weight gain
• fatigue
• Muscle weakness
• thinning the skin so that it bruises easily

Women may have irregular periods and excess hair on the face and chest.. Children may be delayed in physical or cognitive development.

Symptoms of low cortisol levels

Symptoms of low cortisol levels often come on slowly... At first, these symptoms may only appear during times of extreme stress, but gradually become more severe over several months.

Symptoms that are likely to occur are:

• Weight loss
• fatigue
• dizziness
• Fainting
• Muscle weakness
Abdominal pain
• diarrhea
• Constipation

When cortisol levels suddenly drop to life-threatening levels, an acute adrenal crisis may occur.

Symptoms of acute adrenal crisis are:

• darkening of the skin
• Severe weakness
• vomiting
• diarrhea
• Fainting
• Fever
• Shiver
• Anorexia
• Sudden onset of severe pain in the back, abdomen or legs

If these symptoms occur, call the emergency number 115.... Acute adrenal crisis is a serious medical emergency that requires immediate treatment.

What is the preparation for urine cortisol test?

It is important to discuss with your kidney and urologist any prescription or over-the-counter medications you are taking. Some medications can interfere with the accuracy of the urine cortisol test. These items include:

• Diuretics
• Estrogen
Glucocorticoids Ketoconazole
• Lithium
Tricyclic antidepressants

Your doctor may tell you to stop taking medications that could affect the test results... However, you should never stop taking your medications unless your doctor tells you to.

How is the urine cortisol test done?

Urine cortisol testing is a safe and painless procedure that only involves regular urine.

The amount of cortisol is measured in the urine sample collected over a 24-hour period.. The doctor will give you special containers to use to collect the urine samples... The doctor will also explain to you the correct way to collect the urine.

On the first day of urine collection:

1. Urine in the toilet after waking up.
2. Discard this urine sample, which is the first sample.
3. After that, collect all the urine in special containers and keep it in a cool place.

On the second day of urine collection:

1. Urine in the container immediately after waking up.... This will be the last example.
2. Return these containers to the appropriate person for testing as soon as possible.

How is urine cortisol test done in babies?

If your child needs a urine cortisol test, you will collect his urine in a special bag.

The collection method is as follows:

1. Wash the area around your child's urethra completely with soap and warm water.
2. Apply the urine collection bag to the baby....for men, place the bag over his penis....for women, place the bag over his lips....tie their diaper over the bag.
3. After your child urinates, pour the urine sample inside the bag into a collection container... keep this container in a cool place.
4. Return the container to the appropriate person for testing as soon as possible.

Collect urine samples over a 24-hour period.. It is necessary to check the bag during the collection period.

What do urine cortisol test results mean?

After collecting urine samples, they are sent to the laboratory for testing.

Normal cortisol results

The normal range for urine cortisol in adults is usually between 3.5 and 45 micrograms per 24 hours. However, the normal range may vary slightly from laboratory to laboratory.

Abnormal cortisol results

Abnormal results can be caused by several diseases.

High cortisol levels often indicate Cushing's syndrome... This disease may be caused by:

• Excess production of cortisol due to adrenal tumor
• Eating substances that increase cortisol levels, such as alcohol or caffeine
• Severe depression
• Severe stress

Low cortisol levels may be due to insufficient production of cortisol by the adrenal glands. This is often the result of a condition called Addison's disease.

People with this condition are also at risk for Addison's crisis, or acute adrenal crisis, which occurs when cortisol levels drop dangerously low.

Additional tests may be needed to confirm the diagnosis of any of these diseases.

Final speech

You have become familiar with the urine cortisol test and you have studied its method and possible results.... In this regard, to obtain more information and information about the urine cortisol test or to perform it under the supervision of a kidney and urinary tract surgeon, make an appointment online at the GCORP website.

Source: Wikipedia

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