{"id":76380,"date":"2023-05-26T06:54:59","date_gmt":"2023-05-26T11:54:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.stress.org\/?p=76380"},"modified":"2024-04-06T04:53:32","modified_gmt":"2024-04-06T04:53:32","slug":"measuring-the-stress-response","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/www.stress.org\/news\/measuring-the-stress-response\/","title":{"rendered":"Measuring the Stress Response"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"fusion-fullwidth fullwidth-box fusion-builder-row-1 fusion-flex-container nonhundred-percent-fullwidth non-hundred-percent-height-scrolling\">\n<div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-row fusion-flex-align-items-flex-start\">\n<div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-0 fusion_builder_column_1_1 1_1 fusion-flex-column\">\n<div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\">\n<div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-1\">\n<p><strong>By Brandon LaGreca, LAc, MAcOM\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.stress.org\/combat-stress-magazine-2023spring\"><em>*This is an article from the Spring 2023 issue of Combat Stress<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">For military personnel and first responders, performing under stressful conditions comes as part of the job. Quantifying how stress affects the individual is an evolving science. This article explores the history of assessments that evaluate the health of the vagus nerve, part of the parasympathetic nervous system, or measure the release of stress hormones. To best understand one\u2019s resilience to stressful situations, it is important to document these effects with proven metrics.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Before lab testing, holistic healthcare providers assessed stress resilience in a number of clever ways, several of which were centered on the health and function of the adrenal glands. One example is Ragland\u2019s test. This involves taking a patient\u2019s blood pressure after several minutes, while the patient lies in a relaxed state, followed by a second measurement taken as the patient rises to stand. The sudden change of position and consequent need to quickly get blood to the head is thought to be influenced by adrenal hormones. Lightheadedness upon rising (orthostatic hypotension) was considered a sign of adrenal insufficiency.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">A method taught within naturopathic medicine to assess vagal tone, and by extension the resilience of the parasympathetic nervous system, is the evaluation of palatal rise. The\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">levator veli palatini<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0muscle, responsible for the rising and falling of the oral palate, is directly innervated by the vagus nerve. Having a patient stick out the tongue and say \u201caah\u201d (more often used to check the health of the tonsils) is a window to observe the evenness of how the palate appears and how quickly it moves. Asymmetry and sluggish rising of the palate is considered a sign of poor vagal tone.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">How precise these tests are at addressing autonomic nervous system health is debatable. Such methods formed the backbone of manual evaluation by old-school practitioners, who either didn\u2019t have access to laboratory assessment or were practicing before the chemical analysis of hormone health was available.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Early 1960s research in psychophysiology relied on several methods of quantifying the stress response, including measuring changes in heart rate, respiration, and electrodermal response (such as with polygraph machines to gauge the subtle stress markers that may indicate that a person is lying).<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">1<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">By the 1970s, heart rate variability (HRV) entered the scene, offering a new level of sophistication by measuring the minute but healthy change (variability) in the interval between each heartbeat as a marker of stress resilience and optimal vagal tone.<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">2<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">With significant refinement to the technology over the last few decades, HRV has become the dominant player in the emerging science of biofeedback, allowing the user to precisely track the stress and relaxation response in real time. The health of the parasympathetic nervous system can be read like an open book in the heart\u2019s variability, with HRV acting as an explicit indicator of vagal tone. The HeartMath Institute is on the forefront of HRV testing, churning out research and scaling HRV-measuring technology so that precise and affordable devices are now available to consumers.<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">3<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-76167 size-full jetpack-lazy-image jetpack-lazy-image--handled\" src=\"https:\/\/www.stress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/RevisedHumanBody.jpg\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1866px) 100vw, 1866px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.stress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/RevisedHumanBody-200x111.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.stress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/RevisedHumanBody-300x167.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.stress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/RevisedHumanBody-400x223.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.stress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/RevisedHumanBody-500x279.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.stress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/RevisedHumanBody-600x334.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.stress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/RevisedHumanBody-700x390.jpg 700w, https:\/\/www.stress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/RevisedHumanBody-768x428.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.stress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/RevisedHumanBody-800x446.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.stress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/RevisedHumanBody-1200x669.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.stress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/RevisedHumanBody-1536x856.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.stress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/RevisedHumanBody.jpg 1866w\" alt=\"\" width=\"1866\" height=\"1040\" data-lazy-loaded=\"1\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">In an outpatient setting, conventional medicine favors brain imaging through functional MRI (fMRI) or single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) scans to visualize central nervous system health, while bloodwork is the standard for determining hormone levels. These methods are well-validated for diagnosis, but they have flaws. One problem with using bloodwork to assess hormone levels is that hormones travel bound to proteins when circulating in the bloodstream. Only by extrapolation can active levels of hormone levels be assessed, if at all.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">To measure active or free levels of cortisol, sampling saliva is a method preferred by holistic healthcare providers. When I began private practice, I ordered cortisol panels that required the patient to collect a saliva sample (spit in a tube) four times a day to graph the rhythm of cortisol release. Cortisol is highest in the morning, peaks shortly after rising, slopes downward through the day, and is lowest at night as melatonin rises and the body prepares for slumber.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">In those early days of cortisol testing, a four-point saliva panel was a game changer. Testing a patient with a diagnosis of chronic fatigue often revealed a flatlined cortisol rhythm, with a total cortisol level below average. This led to the then-vogue diagnosis of adrenal insufficiency (or adrenal fatigue).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-76026 size-full jetpack-lazy-image jetpack-lazy-image--handled\" src=\"https:\/\/www.stress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/bigstock-Magnetic-risonance-image-MRI-o-16296899.jpg\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.stress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/bigstock-Magnetic-risonance-image-MRI-o-16296899-24x24.jpg 24w, https:\/\/www.stress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/bigstock-Magnetic-risonance-image-MRI-o-16296899-48x48.jpg 48w, https:\/\/www.stress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/bigstock-Magnetic-risonance-image-MRI-o-16296899-66x66.jpg 66w, https:\/\/www.stress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/bigstock-Magnetic-risonance-image-MRI-o-16296899-96x96.jpg 96w, https:\/\/www.stress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/bigstock-Magnetic-risonance-image-MRI-o-16296899-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/www.stress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/bigstock-Magnetic-risonance-image-MRI-o-16296899-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.stress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/bigstock-Magnetic-risonance-image-MRI-o-16296899-200x200.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.stress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/bigstock-Magnetic-risonance-image-MRI-o-16296899-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.stress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/bigstock-Magnetic-risonance-image-MRI-o-16296899-400x400.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.stress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/bigstock-Magnetic-risonance-image-MRI-o-16296899-500x500.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.stress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/bigstock-Magnetic-risonance-image-MRI-o-16296899-600x600.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.stress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/bigstock-Magnetic-risonance-image-MRI-o-16296899-700x700.jpg 700w, https:\/\/www.stress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/bigstock-Magnetic-risonance-image-MRI-o-16296899-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.stress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/bigstock-Magnetic-risonance-image-MRI-o-16296899-800x800.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.stress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/bigstock-Magnetic-risonance-image-MRI-o-16296899-1200x1200.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.stress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/bigstock-Magnetic-risonance-image-MRI-o-16296899-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.stress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/bigstock-Magnetic-risonance-image-MRI-o-16296899.jpg 2560w\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"2560\" data-lazy-loaded=\"1\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Another common pattern observed is an inversion, whereby cortisol is low in the morning and spikes in the evening. This illustrates the classic \u201cwired-and-tired\u201d patient who experiences nonrestorative sleep\u2014waking tired and needing stimulants (caffeine) to get going in the morning, only to find themselves \u201cjacked up\u201d and unable to wind down at the end of the day (evidenced by the evening spike in cortisol).<\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">These assessments were convenient and directed successful clinical interventions, but they were not the most precise in terms of what is happening at the level of cellular human physiology. The true clinical picture became clear with the inclusion of urine testing to measure metabolized levels of hormones such as cortisol, estrogen, and progesterone. Introduced by the lab Precision Analytical, the dried urine test for comprehensive hormones, or DUTCH test, utilizes four urine samples taken throughout the day to derive a daily cortisol rhythm while sussing out the amount of metabolized hormones that pass through the kidneys to be excreted.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Measuring cortisone (cortisol deactivated in the colon, kidneys, and salivary glands) in addition to cortisol led to an important clinical discovery. Some patients previously diagnosed as having adrenal insufficiency turned out to be excreting high levels of cortisol metabolites. It wasn\u2019t an issue of a lack of cortisol, rather, there was a lack of communication between the brain and glands to properly regulate hormone levels. This led to the more precise diagnosis of HPA-axis dysfunction, denoting the disharmony inherent from chronically elevated levels of cortisol that downregulate signaling hormones in the brain.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">These patients were producing adrenal hormones, sometimes excessively, but the net effect on the body was a decreased action of those hormones at the appropriate sites. This is analogous to the vigorous production of insulin, yet lack of cellular response to shuttle sugar into the cells in patients with type 2 diabetes.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Metabolized hormone levels are an important piece of the puzzle, but because saliva was still relevant to assess adrenal resilience, Precision Analytical added another metric,\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">using<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0four saliva samples to derive what is known as cortisol awakening response (CAR).<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Measuring CAR involves taking three saliva samples within the first 60 minutes of rising to see how vigorously and appropriately cortisol surges and how that effect is maintained during the initial timeframe of waking. Research suggests testing CAR is a clinically relevant assessment of adrenal health.<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">4,5<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">The rhythm of cortisol release is predictive of stress resilience. The door swings the other way too, with a dysregulated cortisol rhythm suggestive of disease. One study indicated an abnormal or flattened cortisol rhythm is predictive of early mortality from breast cancer.<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">6<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-76027 size-full jetpack-lazy-image jetpack-lazy-image--handled\" src=\"https:\/\/www.stress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Capture-2.png\" sizes=\"(max-width: 461px) 100vw, 461px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.stress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Capture-2-200x115.png 200w, https:\/\/www.stress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Capture-2-300x172.png 300w, https:\/\/www.stress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Capture-2-400x230.png 400w, https:\/\/www.stress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Capture-2.png 461w\" alt=\"\" width=\"461\" height=\"265\" data-lazy-loaded=\"1\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Testing cortisol can also serve as a proxy to assess potential environmental stressors. One paper showed how prolonged exposure to fluorescent lamps appreciably lowered cortisol levels. Readers of my first book,\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/2ZTb9JI\"><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Cancer and EMF Radiation: How to Protect Yourself from the Silent Carcinogen of Electropollution<\/span><\/i><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\">, will not be surprised by this revelation, given the detrimental electromagnetic field emitted by fluorescent lights.<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">7<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">The reverse has been studied. Early morning bright light exposure raises cortisol to healthy levels, while alterations to circadian rhythm through shift work or daylight-saving time affect optimal cortisol output.<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">8,9<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">An important point to make at this juncture is that testing guides treatment in the context of a patient\u2019s overall health. There is no one-size-fits-all approach, and wise holistic healthcare providers are cautious to pursue treatments that tweak hormones based on lab results alone.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Hormesis reigns supreme with hormone balance. Too much cortisol is as problematic as too little. Elevated norepinephrine is key to survival when the sympathetic nervous system is activated, but chronically high levels can lead to hormonal chaos.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">It is possible to \u201c<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">bio-hack<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201d these hormones with chemical therapies, from amino acids to prescription drugs. Beta blockers will blunt the effects of elevated norepinephrine at the cost of side effects inherent from altering normal human biochemistry.<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">10<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0For cortisol, phosphatidylserine lowers elevated levels and hydrocortisone replaces and suppresses output.<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">11<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">These substances all have their place and can be important tools, provided that dependency does not ensue from their use. This is especially true of hydrocortisone, as doses above physiological limits released by the adrenal glands cause a profound downregulation of the body\u2019s ability to produce cortisol. For this reason, high doses of steroid drugs are prescribed with a gradual tapering of dosage over several days (if not weeks). Failure to do so may lead to the iatrogenic version of Addison\u2019s disease when the adrenal glands fail to rebound following pharmaceutical suppression.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Herbal medicine offers a wise approach to managing hormone imbalances, not because nature\u2019s pharmacy is inherently safe (though often it is), but because many herbs that address hormone problems are normalizing, meaning they can signal the brain to either raise or lower hormone levels depending on need. These responses occur within the body\u2019s design and don\u2019t force biochemical reactions like a drug does. To learn more about the safe use of adaptogenic herbs, consult a licensed healthcare provider educated in functional or integrative medicine.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Portions of this article have been excerpted from Brandon\u2019s book<\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">,\u00a0<\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/2OseBHQ\"><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Cancer, Stress &amp; Mindset: Focusing the Mind to Empower Healing and Resilience<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">,\u00a0<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">available on his website<\/span>\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/brandonlagreca.com\/\"><i><span data-contrast=\"none\">BrandonLaGreca.com<\/span><\/i><\/a>\u00a0<span data-contrast=\"auto\">and through online retailers.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">References<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">1. Stern, John A.\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201c<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">Toward a Definition of Psychophysiology.<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201d\u00a0<\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"none\">Psychophysiology<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a01, no. 1 (1964): 90\u201391.\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1111\/j.1469-8986.1964.tb02626.x\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1111\/j.1469-8986.1964.tb02626.x<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\">.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">2. Berntson, Gary G., J. Thomas Bigger, Dwain L. Eckberg, Paul Grossman, Peter G. Kaufmann, Marek Malik, Haikady N. Nagaraja, et al.\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201c<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">Heart Rate Variability: Origins, Methods, and Interpretive Caveats.<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201d\u00a0<\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"none\">Psychophysiology<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a034, no. 6 (1997): 623\u201348.\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1111\/j.1469-8986.1997.tb02140.x\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1111\/j.1469-8986.1997.tb02140.x<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\">.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">3. McCraty, Rollin, Bob Barrios-Choplin, Deborah Rozman, Mike Atkinson, and Alan D. Watkins.\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201c<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">The Impact of a New Emotional Self-Management Program on Stress, Emotions, Heart Rate Variability, DHEA and Cortisol.<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201d\u00a0<\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"none\">Integrative Physiological and Behavioral Science<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a033, no. 2 (April 1, 1998): 151<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201370.\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/BF02688660\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/BF02688660<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\">.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">4. Clow, Angela, Frank Hucklebridge, Tobias Stalder, Phil Evans, and Lisa Thorn.\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201c<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">The Cortisol Awakening Response: More than a Measure of HPA Axis Function.<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201d\u00a0<\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"none\">Neuroscience &amp; Biobehavioral Reviews<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"none\">, Psychophysiological Biomarkers of Health, 35, no. 1 (September 1, 2010): 97<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u2013103.\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.neubiorev.2009.12.011\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.neubiorev.2009.12.011<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\">.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">5. Fries, Eva, Lucia Dettenborn, and Clemens Kirschbaum.\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201c<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">The Cortisol Awakening Response (CAR): Facts and Future Directions.<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201d\u00a0<\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"none\">International Journal of Psychophysiology<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"none\">, 72, no. 1 (April 1, 2009): 67<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201373.\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.ijpsycho.2008.03.014\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.ijpsycho.2008.03.014<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\">.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">6. Sephton, Sandra E., Robert M. Sapolsky, Helena C. Kraemer, and David Spiegel.\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201c<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">Diurnal Cortisol Rhythm as a Predictor of Breast Cancer Survival.<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201d\u00a0<\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"none\">JNCI: Journal of the National Cancer Institute<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a092, no. 12 (June 21, 2000): 994<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u20131000.\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1093\/jnci\/92.12.994\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1093\/jnci\/92.12.994<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\">.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">7. Jung, Christopher M., Sat Bir S. Khalsa, Frank A. J. L. Scheer, Christian Cajochen, Steven W. Lockley, Charles A. Czeisler, and Kenneth P. Wright.\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201c<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">Acute Effects of Bright Light Exposure on Cortisol Levels.<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201d\u00a0<\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"none\">Journal of Biological Rhythms<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a025, no. 3 (May 19, 2010): 208\u201316.\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/0748730410368413\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/0748730410368413<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\">.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">8. Hadlow, Narelle C., Suzanne Brown, Robert Wardrop, and David Henley.\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201c<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">The Effects of Season, Daylight Saving and Time of Sunrise on Serum Cortisol in a Large Population.<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201d\u00a0<\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"none\">Chronobiology International<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a031, no. 2 (March 1, 2014): 243<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201351.\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3109\/07420528.2013.844162\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3109\/07420528.2013.844162<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\">.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">9. Thorn, L., F. Hucklebridge, A. Esgate, P. Evans, and A. Clow.\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201c<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">The Effect of Dawn Simulation on the Cortisol Response to Awakening in Healthy Participants.<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201d\u00a0<\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"none\">Psychoneuroendocrinology<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a029, no. 7 (August 1, 2004): 925\u201330.\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.psyneuen.2003.08.005\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.psyneuen.2003.08.005<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\">.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">10. Fitzgerald, Paul J.\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201c<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">Beta Blockers, Norepinephrine, and Cancer: An Epidemiological Viewpoint.<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201d\u00a0<\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"none\">Clinical Epidemiology<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a04 (2012): 151\u201356.\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.2147\/CLEP.S33695\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">https:\/\/doi.org\/10.2147\/CLEP.S33695<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\">.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">11. Benton, D., R.T. Donohoe, B. Sillance, and S. Nabb.\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201c<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">The Influence of Phosphatidylserine Supplementation on Mood and Heart Rate When Faced with an Acute Stressor.<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201d\u00a0<\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"none\">Nutritional Neuroscience<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a04, no. 3 (January 1, 2001): 169<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201378.\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1080\/1028415X.2001.11747360\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1080\/1028415X.2001.11747360<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\">.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-1 fusion_builder_column_1_1 1_1 fusion-flex-column\">\n<div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\">\n<div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-2\">\n<h3 class=\"fusion-responsive-typography-calculated\" data-fontsize=\"18\" data-lineheight=\"27px\">ABOUT THE AUTHOR<\/h3>\n<p><strong><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-76028 size-thumbnail jetpack-lazy-image jetpack-lazy-image--handled\" src=\"https:\/\/www.stress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/LaGreca_BioPhoto_FNL-e1684343663478-150x150.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" data-lazy-loaded=\"1\" \/><span class=\"TextRun SCXW159799782 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW159799782 BCX0\">Brandon\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"SpellingError SCXW159799782 BCX0\">LaGreca<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW159799782 BCX0\">,\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"SpellingError SCXW159799782 BCX0\">LAc<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW159799782 BCX0\">,\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"SpellingError SCXW159799782 BCX0\">MAcOM<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW159799782 BCX0\">,<\/span><\/span><\/strong><span class=\"TextRun SCXW159799782 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW159799782 BCX0\">\u00a0is a licensed acupuncturist in the state of Wisconsin and nationally certified in the practice of Oriental medicine. In 2015, Brandon was diagnosed with stage 4 non-Hodgkin\u2019s lymphoma. He achieved full remission eight months later by following an integrative medicine protocol that included immunotherapy without the use of chemotherapy, radiation, or surgery. Brandon is a thought leader in the synthesis of traditional and functional medicine, having written numerous articles on the subject. He is the author of\u00a0<\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXW159799782 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW159799782 BCX0\">Cancer and EMF Radiation: How to Protect Yourself\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"ContextualSpellingAndGrammarError SCXW159799782 BCX0\">From<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW159799782 BCX0\">\u00a0the Silent Carcinogen of Electropollution,<\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXW159799782 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW159799782 BCX0\">\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXW159799782 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW159799782 BCX0\">Cancer, Stress &amp; Mindset: Focusing the Mind to Empower Healing and Resilience,<\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXW159799782 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW159799782 BCX0\">\u00a0He shares his thoughts at\u00a0<\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun Underlined SCXW159799782 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW159799782 BCX0\">EmpoweredPatientBlog.com<\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXW159799782 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW159799782 BCX0\">.<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW159799782 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><strong><br \/>\n<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-2 fusion_builder_column_1_1 1_1 fusion-flex-column\">\n<div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\">\n<div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-3\">\n<h3 class=\"fusion-responsive-typography-calculated\" data-fontsize=\"18\" data-lineheight=\"27px\">Combat Stress Magazine<\/h3>\n<p><em>Combat Stress<\/em>\u00a0magazine is written with our military Service Members, Veterans, first responders, and their families in mind. We want all of our members and guests to find contentment in their lives by learning about stress management and finding what works best for each of them. Stress is unavoidable and comes in many shapes and sizes. It can even be considered a part of who we are. Being in a state of peaceful happiness may seem like a lofty goal but harnessing your stress in a positive way makes it obtainable. Serving in the military or being a police officer, firefighter or paramedic brings unique challenges and some extraordinarily bad days. The American Institute of Stress is dedicated to helping you, our Heroes and their families, cope with and heal your mind and body from the stress associated with your careers and sacrifices.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"fusion-responsive-typography-calculated\" data-fontsize=\"18\" data-lineheight=\"27px\">Subscribe to our FREE magazine for military members, police, firefighters,\u00a0 paramedics, and their families!<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<div><a class=\"fusion-button button-flat fusion-button-default-size button-default button-2 fusion-button-default-span fusion-button-default-type\" href=\"https:\/\/www.stress.org\/subscribe\/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener\"><span class=\"fusion-button-text\">SUBSCRIBE<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"magazine_comment_block\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By Brandon LaGreca, LAc, MAcOM\u00a0 *This is an article from the Spring 2023 issue of Combat Stress For military personnel and first responders, performing under stressful conditions comes as part [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":76382,"menu_order":0,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"give_campaign_id":0,"pmpro_default_level":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false},"categories":[139,159],"tags":[136,137,138,617,236,141,143,155,147,165,151],"class_list":["post-76380","news","type-news","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-daily-life-blog","category-stress-in-your-body","tag-ais","tag-american-institute-of-stress","tag-anxiety","tag-body","tag-combat-stress","tag-health","tag-mental-health","tag-research","tag-stress-management","tag-stress-relief","tag-workplace-stress","pmpro-has-access"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.5 - 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