Special Info

If you are taking certain supplements or hormones, there are special instructions for collection. When taking any of the following supplements and hormones -- Pregnenolone, Progesterone, Cortisol, DHEA, Androstenedione, Androstenediol, Testosterone, Estrone, Estriol, Estradiol or any other steroid hormone:

1) Make sure at least one month has passed since you started taking hormone supplements before beginning any of the HormoneChecks. Time is required before the hormone reaches equilibrium with binding proteins in the blood, specimens collected too soon do not accurately reflect hormone concentrations in the saliva.

2) The specimen must be collected 24 hours after last dose. Preferably, the specimen should be collected in the morning, before the daily morning dose is taken. If you are taking one of the hormones or supplements twice a day, consult with your Health Care Provider about reducing your dosage to once a day.

Description

ARE YOU HANDLING STRESS THE BEST WAY FOR YOUR BODY?

Stress is good for you.

It's true. Stress is often thought of in a negative light--and with good reason. However, stress, both physical and emotional, also helps your body stay active and alert, more prepared for obstacles it may face. Two hormones, DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) and cortisol, are your body's main forces for coping with stress. An imbalance of these hormones puts your body at a great disadvantage for handling the sometimes overwhelming feeling that stress brings.

That's where StressCheckcomes in.

StressCheck by BodyBalance measures your DHEA (sulfate) and cortisol levels to determine if they are properly balanced. Classified as "stress" hormones--DHEA and cortisol are hormones that serve as markers of stress response, regulating how your body reacts during stress. Each hormone is released into your bloodstream from your adrenal glands when your body feels stress and helps your body make the necessary adjustments to protect your health.

These two hormones balance each other to ensure a healthy stress response. DHEA is anabolic, a constructive hormone that can boost the immune system, decrease blood pressure, and helps to regulate sleep, among its many functions. Cortisol is a catabolic hormone, a disruptive hormone that, in an unbalanced state, can weaken and break down the immune system, increase blood pressure, and prevent restful sleep. Yet when your body feels stress, cortisol is essential. Cortisol maintains and raises your energy levels to assist your body during that stressful period. Together. these two hormones work to provide your body with optimal stress response and good overall health.

WHAT WE CAN DO FOR YOU...

StressCheck is a safe, easy-to-use, and reliable health screen that uses a small saliva sample to measure your levels of DHEA and cortisol--hormones that are vital to your body's response to stress. This non-invasive and inexpensive health screen provides you with the accuracy of a laboratory analysis without leaving the comfort of your own home. When you order your health screen, we'll send a complete kit to you. You collect the required saliva sample and send it back to us in the prepaid return mailer provided. Within 7-10 working days of receiving your sample, we'll send your results to you.

WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR YOURSELF...

Stress can often make you feel powerless, swamped by the pressures of time, cumbersome demands -- he list could go on and on. With the information you'll receive from your StressCheck health screen, you'll know how your DHEA and cortisol levels compare with normal, reference range levels and what that means for you and for strengthening your ability to cope with stress. If your results show that your levels of these hormones are not in balance, you can then work with your health care provider to develop a safe and productive plan for getting your levels to their proper state. The goal of StressCheck is to provide you with valuable information you can use to combat the pressures of stress to the absolute best of your ability and live a healthier life, information that puts you in control.

WHAT TO DO NOW...

Ordering is as simple as our health screens. In fact, you can order your health screens right here on our website. Your health screens will be delivered to you within a few days, putting you well on your way to more control and better health.

• Measures DHEA and Cortisol, your body's natural response to stress • Easy Saliva Collection

Note

Health screen results and any other information obtained by submitting your sample to Great Smokies Diagnostic Laboratory, Inc. should be used for personal information purposes only. Results and information are not intended for diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of diseases or other conditions. Many factors influence stress, and this product evaluates only two of these factors. Should you seek an interpretation of any health screen results or related information, please contact a licensed healthcare provider.

When to collect...

Saliva should be collected first thing in the morning (before any hormone supplements are taken, if applicable) and again just before you go to sleep.

For more information about BodyBalance consumer health screens call 888-891-3061