3 DIY at home tests you can do to see if you have Adrenal Fatigue

I hope you enjoyed my previous post on adrenal fatigue. It's probably a good idea to point out at this stage that I have no formal training or qualifications in medical diagnosis.  The information I bring to you is information I have read and am bringing the juicy bits to you in bite sized pieces, to share this wonderful empowering knowledge so that you can take your health to new levels.

I have my own experience to go on as well as the constant research I am doing.  If you want to find out if you have adrenal fatigue I suggest you visit a holistic health practitioner for a comprehensive diagnosis. Disclaimer over!  Naturopaths can run tests to determine if you have adrenal fatigue by using Saliva Hormone tests.  Doctors can run blood tests which test the morning cortisol level in your blood.  Saliva tests are more reliable. But there are some tests for adrenal fatigue that you can do at home and it won't cost you a thing...

Iris Contraction

You will need:  a chair, a small flashlight or pen light, a mirror, a watch with a second hand (or a phone) and a dark room.

Darken the room and sit in the chair in front of the mirror.  Shine the flashlight across one eye (not directly into it you don't want to go blind) from the side of your head. Keep the light shining steadily across one eye and watch it in the mirror with the other eye.

You should see your pupil (the black bit) contract immediately as the light hits your eye.  This happens because the iris, a tiny circular muscle, contracts and dilates the pupil in response to light.  Like all muscles, if it has been exercised beyond all capacity, it likes to have a rest.

The pupil normally remains contracted in the increased light but if you have some form of adrenal fatigue, the pupil will not be able to hold it's contraction and will dilate despite the light shining on it.

The dilation will take place within a couple of minutes and will last for 30-45 seconds before it recovers and contracts again.  Time how long the dilation lasts and record it with the date.  You can retest monthly, only do one test at a time, let the eye rest.  If you eye indicates you are suffering from adrenal fatigue , the re testing will let you know if you are getting better.

When you are fully recovered the iris will hold it's contraction and the pupil will remain small for longer.  This test works if moderate to severe adrenal fatigue is present but may not detect mild cases.

I ran this test (like right now) and my pupil held contracted for over two minutes making minute contractions and dilations as my hand wobbled with the flashlight. So maybe my adrenal fatigue is mild?  I have been working on healing my adrenals for over six months now and taking adrenal herbs to support adrenal function.

Low Blood Pressure and Postural Low Blood Pressure

If you have adrenal fatigue you usually also have low blood pressure, do you ever get light headed when you get up quickly? Low adrenal function is thought to be the most common cause of low blood pressure (and most ignored by Doctors).

If your blood pressure drops when you stand from a lying position, this almost always indicates low adrenals.  I remember in my Pump Class days we used to go from doing triceps dips on the step to quickly standing up and doing over head triceps extensions with a 5 kilo weight, I always nearly, but never did, black out. 

You can test for this at home if you buy a blood pressure reader.

1. Lie down for 3-5 minutes rest.  Take your blood pressure while lying down.
2. Stand up and re take your blood pressure.  It should rise 10 to 20mmHg or at least stay the same.  In adrenal fatigue, the blood pressure will drop when standing from a lying position.

I haven't done this test as I don't have a blood pressure reader, but would like to try it.  I'll take my gym experience as a hint!  I sometimes feel it now, if for example I have been exerting myself  like cleaning the cupboard doors or walls in a squat position and then standing and reaching up over my head. *Stars*

As you recover from adrenal fatigue your low blood pressure will get better, but don't worry it won't give you high blood pressure. Your blood pressure will normalise as your adrenals strengthen and you won't have those dizzy spells anymore.

Note that complete vegetarians may have a lower than normal blood pressure of around 95/65, if so, your overall blood pressure does not mean you have adrenal fatigue, run this test to see if you do.

Sergent's White Line

Only 40% of people who do have adrenal fatigue will test positive in this test but if you do test positive it is absolute confirmation that you do have adrenal fatigue.  The test is named after a French physician named Emile Sergent. 

Take the dull end of a ballpoint pen and lightly draw a line on the skin of your abdomen, making a line about 12cm long.

In those with healthy adrenals the mark made by the pen is initially white and then reddens within a few seconds.  In those with adrenal fatigue the line will stay white for about two minutes and will also widen.

My line reddened.  What about yours? Will you run these tests?