Skip to main content

Cortisol Rhythm Analysis

Meaning

A clinical diagnostic procedure that assesses the dynamic, 24-hour pattern of cortisol secretion, moving beyond a single point-in-time measurement to evaluate the integrity of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis. This analysis specifically tracks the Cortisol Awakening Response (CAR) and the diurnal slope, which reflect the body’s capacity to respond to stress and maintain circadian alignment. Deviations from the expected rhythm, such as a flattened or inverted curve, are key indicators of chronic stress adaptation or adrenal dysregulation.