Clinician handoff
Cortisol
Designed for a 60-second scan in primary care. Use this to explain why this theory fits, what would weaken it, and which tests are most worth discussing.
Why this still fits
I've been experiencing persistent brain fog, fatigue, and difficulty concentrating, and I want to evaluate whether cortisol or another endocrine issue could be contributing.
What would weaken it
- -Does your pattern fit Cortisol more consistently than Anxiety when timing, triggers, and recovery are compared side-by-side?
- -Does your pattern fit Cortisol more consistently than Sleep when timing, triggers, and recovery are compared side-by-side?
- -Does your pattern fit Cortisol more consistently than Burnout when timing, triggers, and recovery are compared side-by-side?
- -When symptoms flare, do they reliably occur 1-3 hours after meals and improve when meal composition changes?
Key points to communicate
- •Please document what findings would confirm this cause versus lower confidence.
- •I want an evidence-first workup with clear follow-up criteria.
- •Please note which competing causes should be checked in parallel if results are inconclusive.
- •Please separate metabolic, sleep, autonomic, and medication overlap before narrowing to one cause.
Tests and measurements to discuss
Need the fuller context? Use the test explainers for the measurement itself, or jump back to the tests section on the Cortisol page to see how the tests fit the whole pattern.
Morning serum cortisol
What this helps clarify: Stress hormone — too high or too low impairs cognition
Range context
10–20 mcg/dL (AM)
How to use the result
Save the result with date and symptoms from the same week.
What this helps clarify: Adrenal hormone precursor — low in chronic stress/burnout
Range context
Age-dependent
How to use the result
Save the result with date and symptoms from the same week.
Thyroid testing if the pattern is mixed
Peer-reviewed references