Health & Nutrition Self Evaluation
Medical Testing, Blood Profiles, by the Life Extension Foundation
Medical Testing Protocols The Life Extension Foundation makes available a broad and rather complete spectrum of blood tests for most health and life extension parameters. Members are able to go directly to a blood draw station and order tests without requiring a doctors referral. (Consultations are available). Members are able to order tests at substantial discounts.
Click HereFor a complete description of the benefits of becoming a Life Extension Foundation member.
Hypoadrenia Symptom Inventory |
Postural Hypotension Test for Hypoadrenia |
Basal Body Temperature Test for Hypothyroid |
Depression Inventory |
Hypoadrenia Symptom Inventory
Answer whether you have any of the following:
Excessive Fatigue
Light headedness (or dizzyness, etc.) upon standing
Cravings for sweets
Alcohol Intolerance
Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)
Poor resistance to infections (in general)
Chronic Infections
Chronic Allergies
Skin, Dry &/or "thin"
Low Blood Pessure
Easily irritated
General Nervouseness
Weakness
Anxiety/Depression/Fearfullness
Food "sensitivities", or inhalant allergies
Become emotional after eating sweets or starches
Hard to gain weight or to build muscle mass
Poor Memory
Excessive hunger
Low tendency to perspire
Dark circles under eyes
Indigestion, "Pit" of stomach, distress/pain
Insomnia
Tenderness in adrenal area
Low Sex Drive
Scoring of the Questionnaire:
If you answered yes to 5 or more of the above, you might be experiencing symptoms of hypoadrenia. There may be other causes or explanations as well. To investigate further, do the Postural Hypotension Test for Hypoadrenia below. If that also suggest possible hypoadrenia, you might consider looking seriously at stress reduction and the suggestions for nutritional support.
For more information and nutritional support information, read the Hypoadrenia article under Health Topics on the left navigation bar.
Hypoadrenia Symptom Inventory |
Postural Hypotension Test for Hypoadrenia |
Basal Body Temperature Test for Hypothyroid |
Depression Inventory |
|
|
Postural Hypotension Test for Hypoadrenia
Hypoadrenia, especially in its subclinical or subpathological manifestation is not normally found in standard laboratory testing. It can be recognized either from the patient history and symptom profile or by testing for postural hypotension. For this you need a blood pressure cuff and the knowledge to use it. Blood pressure cuffs can be obtained at nearly any drugstore and the staff will usually assist you with its use if you need help.
(1) Start in a recumbent (on your back) position. You need to lie down long enough to be in a relaxed state. While lying on your back in a relaxed state, take and record your blood pressure.
(2) Inflate the blood pressure cuff and prepare to take a reading. Immediately stand up and take the reading in the standing position and record it.
(3) Normally, with the help of your sympathetic nervous system of which the adrenal glands are a part, your blood pressure will rise between 4 and 10 points (mm/Hb) when going from the lying to the standing position. If your blood pressure drops, it may be an indication of hypoadrenia. If your blood pressure drops noticably, you may also feel a little faint upon standing.
Read the article on Hypoadrenia under Health Topics for additional information and suggestions for nutritional support of the adrenal glands.
Hypoadrenia Symptom Inventory |
Postural Hypotension Test for Hypoadrenia |
Basal Body Temperature Test for Hypothyroid |
Depression Inventory |
|
|
Basal Body Temperature Test for Hypothyroid
Blood tests for thyroid hormones and related factors don't always accurately evaluate hypothyroid conditions. Many physicians use the basal body temperature test as an alternative or auxiliary test method. For this you will need a glass thermometer.
(1) Shake the thermometer down and place it by your bed before you go to sleep at night.
(2) Just before rising in the morning and before you have engaged in any bodily movement, place the thermometer in your mouth and lie still for ten minutes. Then record your body temperature.
Body temperature can be elevated by an inflamatory responde as with a fever when an infection is present. Body temperature can also be elevated during the menstral cycle in women. The best time for a woman to do the temperature test is on the second or third day after the menstral cycle.
The normal body temperature recorded in the mouth is 98.6 degrees F. A basal temperature of 0.5 degrees below 98.6 suggests a hypothyroid imbalance.
Read the Hypothyroid article under Health Topics for more information on hypothyroidism and suggestions for nutritional support.
Hypoadrenia Symptom Inventory |
Postural Hypotension Test for Hypoadrenia |
Basal Body Temperature Test for Hypothyroid |
Depression Inventory |
|
|
Depression Inventory
A widely used test for determining depression is the CES-D (Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression) developed by Lenore Radloff at the National Institute for Mental Health. This is not a diagnosis but an assessment of an individual's relative level of depression. Score in number of days per week.
(1) I was bothered by things that usually don't bother me.
0 Rarely or none of the time (less than 1 day)
1 Some or a little of the time (1-2 days)
2 Occasionally (3-4 days)
3 Most or all of the time (5-7 days)
(2) I did not feel like eating; my appetite was poor.
0 Rarely or none of the time (less than 1 day)
1 Some or a little of the time (1-2 days)
2 Occasionally (3-4 days)
3 Most or all of the time (5-7 days)
(3) I felt that I could not shake off the blues even with help from my family and friends.
0 Rarely or none of the time (less than 1 day)
1 Some or a little of the time (1-2 days)
2 Occasionally (3-4 days)
3 Most or all of the time (5-7 days)
(4) I felt that I was not as good as other people.
0 Rarely or none of the time (less than 1 day)
1 Some or a little of the time (1-2 days)
2 Occasionally (3-4 days)
3 Most or all of the time (5-7 days)
(5) I had trouble keeping my mind on what I was doing.
0 Rarely or none of the time (less than 1 day)
1 Some or a little of the time (1-2 days)
2 Occasionally (3-4 days)
3 Most or all of the time (5-7 days)
(6) I felt depressed.
0 Rarely or none of the time (less than 1 day)
1 Some or a little of the time (1-2 days)
2 Occasionally (3-4 days)
3 Most or all of the time (5-7 days)
(7) I felt that everything I did was an effort.
0 Rarely or none of the time (less than 1 day)
1 Some or a little of the time (1-2 days)
2 Occasionally (3-4 days)
3 Most or all of the time (5-7 days)
(8) I felt hopeless about the future.
0 Rarely or none of the time (less than 1 day)
1 Some or a little of the time (1-2 days)
2 Occasionally (3-4 days)
3 Most or all of the time (5-7 days)
(9) I thought my life had been a failure.
0 Rarely or none of the time (less than 1 day)
1 Some or a little of the time (1-2 days)
2 Occasionally (3-4 days)
3 Most or all of the time (5-7 days)
(10) I felt fearful.
0 Rarely or none of the time (less than 1 day)
1 Some or a little of the time (1-2 days)
2 Occasionally (3-4 days)
3 Most or all of the time (5-7 days)
(11) My sleep was restless.
0 Rarely or none of the time (less than 1 day)
1 Some or a little of the time (1-2 days)
2 Occasionally (3-4 days)
3 Most or all of the time (5-7 days)
(12) I was unhappy.
0 Rarely or none of the time (less than 1 day)
1 Some or a little of the time (1-2 days)
2 Occasionally (3-4 days)
3 Most or all of the time (5-7 days)
(13) I talked less than usual.
0 Rarely or none of the time (less than 1 day)
1 Some or a little of the time (1-2 days)
2 Occasionally (3-4 days)
3 Most or all of the time (5-7 days)
(14) I felt lonely.
0 Rarely or none of the time (less than 1 day)
1 Some or a little of the time (1-2 days)
2 Occasionally (3-4 days)
3 Most or all of the time (5-7 days)
(15) People were unfriendly.
0 Rarely or none of the time (less than 1 day)
1 Some or a little of the time (1-2 days)
2 Occasionally (3-4 days)
3 Most or all of the time (5-7 days)
(16) I did not enjoy life.
0 Rarely or none of the time (less than 1 day)
1 Some or a little of the time (1-2 days)
2 Occasionally (3-4 days)
3 Most or all of the time (5-7 days)
(17) I did crying spells.
0 Rarely or none of the time (less than 1 day)
1 Some or a little of the time (1-2 days)
2 Occasionally (3-4 days)
3 Most or all of the time (5-7 days)
(18) I felt sad.
0 Rarely or none of the time (less than 1 day)
1 Some or a little of the time (1-2 days)
2 Occasionally (3-4 days)
3 Most or all of the time (5-7 days)
(19) I felt that people disliked me.
0 Rarely or none of the time (less than 1 day)
1 Some or a little of the time (1-2 days)
2 Occasionally (3-4 days)
3 Most or all of the time (5-7 days)
(20) I could not get "going".
0 Rarely or none of the time (less than 1 day)
1 Some or a little of the time (1-2 days)
2 Occasionally (3-4 days)
3 Most or all of the time (5-7 days)
Scoring:
0 to 9 implies: Congratulations!
10 to 15 implies: You may be mildly depressed.
16 to 24 implies: Depression may be a significant problem.
Over 24 implies: Probable more serious depression.
Hypoadrenia Symptom Inventory |
Postural Hypotension Test for Hypoadrenia |
Basal Body Temperature Test for Hypothyroid |
Depression Inventory |
|
|
