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. The balance of these hormones can affect how you handle the overwhelming feeling that stress can bring.

That's where StressCheck comes in.

StressCheck by BodyBalance measures your DHEA and cortisol levels to determine their balance. Classified as adrenal or "stress" hormones--DHEA and cortisol 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 itself.

These two hormones help balance each other to ensure a stress response. DHEA is anabolic, a constructive hormone that affects the immune system, blood pressure, and sleep, among its many functions. Cortisol is a catabolic hormone, a hormone that also affects the immune system, blood pressure, and sleep. 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 an optimal stress response.

WHAT WE CAN DO FOR YOU...
StressCheck is a safe, easy-to-use, and reliable screen that uses a small saliva sample to measure your levels of DHEA and cortisol--hormones vital to your body's response to stress. This noninvasive and inexpensive screen provides the accuracy of a laboratory analysis without you having to leave the comfort of your own home. When you order your 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...
BodyBalance enables you to read your results and compare them to the general population. You can then work with your healthcare provider to develop an appropriate program to maintain and promote your well being.

WHAT TO DO NOW...
Order today and your screens will be delivered to you within a few days, helping you on your way to more control and feeling better.

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STRESSCHECK

Blood IM, Bennett S, Simpson KC, Susman EJ. Subjective anxiety measurements and cortisol responses in adults who stutter. J Speech and Hear Res 1994; 37: 760-768.

Born J, et al. Night-time plasma cortisol secretion is associated with specific sleep stages. Bio Psychiat 1986; 21: 1415-1424.

Born J, DeKloet ER, Wenz H, Kern W, Fehm HL. Gluco- and antimineralocorticoid effects on human sleep: a role of central corticosteroid receptors. Amer J Physiol 1991; 260(2 Pt. 1): E183-E188.

Blood IM, Bennett S, Simpson KC, Susman EJ. Subjective anxiety measurements and cortisol responses in adults who stutter. J Speech and Hear Res 1994; 37: 760-768.

Born J, et al. Night-time plasma cortisol secretion is associated with specific sleep stages. Bio Psychiat 1986; 21: 1415-1424.

Born J, DeKloet ER, Wenz H, Kern W, Fehm HL. Gluco- and antimineralocorticoid effects on human sleep: a role of central corticosteroid receptors. Amer J Physiol 1991; 260(2 Pt. 1): E183-E188.

Not available to New York state residents.

• Measures DHEA and Cortisol, your body's natural response to everyday stress

• Easy Saliva Collection

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Please Note...
Results and information are for personal use only, are not intended to diagnose, cure, mitigate, treat, or prevent disease or other conditions, and are not intended to provide a determination or assessment of the state of health. Many factors influence hormone status, and this product reviews only two of these factors. Always consult with a licensed health care professional to interpret screen results and/or make healthcare decisions. This screen was developed and its performance characteristics determined by Great Smokies Diagnostic Laboratory, Inc. It has not been cleared or approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

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 screens call 800-298-4515

Special Note:
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:

* 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.

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Freiss E, Traschel L, Guldner J, Schier T, Steiger A, Holbsboer F. DHEA administration increases rapid eye movement sleep and EEG power in the sigma frequency range. Am J Physiol 1995; 268(31): E107-E113. cience News. 1998; May

Hechter O, et al. Relationship of DHEA and Cortisol in disease. Med Hypotheses 1997; July 49(1): 85-91.

McCarty R, et al. The impact of a new emotional self-management program on stress, emotions, heart-rate variability, DHEA and Cortisol. Integr Physiol Behav Sci 1998; Apr-Jun; 33(2): 151-170.

Namiki M. Aged people and stress. Jap J Geriatrics 1994; 31: 85-95.

Oberbeck R, et al. Endocrine mechanisms of stress-induced DHEA secretion. J Endocrinol Invest 1998 Mar; 21(3): 148-153.

Opstad K. Circadian rhythm of hormones is extinguished during prolonged physical stress, sleep and energy deficiency in young men. Eur J Endocrin 1994; 131: 56-66. Blood GW,