Symptoms & complaints
Stress, burnout and your blood
Long-term stress and burnout are primarily symptoms of your mental and physical balance. Blood testing does not diagnose burnout, but it can reveal physical factors that relate to the symptoms or that are treatable.
What blood testing can and cannot do
Burnout is diagnosed based on your symptoms and functioning, not a blood test. However, blood testing can rule out or reveal physical causes that resemble the same symptoms, such as a thyroid problem or a vitamin deficiency. The stress hormone cortisol can give additional insight, but must be carefully interpreted in context.
When testing is useful
With persistent fatigue, concentration problems or a feeling of exhaustion, targeted blood testing can help not to miss treatable physical factors. It does not replace support for stress or burnout; discuss persistent symptoms with your GP.
Relevant blood values
Frequently asked questions
Can you see burnout in your blood?
No. Burnout is diagnosed based on your symptoms and functioning. Blood testing can reveal physical factors that resemble the same symptoms.
What does cortisol tell you?
Cortisol is the stress hormone and fluctuates strongly during the day. One measurement says little without context; a doctor weighs the timing and your situation.
Do I need to fast?
For these markers fasting is usually not needed. For cortisol the timing (often in the morning) does matter.
Sources
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