A key stress hormone and what it does
Cortisolis the main stress hormone in your body.
In your brain, cortisol helps control your mood.
Its also involved in fear and motivation.
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Cortisol plays many other roles as well.
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What Is Cortisol?
Cortisol is a naturally occurring steroid.
Its made by youradrenal glands.
Most of the cells in your body have cortisol receptors.
That means cortisol has body-wide effects.
What Are Cell Receptors?
Cell receptors are proteins on the surface of a cell or inside a cell.
They receive chemical messages that control cellular activity.
The cells response to cortisol varies with the throw in of cell.
What Is the Function of Cortisol?
Cortisol is a crucial hormone for many functions.
Its involved in:
Cortisol levels fluctuate during the day.
In general, theyre high when you wake up and drop throughout the day.
When you deal with stress, your body releases extra cortisol to get you through it.
This is called the acute stress response or “fight-or-flight” response.
Fight-or-Flight Response
The fight-or-flight response is the reason cortisol is called the stress hormone.
The response happens when something appears to threaten you in some way.
Its a chain reaction that happens almost instantaneously.
What happens is:
During the high-stress situation, the body also shuts down autonomic functions to conserve energy.
That makes more resources available for your body to use.
For example, it may slow down digestion or pause your immune system.
As the threat passes, cortisol then helps the body return to its natural state.
It’s made by the adrenal glands.
Levels and usage are regulated by the hypothalamus, pituitary, and adrenals (HPA axis).
Associated Conditions: High Cortisol
Your body functions best when cortisol is at optimal levels.
Both high and low cortisol levels are tied to medical conditions.
Chronic Stress
Chronic stress can lead to high cortisol levels.
That can have a negative impact on your health.
It can also come from excessive worry.
This keeps the body in a high-alert state.
That makes you over-respond to added stressors that you encounter throughout the day.
Maybe a small delay in your busy schedule sends your anxiety into overdrive.
Cushings Syndrome
A rare disease calledCushings syndromecan result from prolonged high cortisol levels.
This is a slow and deliberate process to keep levels from dropping too fast or too far.
These may include drugs forhigh blood pressure,high blood sugar, orhigh cholesterol.
If you need treatment for anxiety or depression, you may be referred to a mental health specialist.
High cortisol levels can be triggered by chronic stress, a tumor, or high levels of corticosteroid drugs.
When brought on by a tumor or drugs, it’s called Cushing’s syndrome.
Treatment for stress may include psychotherapy, medication, and lifestyle changes.
Treatment for Cushing’s is usually surgery to remove the tumor or tapering off the dosage of corticosteroids.
Associated Conditions: Low Cortisol
Low cortisol levels also are linked to health problems.
These includeAddisons disease,fibromyalgia, andmyalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS).
Addisons Disease
Addisons is a rare disease.
Its also called primary adrenal insufficiency and hypocortisolism.
Addisons is most often due to anautoimmune diseasethat attacks the adrenal glands.
Symptoms tend to come on slowly and may come and go.
They include:
Addisons disease is treated with hormone replacement.
It can be life-threatening.
Symptoms include:
If you experience these symptoms, seek medical help right away.
However, increasing cortisol levels with medication doesnt improve symptoms.
Low cortisol is often due to Addison’s disease, which is most often an autoimmune disorder.
It’s treated with hormone replacement (corticosteroid drugs).
Fibromyalgia and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome are tied to low cortisol.
But it’s not believed to cause these conditions.
How Are Cortisol Levels Tested?
you might also order anat-home cortisol test.
Typically, youll have blood drawn for testing twice in one day.
The first test is done in the morning, when cortisol is at its peak.
The second one is often done around 4 p.m., when levels are expected to be much lower.
If youre a shift worker or have a non-standard schedule for any reason, let your healthcare provider know.
The timing of the tests may need to be adjusted.
Your cortisol may also be tested in saliva or urine.
For a urine test, youll be asked to collect your urine for 24 hours.
Youll get a container and instructions for this.
Be certain to follow the directions carefully and to promptly return your tests to the lab for analysis.
You may require more testing before they can make a diagnosis.
High cortisol is tied to chronic stress and Cushing’s syndrome.
Cushing’s is usually treated with surgery or tapering off of the medication that caused it.
Low cortisol is tied to Addison’s disease.
It’s usually treated with corticosteroid drugs.
Cortisol problems are diagnosed with blood, saliva, and/or urine tests.
A Word From Verywell
Symptoms of high or low cortisol should be taken seriously.
At the least, you may need to make some lifestyle changes to control stress.
At their worst, symptoms could point to a serious health problem or life-threatening crisis.
The good news is that cortisol-related problems are treatable and the results are usually good.
Talk to your healthcare provider to start the process of figuring out whats causing your symptoms.
Steroids are hormones that occur naturally in your body.
They include sex hormones like estrogen and testosterone as well as cortisone and others.
Synthetic steroids are used as medications.
The most common use is as an anti-inflammatory.
Yes, most of the time Cushing’s can be cured.
It may take a while for your symptoms to go away completely, though.
You may also be left with related health problems, such as diabetes or depression.
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