Quick Facts
Excessive cortisol can create a broad range of undesirable side effects, including but not limited to:
- Increased abdominal fat, which is associated with a greater amount of health problems than fat deposited in other areas of the body.
- Excess stomach fat is associated with heart attacks, strokes, the development of metabolic syndrome, higher levels of “bad” cholesterol (LDL) and lower levels of “good” cholesterol (HDL)
- Elevated blood glucose which leads to insulin resistance
- High blood pressure
The Cortisol-Stress Connection
Cortisol is a steroid hormone produced in the cortex of the adrenal glands. Cortisol assists you in regulating blood pressure, cardiovascular functions, and your body's use of fats, proteins and carbohydrates. Cortisol is also involved in glucose metabolism, insulin release for blood sugar maintenance, and inflammatory response. Cortisol helps in responding to and coping with stress, trauma and environmental extremes. Normal levels of cortisol increases energy and metabolism and helps regulate blood pressure. Cortisol also enhances the integrity of blood vessels and reducesallergic and inflammatory responses.
Under normal circumstances, your body maintains or regulates your natural cortisol levels. Most healthy adults have a high cortisol level first thing in the morning and a low cortisol level at night. But when you're feeling stressed, your body secretes more cortisol. Cortisol is frequently referred to as the "stress hormone" because it's also secreted in higher levels during the body's fight or flight response to stress. It is also responsible for several stress-related changes in your body.
Small increases of cortisol produce positive effects like improved memory, reduced sensitivity to pain, and increased sustained energy. However, elevated cortisol levels from prolonged or chronic stress can cause side effects such as suppression of thyroid function, cognitive impairment, increased blood pressure, decreased bone density, and blood sugar imbalances. High levels of cortisol can also lower your immunity and inflammatory responses, as well as slow down the wound healing process.
Chronic high concentration of cortisol is toxic to brain cells and can cause short-term memory loss. A lifetime of high cortisol levels may be a primary contributor to Alzheimer's disease and senile dementia. High cortisol is also a primary cause of osteoporosis.
Normally, cortisol levels rise during the early morning hours and are highest about 7 a.m. They drop very low in the evening and during the early phase of sleep. But if you sleep during the day and are up at night, this pattern may be reversed. If you do not have this daily change (diurnal rhythm) in cortisol levels, you may have overactive adrenal glands. This condition is called Cushing's syndrome.
Cortisol test
A cortisol test is done to find problems of the pituitary gland or adrenal glands, such as making too much or too little hormones.
Two blood samples may be taken: one in the morning and another in the afternoon.
