What is cortisol? How does it affect your body?

You've probably heard the word 'cortisol', especially when talking about 'stress'. But did you know, it's not just a 'stress hormone'? Cortisol is a very important hormone in our bodies. In fact, it affects almost every organ and tissue in our body.

What exactly is cortisol?

Simply put, cortisol is a hormone made and released by your adrenal glands – two small glands located above your kidneys. It belongs to a class of hormones called glucocorticoids , which are steroid hormones.

You might think this is only important for stress. But it's not. Cortisol has many other important jobs to do. For example:

• It controls how our body uses sugar, or glucose , for energy.
• Reduces inflammation in the body.
• Controls blood pressure.
• It helps maintain our sleep-wake cycle.

Our body is constantly monitoring this cortisol level, keeping it at a stable level, that is, in a state of homeostasis . Because whether cortisol levels are high or low, it is not good for our health.

So is cortisol really a 'stress hormone'?

Yes, cortisol actually plays a key role in our body's response to stress. Cortisol is released when you experience any type of stress, such as:

• Acute stress – Think of it like suddenly chasing a dog.
• Chronic stress – for example, ongoing workplace problems or family problems.
• Traumatic stress – like experiencing an unimaginable event.

But, as I said before, cortisol has a lot more to do than just help with stress.

How does cortisol affect my body?

Cortisol affects almost every organ system in our body, and it also helps control several key functions.

Controlling how our bodies respond to stress

When we are stressed, our bodies first release hormones related to the 'fight or flight' response, such as adrenaline . Then cortisol is released. Do you know why? To keep us on the alert. Cortisol also helps our liver release glucose , which is sugar. This is what gives us a quick boost of energy during times of stress.

Metabolism and blood sugar control

Metabolism is simply all the chemical processes that help us live and function inside our bodies. Thousands of such processes occur in our bodies all the time.

Cortisol affects this metabolism by controlling how our bodies use glucose for energy. It does this in a number of ways. For example, cortisol tells our pancreas to reduce insulin production and increase glucagon production. Insulin lowers blood sugar, and glucagon raises blood sugar. Got it?

Not only that, cortisol also affects several other tissues in our body and controls glucose utilization. Among them:

• Adipose tissue – that is, the fat in the body.
• Liver
• Muscle

Suppressing inflammation

In the short term, cortisol can reduce inflammation , which is the swelling and redness in the body, and boost our immunity. However, if your body has high cortisol levels for a long time, your body adapts to it. What can happen is that inflammation increases and your immune system weakens.

Controlling blood pressure

It is not yet clear exactly how cortisol regulates blood pressure in humans. However, if cortisol levels are too high, it can lead to high blood pressure. Similarly, if cortisol levels are too low, it can lead to low blood pressure.

Helping to regulate the sleep-wake cycle

Most people have low cortisol levels when they go to bed at night. Cortisol levels peak just before they wake up in the morning. This shows that cortisol is closely linked to our circadian rhythm , which is the way our bodies work and how we wake up depending on the time of day.

How does my body control cortisol levels?

Our bodies have a very complex system for controlling cortisol levels. Your hypothalamus – a part of your brain – and your pituitary gland – a small gland located at the base of your brain – work together to control the production of cortisol by your adrenal glands. This is how it works:

• When your blood cortisol levels drop, the hypothalamus releases a hormone called corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) .
• This tells your pituitary gland to make adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) .
• Then ACTH goes and tells your adrenal glands to make and release cortisol.

So, to maintain healthy cortisol levels, your hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and adrenal glands all need to function properly.

What causes elevated cortisol levels?

If you have high levels of cortisol in your body for a long time ( hypercortisolism ), it is usually called Cushing's syndrome . Things that can cause high cortisol levels and Cushing's syndrome include:

• Taking high doses of corticosteroid medications, such as prednisone , prednisolone , and dexamethasone .
• ACTH- producing tumors – These usually develop in your pituitary gland.
• Tumors that form in the adrenal glands and produce excess cortisol.

What are the symptoms of high cortisol levels?

When cortisol levels are elevated, which is Cushing's syndrome, symptoms such as:

• Weight gain, especially in the face and abdomen.
• Fat deposits on the back between the shoulders (just like a bull).
• The appearance of wide, purple-colored stretch marks on the abdomen.
• Muscle weakness in the upper arms and thighs.
• Increased blood sugar levels often lead to Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus .
• High blood pressure.
• In women, unwanted hair growth on the body ( hirsutism ).
• Weakening of the bones ( osteoporosis ) and fractures can occur.

Look, don't panic just because you have one or two of these symptoms. But if you feel like you have several of these things, it's best to see a doctor.

What causes low cortisol levels?

Doctors call adrenal insufficiency, which occurs when cortisol levels are lower than normal ( hypocortisolism ). There are two types of this: primary and secondary.

Primary adrenal insufficiency often occurs when your own immune system attacks your adrenal glands. This is also called Addison's disease . Cortisol can also decrease if the tissues of the adrenal glands become infected or if blood flow to them is blocked.

Secondary adrenal insufficiency occurs when your pituitary gland is not working properly ( hypopituitarism ) or if you have a pituitary tumor. These conditions limit ACTH production, which in turn limits cortisol production. Also, your cortisol levels can drop if you suddenly stop taking corticosteroid medications.

What are the symptoms of low cortisol levels?

When cortisol levels are low, which is adrenal insufficiency , symptoms such as:

• Constantly feeling tired and exhausted (Fatigue).
• Unintentional weight loss.
• Loss of appetite.
• Low blood pressure.

When should I see a doctor about my cortisol levels?

If you have symptoms that suggest you have Cushing's syndrome or adrenal insufficiency , be sure to see your doctor. Don't delay.

Also, if you have a problem with daily stress, talk to your doctor about ways to manage it. You may be able to get some help.

How can I lower my cortisol levels?

If you have a condition like Cushing's syndrome , you will need medical treatment to lower your cortisol levels. This usually involves either medication or surgery.

However, there are several ways to help control our cortisol levels in general, especially when cortisol levels increase due to stress:

• Get a good, restful night's sleep. Problems like insomnia and working night shifts can increase cortisol levels. Try to get at least 7-8 hours of sleep a day.
• Move your body and exercise. Regular physical activity improves sleep and reduces stress. Walking for at least 30 minutes a day is also good.
• Do deep breathing exercises. Breathing exercises that control your breathing stimulate our parasympathetic nervous system – our 'rest and digest' system. This helps to reduce cortisol levels.
• Be happy, laugh. When you laugh, endorphins , the happy hormones, are released, and cortisol levels are reduced. Participating in fun activities also improves mental well-being.
• Maintain good, healthy relationships. Constantly problematic and stressful relationships can often lead to stress. Therefore, it is important to maintain good relationships with good friends and family.

Finally, take-home message:

When we hear the word cortisol, many people think it's a bad thing. But, it's actually an essential hormone that affects many aspects of our bodies. There are many ways to help reduce stress and control our cortisol levels. However, sometimes cortisol levels can become abnormally high or low, which is beyond our control.

If you have symptoms of high or low cortisol levels, it's important to see a doctor. They can run a few simple tests to determine if your adrenal glands or pituitary gland are responsible for these symptoms. Remember, the sooner you catch it, the easier it is to treat.

So, take care of your body, and don't be afraid to seek medical advice if you notice anything unusual or different. Stay healthy!

` Cortisol, stress, hormones, adrenal glands, Cushing's syndrome, Addison's disease