While there are more hormones to dive into, I am going to wrap up my series of hormones for now with Cortisol. I may come back later to address the rest.
Cortisol is known as the "Stress" hormone because it responds to physical and emotional stress. It is a Glucocorticoids, a type of steroid hormone that is released from the adrenal glands, which sit on top of your kidneys.
Cortisol Level Fluctuations
In a normal day, your cortisol levels increase just before you wake up. It is the "get up and go" hormone. Your cortisol levels dip in the mid afternoon, which can explain the 3 pm slump a lot of people feel. The levels rise again in the later afternoon. Cortisol is at its lowest around midnight, while you are hopefully sleeping.
When your body experiences stress, it releases a first round of response hormones that trigger the fight/flight/fawn response. Cortisol is then released to help keep your body in an alert state until the danger has passed. This means that if you experience chronic or frequent stress, your cortisol levels will remain high.
When your body is in a flight/flight/fawn response, your body needs extra energy to be on such high alert. Cortisol regulates where sugar in your body goes to maintain those higher energy levels. It is a counterbalance to insulin, signaling a release of sugar from the cells. If you have consistently high cortisol levels you will have high blood sugars.
Cortisol and Inflammation
In short bursts, cortisol decreases inflammation in your body. If you consistently have too much cortisol, then your body gets used to it, and it stops responding as well. The inflammation can actually worsen, and in response, your immune system can weaken, leaving you more vulnerable to disease and illness.
Cortisol and Blood Pressure
High levels of cortisol are linked to high blood pressure, and low levels are linked to lower blood pressure.
Symptoms of high blood pressure include:
Weight gain, especially in your face and abdomen
Wide, purple stretch marks on your abdomen (belly)
Muscle weakness in your upper arms and thighs
High blood sugar, which often turns into Type 2 diabetes
High blood pressure (hypertension)
Weak bones (osteoporosis) and fractures
Symptoms of low cortisol resulting from adrenal insufficiency include:
Fatigue
Unintentional weight loss
Poor appetite
Low blood pressure (hypotension)
For severe cases of cortisol level imbalance like Addison's or Cushing's syndrome, closely watched and regulated medical attention is necessary.
Feeling Chronically Stressed?
If you are feeling chronically stressed in general without severe symptoms, there are ways to regulate your own cortisol levels.
Sleep, again, is the number one way for you body to stay healthy. Good amounts of high quality sleep is essential.
Exercise can help the body burn extra energy and get into a relaxed state.
Laughter and enjoying time with friends puts you in a state of de-stress, or rest and digest.
Medication, acudetox, deep breathing, reading and massage are also ways to get decrease stress levels and regulate your hormone system
If you have any questions about stress, or need help putting together your own plan to regulate your stress, reach out to me through my e-mail at hello@laurenjhealth.com.
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