Stress Hormone and Management
Signs of High Cortisol
When cortisol levels stay too high, you might experience a range of unwanted symptoms. Higher and more prolonged levels of cortisol in the bloodstream (such as those associated with chronic stress) have been shown to have negative effects, such as:
- Blood sugar imbalances such as hyperglycemia
- Decreased bone density3
- Decreases in muscle tissue
- Higher blood pressure
- Impaired cognitive performance
- Increased abdominal fat
- Lowered immunity and inflammatory responses in the body, slowed wound healing, and other health consequences
- Suppressed thyroid function
These negative effects also often come with their own consequences. For example, increased abdominal fat is associated with a greater amount of health problems than fat deposited in other areas of the body. Some of the health problems associated with increased stomach fat include an increased risk for heart attacks, strokes, metabolic syndrome, higher levels of “bad” cholesterol (LDL), and lower levels of “good” cholesterol (HDL).4
Chronic high cortisol levels can also lead to a condition known as Cushing syndrome. Causes can include adrenal tumors or the prolonged use of glucocorticoids.5 Symptoms of Cushing syndrome can also include high blood sugars with increased thirst and urination, osteoporosis, depression, and more frequent infections
Impact of Cortisol
Cortisol levels naturally fluctuate at different times in the day. For example, normally, cortisol is present in the body at higher levels in the morning, and at it is lowest at night. The cycle repeats daily.
Cortisol levels can also fluctuate based on what a person is experiencing. For instance, although stress isn’t the only reason that cortisol is secreted into the bloodstream, it has been termed “the stress hormone” because it’s also secreted in higher levels during the body’s stress response and is responsible for several stress-related changes in the body.
Small increases of cortisol have some positive effects:
- A quick burst of energy for survival reasons6
- Heightened alertness
- A burst of increased immunity
- Helps maintain homeostasis in the body
Some people experience a greater spike in cortisol than others when they experience stress. It is also possible to minimize the amount of cortisol you secrete in response to stressors. Stress management techniques are one way that you can manage how you experience stress and possibly reduce cortisol levels in your body.
MANAGEMENT
To keep cortisol levels healthy and under control, the body’s relaxation response should be activated after the fight or flight response occurs.7 You can learn to relax your body with various stress management techniques, and you can make lifestyle changes in order to keep your body from reacting to stress in the first place.
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