A highly specialized and precisely calibrated series of hormones drives your body. Hormones are chemical messengers the body uses to relay information from one organ to another so they can work together to support optimal body function.
But sometimes, these hormones can fall out of balance. Especially in times of stress or when dealing with an infection, a hormone called cortisol can increase and become problematic.
[See: Questions to Ask an Endocrinologist]
What Is Cortisol?
“Cortisol is a steroid hormone that is made from cholesterol in the adrenal glands,” explains Dr. Jessica Chan, an endocrinologist with Providence Mission Hospital in Orange County, California. The adrenal glands, also called suprarenal glands, are small triangular structures that sit on top of each kidney and help regulate metabolism, the immune system and other functions through the manufacture and release of hormones, including cortisol.
“Cortisol has several functions, but it primarily mediates the stress and inflammatory responses and plays a role in metabolism and the immune system,” Chan says.
For example, if you develop an infection in the body, “this will signal a cascade of pathways that will lead to the adrenal glands releasing cortisol to assist the body in fighting off that infection,” Chan says. These pathways are a series of chemical interactions that tell the adrenal glands to make and release cortisol.
Because of this critical role it plays in keeping your immune system and metabolism running normally, “cortisol is one of the most important hormones in the body,” says Dr. Luma Ghalib, an associate professor and medical director of the pituitary clinic at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus. “It helps us deal with the stressful times of our life,” whether that stress is from an infection or an emotional trigger, such as a tough day at work or a fight with a loved one.
Normal cortisol levels can vary significantly depending on several factors, including:
— Time of day.
— Levels of stress.
— Underlying conditions, such as anxiety and depression.
“In general, cortisol tends to be higher in the morning and lower at bedtime. It’s the hormone that helps us wake up in the morning, and the lower trend at night helps us to unwind and sleep,” Ghalib says.
[See: Tips to Manage Stress at Work.]
Is Your Cortisol Level Too High?
It’s perfectly normal for cortisol levels to spike sometimes in response to stressful situations. There are some instances, however, when cortisol levels rise too high and stay elevated chronically as part of a disease process called Cushing’s syndrome.
Cushing’s can be caused by a tumor on the pituitary gland or adrenal glands. The pituitary gland is a tiny, pea-sized structure deep inside the brain that regulates the endocrine system. The pituitary gland makes adrenocorticotropic hormone, also called ACTH or corticotrophin, which helps your body respond to stress by stimulating the adrenal glands to produce cortisol.
Sometimes, a tumor can develop on the pituitary gland that causes it to malfunction; these tumors can produce too much ACTH, which stimulates the adrenal glands to make more cortisol than they should. In these cases, the condition is called Cushing’s disease.
Symptoms of Cushing’s syndrome and the high levels of cortisol it causes may include:
— Excessive weight gain, especially in the midsection and often with a characteristic fatty hump that develops on the upper back between the shoulders.
— A round, flushed face.
— Low blood pressure.
— High blood sugar or new-onset diabetes.
— Worsening hypertension.
— Thinning or darkening of the skin and easy bruising.
— Purple stretch marks on the breasts, arms, abdomen and thighs.
— Hirsutism, or more visible body and facial hair.
— Muscle wasting and weakness.
— Recurrent infection and slow healing.
— Acne.
— Severe fatigue.
— Mood swings.
— Cognitive difficulties.
— Headaches.
— Bone loss and fractures.
— Decreased sex drive and erectile dysfunction.
— Fertility problems and irregular or absent menstrual periods.
“Depending on the situation, your doctor will need to evaluate the cortisol level and determine if it is within the normal range,” Chan says.
[See: Ways to Boost Your Immune System.]
How to Lower Cortisol Levels
Chan says there aren’t ways to alter the levels of cortisol in the body because they are “tightly regulated and maintained through a very complex system that involve(s) the pituitary gland and the adrenal glands.”
However, Ghalib says in some circumstances you can support your body in helping it find a healthy equilibrium. “If the high cortisol is triggered by physiological stressors, then yes, there are many ways to help.” These include:
— Eating healthy.
— Keeping a good wake and sleep cycle.
— Exercising.
— Seeking social connections.
— Treating the underlying mood disorder if one exists.
— Changing medications if possible.
Eating healthy
Meeting your body’s nutritional needs without excess unhealthy options, such as processed meats, refined sugars and alcohol, can help keep inflammation throughout the body lower and help reduce stress. The Mediterranean diet is a favorite among dietitians because its balance of nutrients and healthy fats has been shown to help lower inflammation in the body.
Keeping a good wake and sleep cycle
Inconsistent sleep cycles and not getting enough good quality sleep have been linked to inflammation in the body and increased stress. These factors can lead to an increase in cortisol in the body, but practicing good sleep hygiene — meaning waking and going to bed at the same times every day, making your room cool, dark and quiet and prioritizing sleep — can help reduce stress, inflammation and your cortisol levels.
Exercising
Walking, yoga and other forms of movement can help bring down your stress levels while strengthening your body and immune system. Exercise has also been shown to have a dampening effect on the process that stimulates cortisol release.
Seeking social connections
In times of stress, it’s important to lean on loved ones for support; studies have shown that social support can help reduce inflammation and reduce cortisol levels while under stress.
Treating the underlying mood disorder if one exists
Mental health conditions, such as depression and anxiety, can disrupt the body’s delicate hormonal balance and cortisol levels, so getting appropriate treatment for such conditions can help your body get back in balance.
Changing medications if possible
Corticosteroid medications, which are often used to treat a variety of conditions, including asthma, arthritis and autoimmune conditions, can disrupt your cortisol levels. If you take steroids like prednisone, hydrocortisone or dexamethasone in tablet or cream form, Chan says these medications “can increase your body’s cortisol levels. But if you take these medications for a prolonged period of time, it can actually diminish the body’s cortisol synthesis.”
Limits to Lowering Cortisol Levels on Your Own
In general, trying to keep your stress levels low can help your body stay in balance in all things, and that can improve your health overall.
If, on the other hand, your high cortisol level is due to a tumor, then there’s very little that you can do on your own to lower the levels, Ghalib says. “Your doctor needs to work with you to find the source and treat it either surgically or medically.” Removing the tumor may be an option, or taking medications to shrink the tumor or counteract any compounds it may be releasing might help bring your cortisol down to a more normal level.
In all cases, if you’re having symptoms that could be related to high levels of cortisol, it’s best to talk with your doctor, Ghalib says. After taking a medical history and conducting a thorough examination, your doctor may conduct a screening test for Cushing’s syndrome. The options include:
— Measuring the level of cortisol in your urine over a 24-hour period.
— Checking salivary cortisol at midnight.
— Taking a medicine called dexamethasone that suppresses cortisol, and checking how levels of the hormone change via a blood test.
It’s important to check your cortisol levels first thing in the morning — prior to 8 a.m. and while fasting, or before you’ve had anything to eat — as this is when cortisol levels are typically highest.
Low Cortisol Levels
At the opposite end of the spectrum, your cortisol levels can also dip too low. “If cortisol levels are too low, patients can develop adrenal insufficiency,” Chan says. Common symptoms include:
— Fatigue.
— Profound muscle weakness.
— Low blood pressure.
— Very low blood sugar.
The symptoms of low cortisol levels can overlap with those of levels that are too high, so it’s important to see your doctor for an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
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How to Identify High Cortisol Symptoms and Lower Your Cortisol Levels originally appeared on usnews.com
Update 12/26/22: This story was previously published at an earlier date and has been updated with new information.
