Your daily stress is related to Cortisol hormone
Written by Dr harold Gunatillake-health writer
Cortisol is a hormone secreted by the adrenal glands sitting on top of your kidneys, and its secretion is related to stressful situations in your daily life. It is also called the stress hormone which helps you to balance your hormones and achieve good health.
Not only stress levels, cortisol seems to help regulate blood sugar levels, metabolism and also reduce inflammation like extinguishing an internal fire. One wouldn’t survive without this fine tune mechanism in our body.
Excess cortisol is secreted even without stress in a condition called Cushing’s syndrome due to a tumour in the adrenal glands or the organ that stimulating it‘s secretion–the pituitary gland.
In Cushing’s syndrome you tend to put on weight in the face, abdomen and the chest. The arms and legs become wasted and slender compared to the core of the body. There is facial flushing, the blood pressure raises and there are skin changes. The bones seem to waste causing osteoporosis.
High cortisol levels in the blood in women can cause diminished libido (less urge to have sex) and changes in the menstrual cycle. It can also cause depression and anxiety.
High levels of cortisol without Cushing’s can cause weight gain, raise you blood pressure, have sleep problems, mood changes and loss of energy. If you have these symptoms see your doctor and have a blood test to check your cortisol level in the blood.
Insomnia could be the first sign of increased blood cortisol. Insomnia also can raise your blood cortisol levels and disrupt your daily hormonal activities.
On the contrary, low cortisol levels can cause a condition called Addison’s disease- considered an auto-immune condition that may cause damage to the adrenal glands. Patients experience fatigue, muscle loss, weight loss and mood swings in this disease.
Exercise: Exercise can increase or decrees your cortisol levels.
Going to the gym for an intense workout increases your cortisol level tremendously. You could feel immediately after exercising how fit and energetic you get. This is due to the high cortisol and also a chemical released by the brain called Endorphins.
Endorphins have the additional pain-relieving effect after injuries. It reacts with the opiate receptors in the brain to reduce our perception of pain and act similarly to drugs such as morphine and codeine.
Exercise seems to diminish your cortisol level whilst sleeping.
Stressful situations increase your cortisol levels to cope with the situation. Mindfulness and concentration on things you do daily may help to reduce stress and cortisol levels.
Those who suffer from cancer should focus on stress levels and controlling stress situations will bring down cortisol levels in your blood which may help to control the cancerous growth. Studies on women with breast cancer showed stress mindfulness training including yoga showed reduced cortisol levels compared to those who did not practice such procedures.
Relaxing is important to control your cortisol levels and keep them within the normal range. Concentration on deep breathing through meditation and body massages seem to control your cortisol levels.
Conclusions: Have a relaxed fun positive life to maintain a normal cortisol level, beneficial to health and longevity.
