How Cortisol affects your health

What is Cortisol?

It is a glucocorticoid hormone produced by the adrenal glands. The adrenal glands are small glands located above the kidneys. Hormones are chemicals that coordinate the body's various functions by transporting blood to our organs, skin, muscles, and other tissues. Hormones tell the body what to do and when to do it. Glucocorticoids are a type of steroid that suppresses inflammation, controls metabolism in muscle and fat, liver and bone, and affects the human sleep-wake cycle. It is one of the main hormones that affects most of the body's organs, as all body tissues contain glucocorticoid receptors, which makes cortisol have a direct effect on most of the body's systems, such as:

• The immune system.
• Nervous system.
• Respiratory system.
• The reproductive system in men and women.
• Cardiovascular system.
• The integumentary system, which includes the skin, hair, and nails.
• Musculoskeletal system.

This hormone performs several functions, including:

• Regulating the body's response to stress.
• Boosting the body's immunity and reducing inflammation.
• Helping the body control the consumption of fats, proteins, and carbohydrates and managing the body's metabolism.
• Regulating blood sugar levels.
• Regulating blood pressure.
• Controlling the sleep-wake cycle.

The body constantly monitors cortisol levels to maintain normal levels, as high or low levels of this hormone may directly harm health.

Symptoms of high cortisol

• The increase in the size of the face, where the face becomes round, which is known as the cortisol face or moon face.
• Weight gain is concentrated around the abdomen and back.
• The appearance of acne.
• Thinning of the skin.
• Easy bruising.
• Slow recovery from illness.
• Irritability.
• Extreme fatigue and exhaustion.
• Muscle weakness.
• Constant headache.
• High blood pressure.
• Difficulty concentrating.

Causes 

1| Stress

Stress triggers several signals in the body from hormones and nerves. These signals cause the adrenal glands to produce adrenaline and cortisol. As a result, the heart rate and energy levels increase as part of the fight or flight response, which is the body's way of dealing with stress and anxiety; this response helps the body prepare for potential dangers. Cortisol also reduces functions considered non-essential in situations that require the fight-or-flight response. Hormones usually return to normal levels, and body functions return to normal after the danger or threat that caused the increased stress has passed. But when you are exposed to continuous stress, cortisol levels do not decrease, and the body remains in a state of fight or flight response. Prolonged exposure to stress and the constant rise in cortisol and other stress hormones negatively affect all body functions, which makes the body more susceptible to serious health problems such as heart and cardiovascular diseases, lung diseases, obesity, anxiety disorders, depression, and others.

2| Pituitary gland problems

The pituitary gland is located at the base of the brain and is sometimes called the “master gland” because it monitors and controls many of the body’s functions through the hormones it produces. When the pituitary gland is affected by a problem, it will increase or decrease the production of hormones, including ACTH, which affects cortisol levels. The most prominent issues that affect the pituitary gland and cortisol levels are:

• Benign tumors of the pituitary gland.
• Hyperactivity of the pituitary gland.
• Pituitary gland cancer.
• Adrenal gland tumors, which may be benign or malignant and come in different sizes, affect the effectiveness of the adrenal gland and cortisol levels.

3| Side effects of some medications

Some medications cause cortisol levels to rise. Some studies have shown that some birth control pills affect cortisol levels in the blood. In addition to some corticosteroid medications used to treat asthma and arthritis, some types of cancer and other diseases may cause high cortisol levels when consumed in large quantities for an extended period. It is worth noting that you should not stop taking any medication prescribed by your doctor without consulting him. If you are taking these medications, talk to your doctor, share your concerns, and ask all your questions to make sure you are taking the appropriate dose for a limited period.

Treatment 

• In the case of Cushing's syndrome, which means having very high levels of cortisol, appropriate drug treatment must be undertaken.
• Get enough hours of sleep.
• Exerciseess regularly.
• Try to reduce stress by changing your thoughts and practicing relaxation techniques.
• Practice deep breathing.
• Self-care.
• Maintaining healthy relationships with family and friends.
• Doing a fun hobby.

Low cortisol

While everyone talks about the dangers of high cortisol, low cortisol is often overlooked. Not producing enough cortisol can lead to Addison's disease, the most common symptoms of which are:

• Feeling constantly tired.
• Skin changes, such as skin folds turning darker.
• Digestive problems such as nausea, diarrhea, and constipation.
• Muscle weakness.
• Loss of appetite and weight.
• Low blood pressure.
• Low cortisol can be treated with medications prescribed by a doctor.

Causes 

Primary adrenal insufficiency is an immune reaction where the immune system attacks healthy cells in the adrenal gland, causing Addison's disease. This insufficiency may also be caused by bleeding into the adrenal gland.

Secondary adrenal insufficiency, which occurs due to an underactive pituitary gland or a tumor in the pituitary gland, affects the adrenocorticotropic hormone ACTH, decreasing cortisol levels.

Suddenly stopping corticosteroids after taking them for a long time.

To sum up,

High cortisol levels for an extended period can have long-term adverse effects on health. When high or low cortisol symptoms appear, you should see a doctor, have a blood test to check your levels of this hormone, and get a treatment plan if the hormone level is abnormal. Cortisol is also known as the stress hormone, so it is essential to control stress to avoid health problems that may be difficult to treat later.