CORTISOL

Cortisol is a steroid hormone that your adrenal glands (the glands on top of your kidneys) make. Cortisol affects several aspects of your health and helps regulate your body’s response to stress. High or low levels of cortisol can impact your health.

WHAT IS CORTISOL?

Cortisol is a hormone your adrenal glands make a release,It's a glucocorticoid, a type of steroid hormone.

You may mainly think of cortisol when it comes to stress.But it’s an essential hormone that

affects almost every organ and tissue in your body. It plays many other important role including:

Cortisol receptors -- which are in most cells in your body -- receive and use the hormone in different ways. Your needs will differ from day to day. For instance, when your body is on high alert, cortisol can alter or shut down functions that get in the way. These might include your digestive or reproductive systems, your imune system , or even your growth processes.

Too Much Stress

After the pressure or danger has passed, your cortisol level should calm down. Your heart, blood pressure, and other body systems will get back to normal. But what if you’re under constant stress and the alarm button stays on?

It can derail your body’s most important functions. It can also lead to a number of health problems, including:

Anxiety

Headaches

Heart disease

Memory and concentration problems

problems with digestion

Trouble sleeping

Weight gain

Too Much Cortisol

A nodule (mass) in your adrenal gland or a tumor in the brain’s pituitary gland can trigger your body to make too much cortisol. This can cause a condition called cushing syndrome it can lead to rapid weight gain, skin that bruises easily, muscle weakness, diabetes, and many other health problems

Too Little Cortisol

If your body doesn’t make enough of this hormone, you have a condition doctors call Addison’s disease. Usually, the symptoms appear over time. They include:

changes in skin

being tired all the time

muscle weakness that grows worse

diarrhea, nausea and vomiting

loss of appetite and weight

low blood pressure

To re-regulate cortisol levels, you should reduce stress through relaxation techniques and engaging in fulfilling activities, prioritize consistent, quality sleep, and adopt a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains while limiting caffeine, alcohol, and unhealthy fats. Regular moderate-intensity exercise, such as brisk walking or cycling, can also help, but avoid overtraining, which can increase cortisol. 

yoga

mindful practice

regular massages

breathing exercises

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