What Are the Effects of Cortisol in Women?

It may be true that women can't seem to just "let it go" but there may be a definitive and biological reason for that. Women aren't simply being contrary when they hang onto an issue. It's in their physical make-up. When women get upset, their cortisol (hormone) level increases as it does with men. However, unlike with men, the cortisol lingers, which makes it more difficult for women to let go of their emotional turmoil.

Lingering High Cortisol Levels

• According to Dr. Marianne Legato (See References 1), cortisol is a stress hormone that is secreted by the adrenal gland. A women's cortisol level, after a big fight or argument, can be sustained for nearly 24 hours, whereas a man's cortisol level rises for about an hour after an altercation and then returns to normal. High cortisol levels can raise a woman's blood sugar and make her feel anxious, unable to sleep and does bad things to the immune system. In other words, a woman's cortisol level lasts much longer than a man's does and this results in very unpleasant side effects for women.

Effects

• If you are experiencing extreme stress, your cortisol levels rise and stay there, according to Medicalnewstoday.com (See References 2). Sustained high levels of the hormone cortisol are not good. It can weaken the immune system and prompt depression. However, it has also been found that, paradoxically, if cortisol is actually given to a person right before a psychologically or physically stressful event occurs that the individual manages her stress better as a result. These findings appeared in the February 2007 issue of Behavioral Neuroscience, which is published by the American Psychological Association (APA). The conclusion is that short spikes in cortisol levels may actually provide protection whereas chronic cortisol hyper-activity, that lasts and lasts, is not beneficial.

Symptoms

• If a woman is under unrelenting stress, as many are, according to Womentowomen.com (See References 3) and Dr. Marcelle Pick, the adrenal glands, which sustain cortisol, are under pressure to keep the level of cortisol up and this can exhaust the adrenal glands. Cortisol can and will damage healthy tissues if it remains too high for too long and women who are stressed out of their minds will start experiencing symptoms such as weight gain, depression, insomnia, foggy brains, cravings for certain foods, mood swings and fatigue. This is what happens when adrenal fatigue occurs, which can lead to even more serious health concerns. Another outcome of continuing high levels of cortisol in a woman's body is that the adrenal glands, which have several functions, can't do their other job, which is to regulate hormones. The adrenal uses estrogen, for example, to make the needed hormones but cortisol also needs estrogen, which means there isn't enough estrogen to go around.

When It's Good, It's Good, When It's Bad ...

• Cortisol, when kept in check, is good, according to Dr. Marcelle Pick. It helps by converting protein into energy, counteracting inflammation in our bodies and by releasing glycogen. The trouble occurs when cortisol goes viral, so to speak, because it will destroy your body.

Get It Under Control

• If day after day, week after week, a woman's life is filled with stress, caused either by external factors that are pretty much out of her control or by her own psychological state, this will impair her mental function and screw up her metabolism. It will make her susceptible to every disease that comes down the pike because her immune system becomes impaired. She won't heal as quickly after an injury and her muscle and bone health will eventually be destroyed. Seek help if your life is spiraling out of control.