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Information on Cortisol

A steroid hormone produced by the adrenal cortex, cortisol has many important functions in the body. Although beneficial in the right amounts, high or low cortisol levels result in health problems.

  1. Function

    • An essential hormone, cortisol plays key roles in assisting immune function, regulating blood pressure, enabling glucose metabolism and inhibiting inflammation in the body.

    Levels

    • Cortisol levels rise and fall during the day in a 24-hour cycle. Typical patterns show higher levels in the mornings and lower levels in the evenings.

    Synthetic Cortisol

    • Used to treat inflammatory conditions such as asthma, lupus and arthritis, synthetic cortisol---also known as cortisone or corticosteroids---has many medicinal uses. However, continued use of corticosteroids may result in risky side effects such as osteoporosis and weight gain.

    Considerations

    • Physical and emotional stresses temporarily increase cortisol levels in the body. Women taking synthetic hormones or birth control pills also have elevated levels of the hormone.

    Significance

    • While short bursts of cortisol enable the body to better adapt to stress, chronic high cortisol creates many health issues. Elevated levels of the hormone due to long-term stress may lead to blood sugar imbalances, diabetes, depression and impaired memory. On the other hand, low cortisol levels pose challenges in the form of low blood pressure, fatigue and reproductive problems.

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