Do you feel stressed, sluggish, and exhausted after a long day at work? If so, chances are that your body is producing too much of the hormone cortisol. Cortisol has been linked to disrupted sleep patterns, increased appetite, irritability, and fatigue — all signs of stress affecting our mental and physical health. But does this mean that cortisol is always bad for us? In this blog post, we will explore whether or not cortisol can be beneficial in certain situations and what areas it could have adverse effects most commonly. We’ll further look into how to control excessive levels of cortisol naturally to bring balance back into our lives!
What is Cortisol?
Cortisol is a hormone produced in the human body by the adrenal glands and can be considered a signaling hormone integral to the body’s normal functioning. It has multiple functions, including regulating blood pressure, metabolism, and inflammation responses and helping to regulate mood, energy levels, and sleep. Cortisol is known as a ‘stress hormone’ since increased or abnormally high levels can occur either in response to physical or psychological stress.
Good Effects of Cortisol
Regulation of Stress Response
Our bodies naturally regulate our stress responses to help us cope with life’s challenges. In particular, cortisol is a hormone that plays an important role in regulating the body’s stress response system. Under normal circumstances, cortisol has several beneficial effects, including providing energy for physical activities, reducing inflammation, and assisting memory and cognitive function. Unfortunately, chronic or excessive cortisol levels can affect the body if left unchecked. To keep healthy and functioning optimally, it is important to maintain balanced cortisol levels through lifestyle changes such as proper diet, exercise, and relaxation techniques. Through these proactive methods, we can ensure that cortisol levels are consistent and remain within a desirable range that maximizes its positive advantages while minimizing any negative ones.
Production of Glucose for Energy
Cortisol, a hormone released in response to stress, plays a vital role in the body’s ability to convert stored energy into glucose efficiently. This is an important function because glucose is necessary for producing ATP, a molecule that functions as fuel for cells throughout the body. During stress or strenuous exercise, cortisol helps increase glucose levels so the body has enough fuel to support its current needs. Cortisol can also be beneficial in speeding up the metabolism, enabling it to reduce sugar and fat levels more quickly. Increasing glucose production, cortisol may help aid weight loss and produce improved physical performance during exercise. Ultimately, cortisol is essential for regulating energy use and giving us enough juice to go through arduous activities.
Anti-inflammatory Properties
Cortisol is long known for its anti-inflammatory properties. In small amounts, cortisol can help reduce inflammation in joints by inhibiting immune cells from releasing causes of pain and damage. It can also help protect tissue from further injury, and lower stress levels which public health experts report is attributed to many health benefits. While large amounts over time have been known to have harmful effects, taking steps to limit exposure while allowing small regular doses as our bodies naturally produce cortisol can benefit both the short and long term.
Negative Effects of Excess Cortisol
Blood Sugar Imbalances
High cortisol levels due to chronic stress can cause imbalances in blood sugar levels. When the body is exposed to long-term stress, it tries to restore balance by releasing excess cortisol into the bloodstream. This causes errors in how cells respond to insulin and can result in a rapid spike followed by a plunge in glucose levels. Low blood sugar levels cause lethargy, headaches, irritability, confusion, lightheadedness, and trembling. It is important for those experiencing high amounts of stress to seek treatment from their healthcare provider so that the resulting imbalances can be properly addressed and managed through lifestyle changes or medication.
Suppressed Immunity
Suppressed immunity is one of the negative effects of excessive cortisol, a hormone often released in response to stress. Prolonged or chronically elevated cortisol levels can significantly impact immune system functioning and make an individual more susceptible to illness. A weakened immune system may make it difficult for the body to efficiently fight off infection or other foreign bodies, leading to further health issues. To help guard against this, it’s important to know the signs suggesting prolonged exposure to elevated cortisol levels has occurred, including insomnia, memory loss, and difficulty concentrating on tasks. Additionally, avoiding situations that may trigger excess cortisol production can be beneficial. Such situations may include chronic stress, inadequate rest, poor diet choices, and lack of physical activity.
Anxiety, Depression, and Mood Changes
Excess cortisol in the body can cause anxiety, depression, and other negative mood changes. Cortisol is a hormone that assists us in managing stress – too much of it can lead to an assortment of problems, including altered brain function, weakened immune system, abnormal weight gain or loss, and “burnout” when trying to meet daily responsibilities. Fortunately, many steps can be taken to help combat excess cortisol in the body and reduce its potentially negative effects on your health. Exercise has been shown to reduce cortisol levels, while yoga and relaxation techniques have been shown to assist with mental well-being. Eating smaller meals throughout the day can also result in lower cortisol levels while ensuring adequate restorative sleep each night allows the body to reset itself naturally. If anxiety or depression persists despite lifestyle modifications, seeking help from a physician or mental health professional is always recommended.
Conclusion
As you can see, cortisol has pros and cons depending on the situation. Too much or too little of anything is seldom good, which also goes for this stress hormone. In general, however, a moderate cortisol level is necessary to maintain proper mental and physical health. So if you are concerned that your levels might be out of whack, talk to your doctor to get their professional opinion.
References
Thau. (2022, August 29). Physiology, Cortisol. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30855827/
Thau, L., Gandhi, J., & Sharma, S. (2022, August 29). Physiology, Cortisol. Nih.gov; StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538239/
