What is Cortisol? Understanding the Hormone and Its Impact

Cortisol hormone is responsible in controlling your motivation, mood, and fear. It plays a crucial role in your body for its smooth day-to-day functioning. Here are some few reasons that prove controlled & balanced cortisol levels are beneficial for your well-being.

• Assists your body navigate how your body uses carbohydrates, proteins, & fats
• Helps in reducing inflammation
• Increases your blood sugar (glucose)
• Regulates your body regulate blood pressure
• Controls your sleep/ wake cycle
• Improves energy to help you restore balance & handle stress

What is Cortisol Hormone?

Cortisol is known as glucocorticoid hormone that is produced by adrenal glands. It acts as a messenger in your body through blood vessels. Glucocorticoids not only affect your sleep-wake cycle but also suppress inflammation in your body. The adrenal glands responsible for releasing cortisol secretion in the body are small, triangle-shaped glands located on the top of each part of the two kidneys.

What does cortisol do

Cortisol is responsible for affecting nearly every organ system in your body.

• Nervous system
• Cardiovascular system
• Immune system
• Reproductive systems (male and female)
• Respiratory system
• Integumentary system (skin, nails, hair, glands, and nerves)
• Musculoskeletal system
• It affects your body in different ways like -
• Managing stress in your body
• Regulating metabolism & improving well-being
• Suppressing inflammation and reducing swelling
• Regulating daily blood pressure
• Helps in controlling your sleep-wake cycle

Causes of High Cortisol

Rise in cortisol levels is completely dependent on the physical and mental well-being of your body. However, there are 3 main reasons why cortisol levels in your body shoot up.

Stress

When you are under stress, a combination of signals in your body is released from nerves and hormones, namely, cortisol and adrenaline. Thus, leading to an increase in heart rate as your body slides down to flight-or-fight response. Long-term exposure to cortisol levels can negatively impact your body’s processes – making you prone to heart disease, obesity, anxiety, lung issues, depression, & more.

Pituitary gland issues

Located at the base of your brain, the pituitary gland helps in controlling many parts of your body’s functions through the release of hormones. Any issue in pituitary gland will lead to the release of ACTH which goes on to trigger the adrenal glands to release more cortisol. Here are some reasons that might cause issues in the pituitary gland.

Physical stress: Pain, surgery, injury, or extreme temperatures.

Metabolic stress: Hypoglycemia or prolonged fasting.

Emotional stress: Fear, anxiety, or psychological trauma.

Adrenal gland tumors

Adrenal glands are situated right on top of the kidney. It is large enough to pressure the organs located nearby. Formation of mass, be it benign or malign, can cause secretion of cortisol levels in the body.

Symptoms of High Cortisol

Some of the common symptoms that indicate high cortisol levels in your body are -

• High blood sugar
• Excessive hair growth
• Weak bones
• Muscle weakness
• Weight gain

Conclusion

High cortisol levels in your body can cause long-lasting, negative impact on your health. So, ensure that the cortisol levels in your body are low. This is where three60 Stress Relief gummies (Previously known as De-Stress & Chill gummies) helps you reduce stress, cortisol levels, & anxiety in your body. Try it today to manage your cortisol levels like a pro and feel good every day!

FAQs

1) What does cortisol do for the body?

Cortisol helps in managing stress in your body, regulating metabolism & improving well-being, suppressing inflammation and reducing swelling, regulating daily blood pressure, & helps in controlling your sleep-wake cycle.

2) What happens if cortisol is high?

If the cortisol levels in your body are high, you might see direct impact on the following parts of your body - nervous system, cardiovascular system, immune system, reproductive systems (male and female), respiratory system, musculoskeletal system, & integumentary system (skin, nails, hair, glands, and nerves).

3) What increases cortisol?

Stress, instability in pituitary gland hormones secretion, & adrenal gland tumors increase cortisol levels in your body.