What is Cortisol ?
is often referred to as the primary “stress hormone”. In the body, cortisol is needed to maintain normal physiological processes during times of stress – without cortisol, the body would not be able to respond effectively to stress. With an effective cortisol metabolism, cortisol secretion releases amino acids from muscle, glucose from the liver and fatty acids from adipose tissue into the blood stream for use as energy. Normal cortisol metabolism undergoes a “diurnal rhythm”, meaning that cortisol levels vary throughout a 24-hour period, with the highest levels typically observed in the early morning and the lowest levels in the early hours (about midnight – 2am).
Cortisol is a steroid hormone made in the adrenal glands, which are small glands adjacent to the kidneys. Among its important functions in the body include roles in the regulation of blood pressure and cardiovascular function as well as regulation of the body’s use of proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. Cortisol secretion increases in response to any stress in the body, whether physical (such as illness, trauma, surgery, or temperature extremes) or psychological. When cortisol is secreted, it causes a breakdown of muscle protein, leading to release of amino acids (the “building blocks” of protein) into the bloodstream. These amino acids are then used by the liver to synthesize glucose for energy, in a process called gluconeogenesis. This process raises the blood sugar level so the brain will have more glucose for energy. At the same time the other tissues of the body decrease their use of glucose as fuel. Cortisol also leads to the release of so-called fatty acids, an energy source from
Cortisol is a type of hormone, called a corticosteroid hormone, produced by the body. You may have heard cortisol called the “stress” hormone since it is true that people produce greater levels of it under significant stress and especially during a “fight or flight” reaction. The adrenal gland, which is responsible for producing cortisol, does create it at varied levels throughout the day. You’ll tend to have the most available cortisol in the morning and it wanes as the day progresses. There are a few things that this “stress hormone” does that are very positive. It helps to reduce inflammation, and chemical reproductions of this hormone are called hydrocortisone. Hydrocortisone can be used topically to treat inflammatory skin condition or it can be used in injectable form to reduce inflamed tissue. It’s a very beneficial treatment under many circumstances. Additional benefits of cortisol include its ability to make sure needed sodium is not lost. It can also be helpful in increasing
Cushing’s syndrome, or hypercortisolism, occurs when the body’s tissues are exposed to too much of the hormone cortisol. In a healthy person, cortisol is a hormone pumped out every day by the adrenal cortex. The adrenal glands sit atop the kidneys. Cortisol assists the body to deal with various stresses. It reduces inflammation and immune system function and triggers the breakdown of protein into sugars. The pituitary gland, which lies just beneath the brain, sends the signal that triggers cortisol production, with the peak output occurring around 8 a.m. — as if nature were providing a jolt to get moving. At normal levels, 25 micrograms per deciliter of blood in the morning and about 5 micrograms at night, cortisol is essential to life. It helps regulate blood pressure, energy production, the ability to fight infections and respond to stress. It also seems to keep the immune system in check so that it doesn’t make antibodies that might attack the body’s own tissues. And it seems to bal
Cortisol is a steroid hormone made in the adrenal glands, which are small glands adjacent to the kidneys. The hormone is released in the body during stress; hence is called the “stress hormone.” But cortisol is more than a simple marker of stress levels – it is necessary for the function of almost every part of the body. Cortisol is synthesized from cholesterol and acts through specific intracellular receptors to affect numerous physiologic systems including immune function, glucose counter regulation, vascular tone, and bone metabolism.
