subject: Cortisol Levels [print this page] Cortisol is secreted by the adrenal glands and is actually important for the regulation of blood pressure, the immune system and many other functions. Cortisol can be good in small amounts but high levels can lead to an increase of abdominal fat, which can lead to heart attacks, strokes and can also increase your bad cholesterol levels and decrease your good cholesterol levels.
Stress can be physical, mental, or emotional. Stress stimulates your central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord). In turn, nerve cells, in a region of the brain referred to as the hypothalamus, get excited. They release a protein called corticotropin-releasing-factor or CRF. Now CRF in turn stimulates the anterior pituitary (a gland in the brain) to secrete adrenocorticotropic hormone or ACTH.
Cortisol is produced in the adrenal glands in response to the secretion of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) in the pituitary. Metabolically, cortisol increases the concentration of blood glucose by converting amino acids into carbohydrates (gluconeogenesis), inhibiting glucose uptake, and breaking down lipid stores into adipose tissue (lipolysis).
Chronic stress leads to over stimulation then subsequent hypofunction/ depletion of many hormone producing organs. These include: the adrenal glands, the pituitary glands, the thyroid gland and sex hormone producing organs.
Reishi Mushroom Extract: This herb works to lower cortisol and is particularly useful with individuals who have anxiety. It is very sedative and calming, and has numerous additional benefits, such as being anti-inflammatory.
It weakens your immune system so you'll be more prone to infections than others. That's why people who are suffering from prolonged depression tend to also have other health issues such as acne flare-ups, and persistent coughs and colds.
The adrenal fatigue syndrome is a condition where your adrenal glands are fatigued. Once the adrenal glands are fatigued, your body will get lesser help from the glands. The glands will work much less effectively. One thing that glands will not do anymore is the production of cortisol. These hormones called cortisol are hormones that help your body cope with stress.
Insulin resistance is where your body has produced adequate amounts of insulin to handle the foods you eat, but is unable to absorb the insulin into cells in order to use sugar (carbohydrates) as fuel. It's a rather dastardly problem. You have all this muscle fuel available, but rather than using that fuel.
Cortisol deficiency can cause Addison's disease, which is a potentially fatal illness. Excessive production of cortisol is equally damaging. The Adrenal Stress Index is a saliva test that can determine if your cortisol levels are too high or too low.
This chronic elevation in cortisol is extremely detrimental to your health. It has been linked to, but not limited to, adrenal fatigue, hormonal imbalances, heart disease, excessive blood sugar levels, elevated cholesterol, and pretty much anything else you can think of that stress can create in the human body.
