What is cortisol responsible for?
Cortisol is a hormone that has gotten a bad rap. Thus, it is often blamed for insomnia, fat accumulation and the destruction of muscle mass. The hormone does have this effect, but only if it is produced in too large quantities. In moderation, it is vital for our body. Its main task is to adapt the body to changing environmental conditions.
Cortisol performs several important functions in our body:
- regulates blood glucose levels;
- supports the nervous system;
- activates brain activity;
- controls blood pressure;
- protects against infections.
It is under the influence of cortisol that gluconeogenesis occurs - the process of glucose formation in the liver. That is, the hormone is responsible for providing the body with the energy necessary for life. In a healthy person, the highest concentration of cortisol is observed in the morning. That is why in the morning we feel cheerful and full of energy. In the evening, hormone production gradually decreases, and with it our productivity drops, we feel tired and quickly fall asleep.
Normally, a healthy adult produces cortisol in amounts ranging from 15 to 30 mg per day.
Hormones - how do they affect well-being and mood?
16.09.2019
hormone is responsible for every mood and emotion . For health, it is necessary to maintain a balance of each of them. Today you will learn what hormones and what they are responsible for.
Serotonin
This hormone is responsible for the production of happiness, good mood, and it also regulates vascular tone and labor. This substance also promotes arousal. blood clotting will improve . And if the level of the hormone decreases significantly, this can lead to various mental illnesses and headaches, productivity will also decrease, and the need for sweets will appear.
You can increase your serotonin levels with the following foods: cheese, dates, tomatoes, cocoa, plums and many others. Artificially increasing the hormone (drug use) can cause death.
Endorphins and dopamine
Endorphins are hormones that promote a good mood and reduce pain. Interesting fact: the structure of endorphins is similar to the structure of various drugs (opiates).
Dopamine also has a positive effect on mood. It is produced in the brain when achieving any goals; this hormone motivates for further success. Dopamine levels rise when you eat your favorite, tasty food. Due to a lack of dopamine, a person may develop apathy. Smoking and alcohol reduce the level of the hormone , and magnesium and zinc raise it.
Estrogen and testosterone
These sex hormones influence the emotional state. Estrogen is a female hormone that contributes to the formation of a female figure during puberty. Low levels of this substance can provoke nervousness, frequent mood swings, tearfulness and aggression. Estrogen is responsible for the appearance of women and changes in the level of this hormone will affect many factors. For example, the condition of your hair and skin may worsen.
Testosterone is a male hormone that influences puberty. But this hormone is important not only for males, but also for women. Due to insufficient testosterone levels, a person becomes soft, sensitive and emotional.
Oxytocin
This substance is called the “love hormone” because it promotes positive feelings towards your partner and children. A sufficient level of oxytocin improves mood, normalizes sleep and calms nerves . Oxytocin also helps breastfeeding mothers release milk. The level of this hormone increases when caring for loved ones or when eating certain foods.
Thyroid hormones
This substance affects the pulse, or rather speeds it up. The hormone also has a significant effect on mood; if thyroid levels decrease, the person will experience apathy, weakness, and reluctance to do anything. Too high a hormone will contribute to a bad mood, overexcitation, rapid fatigue and nervousness.
Published in Endocrinology Premium Clinic
What are the dangers of elevated cortisol levels?
Excessive cortisol levels lead to a number of negative consequences:
- destruction of muscle tissue;
- increased bone fragility;
- accumulation of fatty tissue in the abdominal area, including on internal organs;
- decreased testosterone production;
- weakened immunity;
- indigestion (diarrhea, constipation);
- cardiopalmus;
- insomnia, inability to fall asleep quickly;
- fast fatiguability;
- irritability, aggressiveness;
- malfunctions of the thyroid gland.
With a constant excess of cortisol levels, the risk of developing serious diseases increases significantly, including: diabetes, hypertension, arterial hypertension, osteoporosis, infertility and many others. The main factor that provokes increased production of cortisol is stress. The more often a person is exposed to stress, the higher the level of the hormone. Cortisol is produced not only in response to a real threat, but also to anxious thoughts and experiences, so suspicious and depressed people often face this problem.
The cause of cortisol imbalance can be certain diseases: diabetes mellitus, hyperglycemia, pathologies of the adrenal glands and thyroid gland, obesity. Pregnancy can also be a provoking factor.
An important condition for maintaining normal cortisol levels is maintaining a proper daily routine. If you are active at night and sleep during the day, this disrupts your biological clock and disrupts the production of cortisol.
How to Reduce Cortisol Levels
If cortisol levels are elevated, it is recommended to reconsider your lifestyle and minimize the amount of stress. It is important to be able to relax, let go of anxious thoughts, and tune in to the positive. Meditation, massage, music for relaxation help well.
For proper production of cortisol, healthy sleep of at least 7 hours a day is necessary. You need to sleep in complete darkness and silence. It is advisable to go to bed before 23:00 and ventilate the room well. Moderate physical activity will help normalize hormonal levels. Hiking in the fresh air is beneficial. You need to reconsider your diet so that every meal is accompanied by the consumption of protein. To digest protein, carbohydrates are necessary, they must also be present. It is also important to drink enough water. In the absence of contraindications, this is at least two liters per day.
In addition to the above recommendations, taking adaptogens such as ginseng, Rhodiola rosea, etc. has a positive effect.
Symptoms of elevated cortisol levels are not specific and can be observed in other diseases and disorders; an accurate diagnosis can only be made based on the results of the examination. You can undergo all the necessary examinations and receive consultations from qualified specialists in Volgograd, Volzhsky and Mikhailovka at the DIALINE clinics. If increased cortisol production is confirmed, our specialists will determine the cause of the disorder and select the optimal therapy, taking into account the individual characteristics of the patient. To make an appointment, contact us by phone or through the feedback form on the website. For ease of use of our services, we recommend registering in your personal account.
When do hormone levels increase?
In women, a slight increase in hormone levels can be observed when taking COCs (combined oral contraceptives), as well as during pregnancy. In both men and women, increased testosterone is a consequence of taking anticonvulsants (for example, therapy for epilepsy), as well as during treatment for hyperthyroidism.
An increase in testosterone is a clear signal that allows one to suspect the development of the following conditions in a patient:
- development of adrenogenital syndrome in women;
- the risk of tumor formation in the ovaries in women and testicles in men;
- Itsenko-Cushing's disease ¾ endocrine pathology, in which there is excessive synthesis of ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone) at the level of the brain, which leads to increased activity of the adrenal cortex, where, in particular, testosterone is produced;
- Reifenstein syndrome (male pseudohermaphroditism);
- tumor process in the pituitary gland;
- excessive physical activity of patients;
- in some professional athletes taking steroid drugs.
Increased testosterone ¾ is an important symptom that cannot be ignored. When testosterone increases, the doctor, as a rule, conducts additional diagnostics to find out the reasons for the change in the level of the hormone in the patient’s body.
Preparing for diagnosis. How is the analysis carried out?
At the first stage, the patient receives a referral for research. The document is issued to the person by a gynecologist, endocrinologist, andrologist, reproductologist ¾ doctor to whom the patient turned for advice. However, diagnosis requires careful preparation. This is necessary to increase the accuracy of the study.
For example, it is prohibited to donate blood for testosterone if during the day before the test you performed ultrasound diagnostics, fluorographic examination, or underwent physiotherapeutic procedures. Rectal examination during the day can also distort the results of a blood test.
The patient is obliged to warn the doctor about taking hormonal drugs (for example, if a woman takes combined oral contraceptives as a method of contraception), as well as gel-based substances and ointments. The doctor will decide on the need to temporarily stop taking medications if this does not threaten the patient’s condition. It is allowed to donate blood for testosterone 2 weeks after stopping taking hormonal medications.
24 hours before diagnosis, any physical activity or drinking alcohol is prohibited. In addition, you need to stop smoking and change your diet slightly: do not eat fatty or fried foods the day before the diagnosis. Blood sampling for testosterone levels is carried out in the morning (before 11 am) on an empty stomach. During this period, the amount of the hormone in the blood reaches its maximum value.
In addition, to avoid distortion of the results during the diagnosis (for example, increased testosterone or low testosterone when receiving diagnostic results), it is necessary to stop drinking coffee, stimulating drinks, and also avoid stress and nervous tension 1 hour before the procedure.
Attention! The patient should warn the doctor if his diet differs from the normal diet. For example, followers of vegetarianism or people who exclude certain foods from their diet need to tell their doctor about this in order to correctly interpret the diagnostic result.
Preparing for a blood test for testosterone in women has its own characteristics and depends on the menstrual cycle. It is believed that the collection of biological material should be carried out on days 6-7 of the menstrual cycle. The patient's blood serum is used as diagnostic material. The research method is called enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
