Cortisol is a hormone produced by your adrenal glands. This hormone is necessary for survival. It is responsible for energy metabolism and is critical in the management of stress. Consider when quick responses are important for saving your life (i.e., jumping out of the path of a car). Cortisol is produced in quick bursts and then naturally recedes.
Increased levels of cortisol during stress are normal, but when cortisol levels are too high the impacts can be dramatic. Chronically high levels of cortisol can cause:
- Weight gain
- Excessive sweating
- Hypertension
- Easy bruising
- Thinning of the skin
- Stretch marks
- Hump-back fat deposits
- Insomnia
- Mood disorders, including depression and anxiety
On the other hand, inadequate levels of cortisol levels are not healthy either. The most common symptoms experienced with low cortisol levels are:
- Fatigue
- Muscle pain
- Muscle weakness
- Joint pain
- Weight loss
- Hypotension
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Mood changes
Cortisol levels can be affected by many conditions, such as physical or emotional stress, strenuous activity, trauma, and infection. Hormone replacement therapy that focuses on cortisol levels brings your stress response back into balance.