| u been feeling stressed? Feeling tired, irritable, | | | | The Consequences of High Cortisol |
| having memory and concentration issues? | | | | Too much cortisol causes: Abdominal obesity High |
| It could be from too much of the stress hormone | | | | blood sugar (adrenal diabetes) muscle |
| cortisol. Too much cortisol can have a detrimental | | | | wasting Bone loss Immune shutdown Brain |
| effect on your health. What is cortisol and where | | | | (hippocampus) atrophy Poor wound healing Thin |
| does it come from? Cortisol is produced by the | | | | wrinkled skin Fluid retention Hypertension |
| adrenal glands. The adrenal glands are two tiny | | | | Excessive cortisol frequently causes increased: |
| pyramid-shaped pieces of tissue situated right | | | | Fatigue/decreased energy Irritability Impaired |
| above each kidney. Their job is to produce and | | | | memory Depressed mood, decreased libido |
| release certain hormones and chemical | | | | Insomnia anxiety Impaired concentration Crying |
| messengers. Adrenaline is manufactured in the | | | | Restlessness Social withdrawal Feelings of |
| interior of the adrenal gland, called the adrenal | | | | hopelessness |
| medulla. Cortisol, the other chemical from the | | | | Chronically high cortisol may contribute to many |
| adrenal gland, is made in the exterior portion of | | | | diseases, including cancer, ulcers, heart attacks, |
| the gland, called the adrenal cortex. Cortisol, | | | | diabetes, infections, alcoholism, strokes, skin |
| commonly called hydrocortisone, is the most | | | | diseases, psychosis, multiple sclerosis, myasthenia |
| abundant -- and one of the most important -- of | | | | gravis, and possibly Parkinson’s and |
| many adrenal cortex hormones. Cortisol helps you | | | | Alzheimer’s disease . High Cortisol may |
| handle longer-term stress situations. If stress | | | | contribute to obesity not only because of the |
| goes on too long and cortisol levels have stayed | | | | metabolic disruptions (including insulin resistance) |
| too high for too long this can lead to eventual | | | | that it promotes, but also because it induces |
| adrenal fatigue and burn-out. | | | | stress overeating, especially in women. |
| How does stress cause high cortisol? | | | | Is There A Test? |
| The HPA (hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal) axis is | | | | Yes! An Adrenal Stress Index is a simple saliva |
| the neurohormonal regulator of the stress | | | | test that can determine if your cortisol levels are |
| response. The limbic system of the brain triggers | | | | too high or too low. This consists collecting your |
| the hypothalamus to secrete CRH | | | | saliva collection at four times during the day which |
| (corticotropin-releasing hormone) in response to a | | | | determines a diurnal cortisol rhythm. The quicker |
| physical, emotional, or environmental stressor. The | | | | high cortisol levels or adrenal fatigue is discovered |
| CRH then triggers the pituitary gland to secrete | | | | the better your chances are for recovery without |
| ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone), which | | | | more serious health consequences. |
| activates the adrenal glands to produce cortisol | | | | Ways to Reduce High Cortisol: |
| which is then released into the bloodstream. When | | | | 1. Use cortisol reducing supplement: There are a |
| cortisol blood levels become high, the HPA axis | | | | variety of herbs to reduce cortisol at peak times. |
| feedback mechanism turns off the | | | | Some of my favorites include: Seriphos, and |
| corticotropin-releasing hormone which tells the | | | | Calm-PRT. |
| brain and adrenal glands to cut down on cortisol | | | | 2. Eat at regular intervals throughout the day: |
| excretion. Continued stress overrides this | | | | Avoid skipping meals, as this will create a cortisol |
| feedback system leading to continued production | | | | release. |
| of cortisol. You become stuck in alarm mode or | | | | 3. Excessive carbohydrate intake creates cortisol |
| fight or flight. If our exposure to stress is | | | | release in response to constantly elevated insulin |
| only for brief periods, and we have a balance in | | | | levels. Eat complex carbohydrates instead. |
| our life between work and play, get adequate | | | | 4. Utilize stress reduction techniques at peak |
| rest, and have good nutrition, then occasional | | | | cortisol times: meditation, self-hypnosis, or simply |
| stress accompanied by elevated cortisol will not | | | | lying on the floor doing belly breathing for 10-15 |
| be a problem. Yet if the stress becomes chronic | | | | minutes can work wonders at reducing stress and |
| with inadequate nutrition, rest, relaxation and | | | | thus cortisol levels. |
| sleep, then we begin to experience chronic | | | | 5. Get to bed on time. Get at least 8 hours of |
| excessive cortisol levels. | | | | sleep nightly. |
| What Does Cortisol Do? | | | | 6. Avoid stimulants: Stay away from energy |
| Some cortisol is essential for life. Cortisol is | | | | drinks that contain ephedra-like compounds and |
| necessary for normal brain, immune, muscle, blood | | | | caffeine. Stimulants shift the body into |
| sugar function, and blood circulation. In the | | | | sympathetic dominance, or "fight or flight". |
| beginning stages of adrenal fatigue cortisol levels | | | | Stimulants can also disrupt your sleeping patterns. |
| are elevated. As the stress continues and the | | | | If you must drink coffee, be sure that you do |
| adrenal glands further deteriorate cortisol levels | | | | not drink any after 12 noon. |
| begin to decline. Having too little cortisol | | | | 7. Keep your workouts under 1 hour: At the 1 |
| contributes to a new set of problems. Serious | | | | hour mark, your testosterone levels begin to |
| cortisol deficiency such as Addison’s | | | | decline and cortisol levels rise. |
| disease, is a potentially fatal illness. | | | | |