Cortisol is a hot topic these days, especially as many struggle to manage their stress. You may also have heard of the term "cortisol face" or "moon face," which can be attributed to high cortisol levels.
"Cortisol is a hormone produced by the adrenal glands that helps regulate your metabolism, blood sugar, inflammation, blood pressure and sleep-wake cycle," explains Dr. Mark Hyman, co-founder and CMO of Function Health, which offers a cortisol lab test. "It's most known for managing the body's response to stress."
But what exactly does a cortisol imbalance look like, and how does it affect the body? To find out, we consulted doctors for symptoms, causes, when to see a doctor for cortisol testing and how to regulate cortisol.
What is cortisol?
"Cortisol is a hormone produced by your adrenal glands in response to stress," says Dr. Fady Hannah Shmouni, medical director at Eli Health, which sells an instant cortisol test. "When a stressful situation arises, cortisol can help your body prepare to respond by increasing energy, focus or alertness."
Shmouni states that in the short term, your body's cortisol response is necessary and helpful. However, chronic stress can cause cortisol to remain elevated, which can negatively affect your organs, including your brain. For instance, elevated cortisol can disrupt sleep, increase inflammation or impair memory.
Dr. Andy Franklyn-Miller, a dual board-certified sports and exercise medicine physician, adds that cortisol is like your body's built-in alarm system and is often called the "stress hormone."
"Cortisol is part of the glucocorticoid family, and it's released as part of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, your body's stress response headquarters," Franklyn-Miller says. In the morning, your cortisol spikes to help you get moving. At night, it dips to help you rest.
Where the adrenal glands are located. SEBASTIAN KAULITZKI/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY/Getty Images
Symptoms of cortisol imbalance
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