The Effects of Stress and High Cortisol on the Body

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Have you heard that it’s possible to have too much of a good thing? Even Shakespeare wrote about it as far back as the 16th Century. This idiom tells us that although something may be good, too much of it can negatively affect our lives. This idea holds true when discussing stress and cortisol.

Stress is a part of life. While some is beneficial — like the kind that pushes you to meet a deadline — frequent or long-lasting stress can take a real toll on your health. Too much stress negatively impacts your body, mood and emotional well-being. In fact, it can play a role in aggravating, or even causing, countless health problems, including high cortisol levels.

High cortisol and stress can affect the body in more ways than one. Keep reading to learn more, treatment options and how to manage it.

The Basics of Cortisol

Cortisol is a hormone naturally produced by our adrenal glands, which sit on top of the kidneys. While it’s widely known as the stress hormone, cortisol affects many aspects of our health other than regulating stress, including:

  • Assisting our sleep-wake cycle
  • Decreasing inflammation
  • Regulating blood pressure
  • Regulating how the body uses glucose for energy

Our cortisol levels naturally fluctuate throughout the day, with it being highest in the morning. When our adrenal glands secrete cortisol into the bloodstream, it triggers the release of an energy source known as glucose. Our brains become enhanced by this energy source, and it slows down nonessential functions to support our bodies' “fight-or-flight” response when we’re under stress. As we go about our day, cortisol levels drop to regulate our sleep cycle. But sometimes, cortisol levels remain high throughout the day, which can become a concern.

What Causes High Cortisol Levels?

Stress and cortisol are closely linked, with one often accompanying the other. So it’s no surprise that the primary cause of high cortisol levels is chronic stress. But there are other factors to consider, like hypercortisolism, better known as Cushing syndrome. This hormonal disorder is caused by prolonged exposure to cortisol, often brought on by adrenal gland tumors. Other causes of high cortisol include pituitary gland issues, medication side effects and lack of sleep.

Symptoms of Stress and High Cortisol

Although cortisol is a natural hormone in the body, it’s possible to have too much of it. Symptoms of high cortisol levels include:

  • Diabetes
  • Fatigue
  • Fatty deposits between the shoulder blades
  • Hirsutism in women
  • Hypertension
  • Muscle weakness
  • Osteoporosis
  • Stretch marks
  • Weight gain

Some of the most common symptoms of chronic stress include:

  • Change in appetite (increase or decrease)
  • Chest pain
  • Constipation or diarrhea
  • Fatigue
  • Headaches
  • Heartburn
  • Indigestion
  • Insomnia
  • Jaw pain (from clenching your jaw or grinding your teeth)
  • Missed periods for women
  • Muscle stiffness and pain
  • Rapid breathing and heartbeat
  • Sexual dysfunction; loss of interest in sex
  • Trembling hands or lips
  • Upset stomach
  • Weight loss or gain that is not explained by lifestyle changes

Stress can have such a widespread effect that it would be impossible to list all the ways it can show up in your body.

How Stress Affects the Body

When you experience a stressful situation, your body gets ready for a life-and-death fight by producing cortisol, which speeds up your heart rate and breathing and gets your muscles ready to run or fight, known as the “fight-or-flight” response.

Chronically elevated levels of “fight-or-flight” hormones can affect just about every system in your body. Some conditions linked to chronic stress include:

  • Autoimmune disorders
  • Cancer
  • Type 2 diabetes
  • Heart disease
  • Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
  • Obesity
  • Stroke

If you’re experiencing unusual levels of stress or are concerned you may have one of these conditions, talk to your primary care provider for the care you deserve.

How to Manage Your Stress and High Cortisol Levels

In severe cases, treatment for high cortisol can include surgery to remove one or both of your adrenal glands or a pituitary gland tumor. However, you can help get rid of high cortisol levels and stress in other noninvasive ways. Consider the following:

  • Breathing deeply and slowly (into your belly, not your chest)
  • Eating a well-balanced diet
  • Enjoying your hobbies
  • Getting regular physical activity and exercise
  • Laughing (it doesn’t matter if it’s at silly videos or with a friend)
  • Practicing prayer or meditation
  • Sleeping seven to eight hours a night
  • Spending time with friends and family

Your health care provider may also recommend medications. While some require a prescription, there are natural supplements for high cortisoland stress you can try, like ashwagandha. Research indicates that ashwagandha may lower stress, anxiety and cortisol levels.

Nurturing Your Health in Body, Mind and Spirit

You aren’t alone in navigating elevated stress and cortisol levels. At AdventHealth, we promise to guide you through every step of your healing journey so you can get back to the life you love.

Visit us here to find a doctor near you for the care you deserve. Your whole health is too important to put off another day.

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