Cortisol
Cortisol chemical structure
What is cortisol?
Cortisol, also known as hydrocortisone, is a steroid hormone that regulates many processes in our body. It is also called a stress hormone because it works with the brain to control your moods, motivation, and fear. It is secreted by the adrenal gland and has a vital role in how your body responds to stress.
Effects due to cortisol
How cortisol is produced
Secretion of cortisol depends on three inter-communicating regions of the body; the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and adrenal gland. The hypothalamus and pituitary sense if your blood contains the right level of cortisol, and if it’s too low it will adjust the amount of hormones it makes. The hypothalamus releases corticotropin-releasing hormone, which causes the pituitary gland to secrete another hormone, adrenocorticotropic hormone, into the bloodstream. Picking up this signal, the adrenal gland then secretes cortisol. As the cortisol levels rise in the blood, it blocks the hypothalamus and pituitary gland from secreting their hormones. From here, cortisol travels to different parts of the body through the bloodstream. Almost all body cells have receptors for cortisol, and it is involved in a wide range of functions depending on which sort of cell it’s acting upon.
What does Cortisol do?
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High Cortisol levels in the blood
Too much cortisol in the body may be caused by a tumor in the brain that secretes adrenocorticotropic hormone and can cause Cushing’s Syndrome. There is a close association between cortisol level irregularities and psychiatric conditions such as anxiety and depression. High cortisol levels in the blood for a prolonged time may cause a lack of sex drive in men and irregular periods in women.
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Low cortisol levels in the blood
Low cortisol levels may be a sign of pituitary or adrenal gland problems that may lead to Addison’s Disease.
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Symptoms and treatment of adrenal fatigue
Affordable and accurate saliva test kit
A blood test can determine high or low cortisol levels in your blood, and your doctor will decide the treatment. Alternatively, you can collect saliva to look at your cortisol profile throughout the day or get a 4 point cortisol test. At Coast to Coast Compounding, we can provide you with an at-home testing kit. Speak with one of our knowledgeable pharmacists or your healthcare provider for more information on using one of these testing kits. Click here for more information on how to get your hormones tested.
