14 Signals That Indicate An Elevated Cortisol Level
In this article we give you a list of the 14 signals that indicate an increased cortisol level.
What exactly is cortisol? Cortisol is a steroid hormone that is produced in the adrenal cortex. It is an important hormone because its main job is to regulate your immune system. However, if you have too much cortisol in your body, that is not good.
In stressful situations, this hormone causes your glucose level to rise so that your body has enough energy to cope with the situation. It is therefore also called the stress hormone.
Why is too high a cortisol level not good for you?
An excess of cortisol in your body is harmful and can have very negative consequences for your body.
You are probably wondering how cortisol levels can change. One of the main reasons is prolonged stressful situations. The pace of our daily lives, especially in the larger cities, contributes to our feelings of stress. If that stress lasts for a long time, it becomes chronic.
Other Causes of an Elevated Cortisol Level
In addition to stress, there are also other causes that can lead to an increased level of this hormone.
- Infections
- Traumas
- Severe Depression
- Steroid Intake
- Too much physical activity
- Excessive intake of alcoholic beverages
- Disorders of the adrenal gland (in the hypothalamus or pituitary gland)
What are the signs of elevated cortisol levels?
The signals that may indicate that you have an elevated cortisol level are very diverse. However, do you recognize most of the signals in the list below? Then it is necessary to go to the doctor, to rule out or confirm that the cortisol levels in your body are out of balance.
- High bloodpressure
- Osteoporosis
- Feeling of exhaustion
- irritability
- Digestive Problems
- Decrease in muscle strength
- Sudden mood swings
- Sleep problems
- Fluid retention in the eyelids
- Extreme blood glucose levels
- Extreme hair growth on the face
- Stretch marks on the abdominal area
- Localized obesity in the abdominal area
- Fat deposits in the neck
What should you do if you have too much cortisol?
If you recognize yourself in many of the above signals of an elevated cortisol level, it is wise to request a blood test from your doctor. Once the results are in, the doctor will evaluate them with you.
The normal value of this hormone in your blood is between 5 and 20 micrograms per deciliter. Sometimes the value is also indicated in nanomol per litre, with the normal value being between 140 and 550 nanomol/litre.
If your values are higher, you have an elevated cortisol level. The next step is to determine why your cortisol level has risen so much so that your doctor can prescribe an appropriate treatment.
What can you do?
To keep the amount of cortisol in your body at a normal level, we advise you to take the following measures:
- Drink enough. Your body needs a certain amount of fluid per day to function properly.
- Try to sleep 6 to 8 hours straight at night.
- Avoid heavy and excessive amounts of food.
- Avoid caffeinated products (such as soft drinks, energy drinks, coffee and alcohol).
- Exercise regularly, but don’t overdo it.
- Avoid ultra-processed foods, which contain refined sugars and carbohydrates (e.g. pastries, cookies, cakes, some pastas, most candies, etc.)
- Ask your doctor for advice on how best to fall asleep. Maybe he can prescribe you a natural product.
- Find a reliable naturopath and see with him which natural herbs against stress are most suitable for you.
Finally this
One of the ways to prevent high cortisol levels is to ensure that daily stressful situations do not take over. For this it is necessary that you put the following tips into practice:
- Learn breathing techniques and use them too! You will see that it is both emotionally and physically beneficial for you if you take deep breaths every day.
- Meditate every day, or choose a different relaxation technique.
- Pet your pet and play and walk with him. Try to do that at least every day. If you don’t have a pet, consider getting a dog or cat. It really makes a difference!
- Consider taking laughter therapy.
- And finally, try to find distractions from your daily worries. For example, listen to music, watch a nice movie, read a good book, do something fun with your friends or family, or find a new hobby.
