Cortisol is a hormone produced by the adrenal glands that is released during periods of increased agitation, such as when waking up or exercising, for example. However, the highest amounts of this hormone are produced during times of high stress, hence being known as the stress hormone.
During these periods, the adrenal glands also produce adrenaline and noradrenaline which, together with cortisol, cause some changes in the body, such as:
- Increased heart rate: it causes the heart to pump more blood, increasing the amount of oxygen in the muscles;
- Increased blood sugar levels: increases the amount of energy available in the body;
- Decreased insulin production: it prevents the sugar from being stored and can be used more quickly by the muscles;
- Narrowing of blood vessels: It forces the heart to work harder, increasing the amount of blood in the tissues.
These changes when they arise for a short time are good and facilitate quick decision making, being a normal and natural response of the body to help in solving the problem that is causing stress.
However, when stress is constant, cortisol levels stay high for a long time and can cause many types of health problems.
Consequences of high cortisol
High cortisol is very common in people suffering from chronic stress because the body is constantly producing the hormone to leave the body ready to resolve stressful situations that end up not being resolved.
In these cases, changes caused by the cortisol organism remain for a long time and can cause serious problems like:
- High blood pressure and heart disease: they arise due to the constant increase of the heart rate and the constriction of the blood vessels;
- Increased abdominal fat: Decreased insulin production, in the long run, leads to excessive fat accumulation in the abdominal region;
- Diabetes: Due to the constant increase in blood sugar level caused by cortisol.
In addition, excessive stress and increased cortisol also lead to a decrease in the immune system, facilitating the emergence of colds, flu and other types of infections.
