Cortisol is raised - who is to blame and what to do.

Cortisol - a steroid hormone, belonging to the group of glucocorticoids, which are produced in the adrenal cortex. Cortisol is produced in large quantities in the event that the human body is under severe stress, and also if the total level of glucocorticoids in the blood is lowered.

Cortisol in the body performs many different functions, in particular, this hormone stimulates gluconeogenesis, thereby increasing the amount of glucose circulating in the blood. Also, this hormone plays an important role in suppressing the immune system, as well as in the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats and proteins in the human body.

Cortisone is raised quite often during pregnancy, this is normal and is due to the fact that this hormone contributes to the production of surfactant in the fetus at 30 weeks of pregnancy. By the way, quite often the synthetic forms of this hormone are used in the form of a medicament for the treatment of various rheumatic or inflammatory diseases, allergies, as well as Addison's disease.

Normally for humans, the level of this hormone should be slightly elevated in the morning, and by the evening the level of its content in the blood should decrease. Although stress can not be considered the only reason to activate the synthesis of this hormone, it is stress that in most cases causes an increase in its content in the blood, which is good for us. In particular, due to the fact that during stress cortisone is elevated, a person has an additional burst of energy, which is especially necessary in emergency situations, when every second counts. In addition, a small increase in cortisol levels stimulates the body's immune system, dulls pain, significantly improves brain function, allowing him to memorize significantly more information, and it helps maintain normal homeostasis throughout the body.

It is necessary to understand that all these changes can be useful only if the increase in cortisol in the blood occurs periodically, that is, if after stress the body rests and the level of hormone content decreases. If the rest of the body does not get it, then cortisol will gradually reverse, that is, a pathological effect. In particular, first of all, the brain will suffer, namely its cognitive abilities. Also, if cortisol is elevated quite often, muscle mass and bone density decrease significantly, thyroid activity decreases and blood pressure rises.

It's pretty easy to protect yourself from the negative effects of such a "stress hormone" like cortisol. How to lower its content in the blood, can teach at any seminar on relaxation - it is necessary to learn independent ways of relaxation, do physical exercises and generally enjoy life more.

But there are also situations in which the pathological synthesis of cortisol is not related to the emotional state of the patient. In particular, with some types of pathologies. In the event that cortisol is elevated, this hormone reduces the amount of collagen in the skin, and also reduces the secretion of histamine. In addition, cortisol strongly affects the reproductive system of the body and with a significant and prolonged increase in its content in the blood can cause miscarriage in pregnant patients. Fertile function returns to normal after the level of the hormone in the blood decreases.

Cortisol can be increased in the following types of diseases:

• Cushing's syndrome

• Adrenal tumor

• Syndrome of ectopic synthesis of ACTH

  Cortisol lowered can be with the following types of diseases:

• Hypopituitarism

• Addison's disease

  During the research that will help determine the amount of cortisol in the blood, it is necessary to take into account the fact that its intake in the blood can be affected by the intake of various drugs. In particular, cortisol is increased after taking birth control pills or other drugs that contain various estrogens.