If cortisol is elevated in a person’s blood, it is evidence that the body is trying to cope with the influence of certain negative factors, which will be discussed below. Answering the question of what cortisol is, it should be noted that this hormone begins to be actively produced by the body in stressful situations. It is for this reason that it is called the stress hormone. If such situations are repeated with a person constantly, then the level of stress hormone in the blood increases, which is fraught with a number of negative consequences for the body.

Cortisol or, as it is also called by doctors, hydrocortisone is produced by the adrenal glands during physiological or psychological stress. The key element necessary for the production of this hormone is cholesterol. An increased release of cortisol allows you to mobilize all the energy the body needs to resolve an emergency. It is under the influence of hydrocortisone that the level of adrenaline and glucose in the blood increases, and metabolic processes are also stimulated.

As the key functions of hydrocortisone, experts call:

• promoting the metabolic process;
• concentration of forces on stressful circumstances;
• promotes the expansion of the bronchial tract;
• affects the level of blood pressure, contributing to its increase;
• reduces the activity of digestive processes;
• activates the production of glucose in the body;
• speeds up the heart rate.

The suppression of all irrelevant processes occurring in the body at the current time is also ensured due to the release of hydrocortisone. Cortisol in the blood very successfully copes with inflammatory processes and the development of an allergic reaction. After all, these processes interfere with coping with stressful circumstances.

It should also be noted that in the case of the fairer sex, hormones such as prolactin and cortisol are closely interrelated. So, when a stressful situation occurs in women, a simultaneous increase in blood cortisol and prolactin levels is observed.

In turn, with an increased content of prolactin, the process of ovulation is disrupted, which prevents a woman from becoming pregnant. At the same time, such pathological processes as hyperprolactinemia, mastopathy, fibrosis, etc. develop.

Indicators of the norm and possible reasons for deviation from them

If a person is emotionally and physically calm, then the level of the hormone in the blood does not exceed 10 mg. In the event that a person experiences a state of nervous overexertion, then the level of cortisol in the body rises to the level of 80 mg. Under conditions of severe stress, the value of the level of this substance in the blood can rise to 180 mg. As a rule, a similar situation is observed when a person is experiencing a state of shock. Elevated levels of cortisol in the body may be due to internal or functional reasons.

However, the endogenous causes of increased cortisol can be divided into the following groups:

1. The first is the dependent form, when the adrenocorticotropic hormone synthesized by the pituitary gland contributes to a more active work of the adrenal glands, resulting in an increased level of cortisol. This can happen due to: long-term use of artificial substitutes for hormones secreted by the pituitary gland; with the development of Itsenko-Cushing's disease caused by damage to the brain or pituitary gland;
2. The second group should include the so-called independent form, in which the stress hormone exceeds the maximum allowable values. In this case, experts cite the primary form of adrenal hyperplasia, as well as an adenoma or carcinoma of the indicated organ, as causes.

If we talk about the functional reasons for which the hormone cortisol is elevated, then pathologies that can affect its growth in the blood are implied. In this case, we are talking about hypercortisolism, which can cause:

• excess body weight;
• Excess cortisol can also be caused by liver disease;
• development of anorexia nervosa;
• in the representatives of the beautiful half of humanity, a high level of cortisol is quite often observed during the period of bearing a child;
• persistent depression and stress also contribute to the fact that a person's cortisol is higher than normal;
• such a pathological condition as AIDS contributes to the fact that the content of hydrocortisone in the patient's body increases;
• elevated cortisol is also observed in the development of uncompensated diabetes mellitus.

Signs of high cortisol

If you try to highlight the signs of an increased content of hydrocortisone in the body, then this should include:

• unreasonable state of stress;
• symptoms of elevated cortisol are also manifested in excessive irritability;
• in such patients, a disturbed metabolic process is noted;
• if cortisol is elevated, then the endocrine gland is depleted. As a result, there is a decrease in the production of other hormones that are very important for the normal functioning of the body;
• to explain why the destruction of the protein mass in the human body and the muscles perceive the pain syndrome more, it is also possible with a high level of stress hormone;
• if the hormone deviates from the norm upwards, a person may develop insomnia, which greatly disrupts the established human biorhythm;
• another sign that cortisol is unacceptably high is uncontrolled appetite. If the cause is not addressed in a timely manner, then the patient may develop obesity and such pathologies of the digestive system as stomach ulcers, gastritis, etc.;
• the fact that the level of hydrocortisone is increased is indicated by a state of apathy and depression, as well as moral exhaustion and a predisposition to mental disorders.

Methods for Lowering High Cortisol

Before starting treatment, the doctor must identify the cause of the uncontrolled release of the hormone into the body and deal with it. In order to normalize the patient's hormonal status and be able to maintain health for a long time, a sick person must adhere to certain rules:

1. The patient should avoid stressful situations and unnecessary worries.
2. To normalize the level of cortisol in the blood, the patient is prescribed medications based on medicinal herbs that have a calming property. It is these medicines that in a mild and safe form stabilize the emotional state of the patient.
3. Adequate rest and a balanced diet will help lower cortisol levels. These measures will help stabilize the hormonal status.
4. Experts recommend consuming clean drinking water as much as possible. This is due to the fact that in a dehydrated body, the production of cortisol occurs in a more active form.
5. Reduced stress hormone can be if a person is in moderate amounts and regularly exercises;
6. If we call medicines that reduce the production of the stress hormone, then one cannot fail to mention the B vitamins, which allow the body to cope with stress.
7. Relaxing music and hours of meditation will help overcome depression and thereby provide a reducing effect on the process of hormone synthesis.

Treatment of a condition in which high hydrocortisone is observed also involves taking certain medications. It is important to understand that today in medicine there are no drugs that would reduce the content of cortisol in the body without health complications. Until now, scientists have not been able to develop a treatment protocol with special drugs.

As for those people who are professionally involved in sports, they use anabolic steroids or insulin derivatives, which makes it possible to reduce the level of the hormone in the blood. Such ways to reduce the production of cortisol are not very long-term.

In any case, each person should remember that only a qualified medical specialist knows the answer to the question of how to reduce cortisol levels without harming health. It is the attending physician who will assess the health status of each patient individually and select the appropriate treatment. In order to reduce the secretion of cortisol, the following natural blockers are used in medicine:

1. Vitamin C, which is easily available at any pharmacy and in the preferred form (powder, effervescent tablets, etc.). Treatment of hormonal imbalance can be done by replacing vitamin C in medicines with natural juices. As for children, in their case, the answer to the question of how to lower cortisol through ascorbic acid will be special children's lozenges.
2. Patients with a disturbed hormonal status will be able to fight cortisol by controlling the amount of coffee and green tea consumed. This is necessary in order to exclude the possibility of overexcitation, followed by fatigue.
3. Some people struggle with high hydrocortisone by dieting.
4. For women who take oral contraceptives, it is somewhat more difficult to achieve a lower level of cortisol, since these drugs suppress the action of stress hormone blockers.
5. Vitamin complexes, which contain magnesium, also contribute to lowering the level of stress hormone. The specified element inhibits the negative effects of cortisol. Experts recommend taking drugs such as Magnelis or Magne B6, the regular intake of which will increase the magnesium content in the body.

The dangers of high levels of stress hormone for health

It is very important that each person does not ignore the symptoms that appear, and consult a doctor as soon as possible.

After all, as you know, prolonged stress means a chronically high concentration of stress hormone in the body, which is fraught with the following possible complications:

• consistently high blood pressure from an excess of the hormone in the blood leads to the body's vulnerability to cardiovascular pathologies;
• accelerated weight gain;
• the consequences for the patient can also be expressed in electrolyte imbalance;
• there is a high probability of developing osteoporosis, which is due to the inhibition of the process of bone tissue formation;
• high hormone in the urine and blood contributes to the weakening of the patient's immune system;
• to achieve inhibition of the active production of glucose, which leads to an increased content of sugar in the blood, it is possible by reducing the level of stress hormone in the body.

Thus, persistently high cortisol can negatively affect the health of each person. It is for this reason that you should listen more carefully to your own body and not neglect visits to the doctor.