7 Signs of High Cortisol Levels in Your Body

Reducing your coffee intake and burning more energy through physical exercise is essential for keeping your cortisol levels under control.

Cortisol or hydrocortisone is a hormone that the adrenal gland produces. It increases blood sugar levels and can decrease bone formation and can cause some diseases such as excess overweight. Increased cortisol levels are known as “hypercortisolism” or Cushing’s syndrome.
This syndrome leads to body stress and a concentration of fat and elevated blood pressure levels and heart rate. In addition, recent research demonstrates that the incidence of acute myocardial infarction in the morning due to the joint action of endogenous factors because of an increase in cortisol.

As you can see, there are various signals that the body emits when it has a hormonal imbalance like this. Keep reading and discover other symptoms that we’ll talk about below.

Possible signs of high cortisol

Although these symptoms aren’t present in all cases, there are some of the signs that something isn’t right in your body and that you may have high cortisol levels. Do you want to know what they are? Keep reading!

1. Sudden weight gain

Weight gain is one of the first symptoms of high cortisol. More so, it’s especially noticeable in the upper part of the body, since fat begins to accumulate in places like the shoulders, chest, and back.

The strangest thing about this is that the arms and legs of this person will continue to be thin.
Studies show that elevated cortisol reduces blood flow and glucose supply to the brain. This interferes with the ability of brain cells to absorb glucose and can even lead to neuronal death.

Interestingly, in a study titled “Fructose-induced inflammation and increased cortisol: A new mechanism for how sugar induces visceral adiposity,” experts observed that fructose in the brain stimulates increased cortisol release, which could lead to general insulin resistance and weight gain.

2. Skin symptoms

Hypercortisolism or Cushing’s syndrome also affects the skin. In fact, a person can have the following skin symptoms:

• Acne
• Bruising
• Increased facial and body hair
• Purple lesions on the breasts, abdomen, and thighs

3. Musculoskeletal and bone symptoms

In addition, high cortisol can also affect the muscles and bones. In other words, the bone structure becomes weak and this leads to an increased risk of fractures, especially in the ribs and spine. Also, there’s an increased risk of muscle tears and related injuries.

4. Immune system deficiencies

The thymus gland, which regulates the human immune system, is also affected by high cortisol. High cortisol can cause the death of cells and make the immune system attack the tissues of the body instead of viruses.

• The most common symptoms of an immune system failure are asthma and allergies.
• However, the problem may become even more serious: it may cause lupus, Crohn’s disease, or fibromyalgia.

5. Mood swings and mood disorders

Anxiety is one of the most common symptoms that usually appear when someone is under a lot of stress. This is accompanied by continuous and sudden mood swings throughout the day. In some cases, signs of serious depression can manifest.

6. Fatigue and insomnia

Dr. Hernando Pérez Díaz, coordinator of the Sleep and Wake Disorders Study Group of the Spanish Neurology Society (SEN) explained the following regarding sleep and hormonal activity:

The energy cortisol provides can be counterproductive for the body. The body doesn’t rest if it’s overly active during the day. At night, excess cortisol doesn’t allow the person to rest and, therefore, suffers from insomnia.

• Under normal conditions, cortisol spikes around 8:00 a.m. to provide the body with energy.
• However, active hypercortisolism causes the opposite effect. The person is activated at night and is exhausted in the morning.

7. Digestive disorders

Another study explains the relationship between stress and prolonged high levels of cortisol, which eventually produces bodily symptoms, among which the digestive symptoms stand out. The most common that can be triggered is irritable bowel syndrome, with episodes of diarrhea or constipation, ulcers, indigestion, and abdominal pain, among others.

How to balance the cortisol levels in the body?

Below, we’ll share some tips for decreasing cortisol levels in the body so that you can lead a healthier life.

Try to sleep more

Be mindful of your sleep hygiene, maintain a good sleep routine, perform relaxation rituals before bed, have light dinners preferably at least three hours before bed, and try to do everything you can to get a good night’s sleep. Find the ritual you like the most and practice it every day.

Keep in mind that, besides reducing cortisol levels, enjoying a good night’s rest will allow you to look younger and be healthier.

Keep your sugar levels stable

Keep a balanced diet, rich in nutritious food, and avoid fizzy and sugary drinks, and processed and frozen foods. Eat fruit daily, and prepare complete meals comprised of carbohydrates, protein, and fiber, in order to control your sugar levels.

It’s also recommended that you take supplements like vitamin B, calcium, magnesium, chromium, zinc, vitamin C, and alpha-lipoic acid (ALA).

Say goodbye to coffee

Caffeine tends to increase blood cortisol levels by at least 30% within an hour. However, in some cases, the effects can last for 18 hours. If your intention is to lower your catabolic metabolism and increase your anabolic metabolism, don’t drink more coffee.

Exercise

The known benefits of having a regular exercise routine, like gaining muscle mass and increasing the production of serotonin and dopamine, will lower the risk of developing anxiety or depression. Not only that, but you’ll avoid an imbalance in your cortisol levels.

Do you believe you have high cortisol levels? Consult your doctor

If you think you have one or more of the symptoms mentioned above, consult your doctor and clear up any doubts. This way, you will be able to know if you have high cortisol levels or not and what you can do about it. If a blood test is indicated, keep in mind that normal values ​​vary according to the time of the sample and the age ranges.

Of course, keep in mind that, in addition to following the treatment prescribed by your doctor, you must maintain a healthy and consistent lifestyle for your health and well-being.