3 Things You Should Know About Cortisol
More than the stress hormone
Cortisol is a steroid, like testosterone or estrogen. It falls into the category of glucocorticoids. Glucocorticoids are given their name because they regulate the breaking down of sugar or glucose for energy. Cortisol is essential for your body to function properly. While it is often called the stress hormone, cortisol is responsible for much more than just anxiety attacks.
Cortisol Decreases Inflammation
Cortisol, also known as hydrocortisone, has powerful anti-inflammatory properties. This is why it is often given as a treatment for joint pain or rashes. When applied, the cortisol can counteract the effects of inflammation and protect from long term damage. With decreased inflammation, you will have reduced pain. This is the same way that Aleve or Ibuprofen works. Aleve and Ibuprofen are categorized as NSAIDs or Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs. This means that they do not fall in the steroid category of biomolecules, but deliver similar anti-inflammatory effects.
Cortisol Puts You on Alert
Cortisol is known as the stress hormone for good reason as it can trigger your stress response. Our bodies have a response known as the fight or flight response. When we are placed under stress, our body prepares to either be able to fight the stressor or flee it. As a result, elevated cortisol can cause increased heart rate, heavy breathing, and continued alertness.
These things are great if we need to run or fight a bear, but not so great when we are preparing to give a presentation. When we perceive stress, we raise cortisol levels to protect ourselves. However, our cortisol signaling cannot differentiate the type of stress we are under. Therefore, higher levels of cortisol have been correlated with anxiety disorders.
Cortisol Levels Change Through The Day
Your cortisol levels change throughout the day. In the morning or when you first wake up, you will have your highest cortisol levels. These levels will then decrease through the day reaching your lowest levels at night while you sleep. This daily cycling of levels is called the circadian rhythm.
This cycling of cortisol is important for you to function properly. Low levels of cortisol in the morning would cause you to feel sluggish and tired. You would be unable to be productive during the day without this higher level of cortisol.
However, high levels of cortisol at night will keep you awake and cause sleep disturbances. To be able to have a restful night’s sleep, you need to have decreased stress levels which require lower cortisol levels.
Ultimately, cortisol is an essential hormone for your body to function properly, It has powerful anti-inflammation properties, can decrease pain, and can keep you alert.
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