Cortisol is a steroid hormone released by your adrenal glands, which sit just above each kidney. Cortisol is the main stress hormone—think of it as nature’s built-in alarm system. It works with certain parts of your brain to control your mood, motivation, and fear.
While it’s best known for helping fuel your body’s fight-or-flight instinct in a crisis, cortisol helps regulate a wide range of processes throughout the body, including metabolism and the immune response. For example, it:
Cortisol levels naturally vary throughout the day, but generally peak after waking and then steadily decline throughout the day. The secretion of cortisol is mainly controlled by three intercommunicating regions of the body: the hypothalamus and pituitary gland in the brain, and the adrenal glands.
Chronic stress can cause cortisol levels to remain high and can interfere with body systems. This can also lead to a number of health problems, including:
One of the first things we look at after receiving your DUTCH test results is your free cortisol pattern, which shows how your body produces and manages cortisol throughout the day. You’ll find this information on the first page of the 14-page report we provide. Understanding what’s happening with your cortisol levels is so important for finding imbalances and creating a customized plan to help get you back on track.
If you’re ready to learn more and get started with your journey to natural hormone balance, contact us here. You can also call us at (513) 444-6343 to schedule a Zoom call with one of our patient consultants. We are here for you!
