By Excess cortisol is harmful to health when it occurs constantly and for a long time. What effects does this hormone have on the body?
Excess cortisol can have many effects on our health, both physically and mentally . Excesses in life are never good and in our body the rule seems to be fully followed as well… there are no exceptions.
However, this is not about demonizing cortisol, the glucocorticoid that we normally know as the “ stress hormone ”, because in reality, under normal conditions and in moderate quantities, it is not bad. In fact, it has important functions for our body. Let’s look at some of them.
Cortisol: characteristics and functions
Cortisol mediates the stress response. When we perceive a threat, the amygdala is activated and sends a signal to the hypothalamus , which will then activate the sympathetic nervous system and the adrenal glands, which will release a surge of catecholamines.
As we continue to interpret the stimulus as a threat, the hypothalamus will activate the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Cortisol will then be released from the adrenal cortex and allow our body to remain alert and energized (Thau, Gandh, & Sharma, 2019).
Cortisol also plays a role in inducing apoptosis (programmed cell death) of pro-inflammatory T cells. It also suppresses antibody production by B cells and reduces the migration of neutrophils (white blood cells that help the body fight infections) during inflammation (Kadmiel and Cidlowski, 2013).
Cortisol, like other glucocorticoids, also regulates glycogen metabolism . In the liver, glucocorticoids increase glycogen storage, while in skeletal muscles they influence glycogen degradation (glycogenolysis) induced by catecholamines and inhibit its synthesis, stimulated by insulin (Kuo, 2015).
Effects of excess cortisol
Living a stressful life is not healthy for the body or the mind. Sometimes it is necessary to stop, take a breath and relax a little so that the body can recover and return to its basal state. Jumping from one stressful situation to another is exhausting and harmful. Below we will examine some of the effects that excess cortisol can cause.
1. Increases cholesterol
Cortisol increases cholesterol levels by the intervention of adrenaline and noradrenaline on the release of free fatty acids . This generates cholesterol accumulation, which progressively leads to the formation of clots in the blood and on the walls of the arteries, causing their obstruction (McLeod, 2010).
2. Suppresses the immune system
In humans, excess cortisol and its prolonged manifestation lead to suppression of the functioning of the immune system , with the consequent increase in susceptibility to contracting infections.
Stress can induce a decrease in cytokines (proteins that regulate immune and inflammatory responses) and result in a deregulation of immune system cells (Padgetty Glaser, 2003). It can also prolong wound healing time (Kiecolt-Glaser, 1995).
3. Promotes cardiovascular problems
Among the effects produced by excess cortisol in the body, at the cardiovascular level, we can find elevated blood pressure, obesity, increased amount of insulin in the blood (hyperinsulinemia), increased sugar in the bloodstream (hyperglycemia), increased cholesterol or fats in the blood (dyslipidemia) and insulin resistance (Whitworth et al., 2005).
4. Causes digestive problems
Excessive stress can cause alterations in gastrointestinal motility and secretion. It can also increase visceral sensitivity and intestinal permeability. It can even affect the regenerative capacity of the gastrointestinal mucosa (Konturek et al., 2011).
Stress can lead to the development of various digestive diseases , including gastric reflux, peptic ulcers and irritable bowel syndrome.
5. It affects the reproductive system
Excess cortisol can affect the reproductive system of both men and women. In men, it can lead to a decrease in testosterone, which can interfere with sperm production and cause impotence. In women, stress can affect the menstrual cycle, leading to more painful, irregular periods.
6. Causes Cushing’s syndrome
Cushing’s syndrome is the product of a high concentration of cortisol in the body . Among the most notable symptoms and signs of this syndrome we find the following (Santos et al., 2009):
Symptoms
- Fatigue .
- Bone pain.
- Decreased muscle strength.
- Psychiatric disorders.
- Impotence.
Signs
- Trunk obesity.
- Edema.
- Frequent bruising.
- Acne.
- Accumulation of retrocervical fat.
- Capillary fragility.
- Breast atrophy.
- Decreased testicular volume.
- Excessive hair growth in women in areas where it is not normally present.
- High blood pressure.
- Wine-red striae.
It is important to note that the diagnosis of this syndrome must be made by a health professional who will collect an exogenous sample of glucocorticoids, take a clinical history and make a differential diagnosis, in order to rule out that the symptoms and signs are not those of pseudo-Cushing’s syndrome.
To conclude, excess cortisol is a condition that requires close attention, as we have seen it can have multiple effects on the human body. If you are exposed to high levels of stress in your life, it would be useful for you to visit a mental health professional, so that you can learn how to manage it in such a way that you can prevent its negative effects.