WHAT IS CORTISOL?

Cortisol is a hormone developed by the adrenal gland the very same gland that produces adrenaline. Adrenaline and cortisol are chemicals that help us during times of stress; however they operate in very different ways. As most people know Adrenaline is the fight-or-flight hormone and is very fast acting. For instance If we are suddenly aroused by a shock or danger the adrenaline is pumped into our blood stream immediately to make our heart and lungs work faster. Our muscles and brain are then on high alert. Within seconds, the pumping adrenaline gets us up and out of a burning house.

The chemical Cortisol works in a totally different way and is much slower acting. Cortisol Regulates by means of a feedback control mechanism between the brain and the adrenal glands; cortisol acts as a buffer and helps the body recover from the rush of adrenaline. Because the fight-or-flight response uses large amounts of available energy, cortisol releases stored sugar and fat to refuel the heart, lungs, and legs, which are secondary pumps.

How does cortisol cause stress-related health problems?
Therefore cortisol is very important to our health, as we cannot live without it. The problem however is when cortisol is released in response to every day unrelenting stressful situations. Cortisol can then hurt our health much more than help it. Chronic cortisol production occurs when we worry about our children, our jobs, or endless pressures, such as looking after a sick relative. Every time we get stressed the cortisol in our blood stream swings into action, causing inflammation in our blood vessels, kidneys, and heart, trying to help us recover from the effects of adrenaline. The longer this unneeded inflammation is present, the more damage it does.

Serious health problems linked to widespread cortisol inflammation include:
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Diabetes
• Heart attacks
• Strokes
• Dementia
• Depression
• Kidney failure
• Obesity
• Osteoporosis

Unfortunately, in our modern world, these everyday stresses are always with us. We can try as hard as we like, none of us can completely switch off our worries or eliminate stress.

However getting enough sleep is a must and we really need at least eight hours of sleep to eliminate or reduce the chronic cortisol production and prevent much of the harm it does to our bodies.

I will post more on Cortisol in the coming days.

Bless you

David