Cortisol (regulation of)

Cortisol is a corticosteroid hormone produced by the adrenal cortex (in the adrenal gland). In pharmacology, the synthetic form of cortisol is referred to as hydrocortisone, and is used to treat allergies and inflammation as well as cortisol production defficiencies.

It is a vital hormone that is often referred to as the "stress hormone" as it is involved in the response to stress. Cortisol levels can also increase after overdrive exercise or surgery. Its main function is to inhibit all unnecessary body functions during situations of stress warranting the maximum support to main organs.

Cortisol increasing or decreasing indicates excessive or insufficient acitvity of adrenals respectively.
The unbalance of cortisol levels can be due to other problems than adrenal disorders though. Indeed, cortisol increasing is normal during pregnancy or in women who take birth control pill. It can also be due to a cancer of the hypophysis, chronic renal insufficiency, hyperthyroidism, treatments with cortisone or oestrogen drugs, stress, smoke, methadone, alchohol, overdrive exercise, anorexy, malnutrition. While cortisol decreasing can be due to hepatitis, hypothyroidism, multiple myeloma, nephrotic symdrome.







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