Cortisol is a glucocorticoid hormone produced by the adrenal cortex. It is an important regulator of protein, carbohydrate and fat metabolism. Most actively, this hormone begins to be produced during stress. The brain sends a signal to the adrenal cortex about the production of cortisol in large volumes in order to stimulate cardiac activity and provide a high concentration of attention during physical or psychological stress.
The norm of the content of this hormone in the blood for children under the age of sixteen varies from 85 to 580 nmol / l, for adults - from 135 to 635 nmol / l. An increase in the amount of cortisol is observed in the last months of pregnancy, with excessive stress and AIDS. In addition, the norm may vary depending on a particular time of day. It is believed that in the morning hours the level of this hormone is higher than in the evening.
Reduced cortisol may indicate the presence of problems such as insufficiency of the pituitary gland - the main endocrine gland, deviation in the adrenal cortex, the development of Addison's disease, hepatitis or cirrhosis. In addition, this also includes a decrease in hormone secretion, muscle weakness and anorexia. Reduced cortisol can also be a direct result of taking a number of medications.
Separately, it is worth considering the effect of constantly experiencing stress on the content of this hormone. In the event that a person has been under stress for a long time (for example, several months), then the adrenal glands begin to lose their ability to respond to brain signals about the need for increased cortisol. As a result, exhaustion sets in. The main indicator of this condition is low blood cortisol.
Reliably determine the content of this hormone is possible only in a specialized medical institution. A blood test for cortisol is associated with a number of features of its conduct. Firstly, on the eve of the study, you must refuse to take any medications. In the event that it is impossible to do this, you should consult your doctor in advance. Secondly, in order to accurately determine whether lowered cortisol or not, the day before the test, experts do not recommend playing sports and smoking. In addition to studying in the blood laboratory, a urine test can also be performed. This is the most sensitive analysis to determine a number of specific diseases, for example,
Cushing's syndrome. In this case, a test for cortisol in the urine will effectively distinguish it from simple obesity.
There can be many reasons for the deviation of the glucocorticoid hormone level from the norm, but only a qualified endocrinologist can accurately evaluate the result of the studies and the analysis obtained. An experienced specialist will be able to easily identify the true cause of the pathology and prescribe the most appropriate course of treatment, based on the individual characteristics of one or another patient.