Cortisol is a hormone produced by the adrenal glands that plays a key role in regulating stress, metabolism, blood pressure, and immune function.
It is often called the “stress hormone” because levels naturally rise in response to challenges or perceived threats.
While cortisol is essential for survival, chronically high or low levels can lead to serious health issues, including fatigue, anxiety, weight gain, and hormone imbalance.
What Is Cortisol and What Does It Do?
Cortisol helps your body respond to stress and maintain internal balance.
When you face a stressful situation, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis signals your adrenal glands to release cortisol. Once the stress passes, cortisol levels should return to normal.
Cortisol affects many vital processes, including:
- Regulating metabolism: Helps control how the body uses fats, proteins, and carbohydrates for energy
- Managing stress response: Increases alertness and helps mobilize energy to handle challenges
- Supporting immune function: Reduces inflammation in the short term but can suppress immunity if levels stay elevated too long
- Balancing blood sugar: Keeps glucose levels stable between meals
- Maintaining blood pressure: Ensures proper circulation and heart function
Healthy cortisol rhythms follow a daily cycle, peaking in the morning and declining by night. Disruptions to this pattern can affect sleep, mood, and energy.
What Causes Cortisol Imbalance?
Cortisol levels can become too high or too low due to stress, illness, medications, or hormonal disorders.
Causes of High Cortisol (Hypercortisolism)
- Chronic stress or anxiety
- Sleep deprivation
- High caffeine intake
- Overuse of corticosteroid medications (such as prednisone)
- Cushing’s syndrome, a condition where the body produces too much cortisol
- Depression or mood disorders
Causes of Low Cortisol (Hypocortisolism)
- Addison’s disease, where the adrenal glands do not produce enough cortisol
- Pituitary gland disorders
- Long-term corticosteroid use followed by sudden withdrawal
- Chronic fatigue or severe illness
Both excess and deficiency can cause symptoms that affect energy, mood, and metabolism.
Common Symptoms of Cortisol Imbalance
High cortisol symptoms may include:
- Weight gain, especially around the abdomen and face
- Mood swings, irritability, or anxiety
- Trouble sleeping or insomnia
- High blood pressure
- Frequent infections or weakened immunity
- Muscle weakness or fatigue
Low cortisol symptoms may include:
- Chronic fatigue
- Low blood pressure or dizziness
- Unintentional weight loss
- Low mood or lack of motivation
- Salt cravings
- Brain fog or poor concentration
Because symptoms can overlap with other conditions, testing is the most reliable way to assess cortisol balance.
How to Get Tested for Cortisol
Cortisol testing measures hormone levels in blood, saliva, or urine to evaluate adrenal gland function and daily hormone rhythm.
Common Testing Methods
- Blood test: Measures cortisol at specific times of day, often morning and afternoon, when levels naturally fluctuate.
- Saliva test: Used to track cortisol changes throughout the day and assess diurnal patterns.
- 24-hour urine test: Collects all urine in a 24-hour period to measure total cortisol production.
- Dexamethasone suppression test: Used to diagnose Cushing’s syndrome by checking how cortisol responds to a medication that normally lowers it.
At Atlas Health Screening, our hormone and adrenal function panels include cortisol testing designed to detect both overproduction and deficiency.
How to Maintain Healthy Cortisol Levels
Balanced cortisol depends on good stress management and overall wellness.
Practical Ways to Support Cortisol Balance
- Get 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night
- Manage stress with mindfulness, deep breathing, or light exercise
- Eat balanced meals at regular intervals to stabilize blood sugar
- Limit caffeine and alcohol
- Spend time outdoors or in natural light to maintain healthy circadian rhythm
- Engage in regular physical activity without overtraining
These habits help keep cortisol levels in their natural rhythm and support better mood, focus, and immune function.
Take Control of Your Hormone Health
Cortisol affects almost every system in your body, from energy production to stress management.
When levels are out of balance, it can impact how you feel both physically and mentally.
Schedule your hormone health screening near you today and take control of your energy, mood, and well-being.