09/13/2018 / By Zoey Sky
The body’s stress response to a sudden crisis is to release a burst of cortisol and other adrenal hormones. When facing an emergency, this “fight or flight” response can help you survive. However, when the stress is chronic and unrelenting, it can negatively affect your health.
Chronically heightened levels of the steroid hormone cortisol are associated with a higher risk of disease and mortality, and exposure to the hormone mimics the physical and mental effects of chronic steroid overmedication.
After analyzing facial photographs, researchers posit that having chronically high cortisol can even make you look older. Excess cortisol can minimize the telomeres, or the “caps” at the ends of chromosomes that prevent them from getting tangled with each other. Another worrying conclusion is the fact that shorter telomeres are linked to shorter lifespans.
Chronically elevated cortisol levels are also linked to a higher mortality risk. Research shows that women with high cortisol levels were about 82 percent more likely to die compared to other women with normal levels. Meanwhile, in men, the heightened risk was at 63 percent.
Additionally, high cortisol levels put added stress on the heart and this may increase the risk of dying from cardiovascular disease by at least five times. The risk is present even among individuals who didn’t have previous risk factors for heart disease.
Excess cortisol can also increase the risk of developing various health problems such as:
High cortisol levels also increase the risk of obesity since the hormone produces stress-related food cravings and excessive abdominal fat while it decreases muscle and bone mass. Sometimes, excess cortisol may also cause excess fat and fluids to accumulate in the face. This results in a swollen “moon face” effect similar to a symptom of steroid overmedication.
High cortisol is also associated with loss of cognitive function. Research shows that high levels of cortisol are connected to the shrinking of the hippocampus, or the center of memory in the brain.
Try some of the stress management methods and natural remedies listed below to reduce your cortisol levels.
Cortisol is a useful tool when used for the body’s fight-or-flight stress response. But to deal with excess levels of the hormone, consult a knowledgeable (integrative or functional) medical practitioner who can suggest a suitable treatment plan for your condition.
You can read more articles with effective tips on how to manage stress naturally at Mind.news.
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