Cortisol, a stress hormone, is highly present in billions of individuals globally. Too much cortisol may lead to a variety of health difficulties, including high blood pressure, the development of belly fat, muscular weakness, and a host of other Problems. Unfortunately, if your cortisol levels are out of balance—either too high or too low—it can have negative effects on both your physical and mental health because of how it impacts the brain.
1.Loss Of Buttocks & Thighs
When the muscles in your thighs or buttocks begin to deteriorate yet belly fat begins to emerge, this is one of the most typical symptoms of elevated cortisol. This frequently occurs in elderly persons, especially in males over the age of 50, who develop incredibly slim legs yet accumulate hanging belly fat. High levels of cortisol cause the muscles in your legs to break down and convert to sugar, which gives you energy. Later, another hormone called insulin transforms this fresh blood sugar into belly fat. Stress and nutritional deficiency are the two main causes of high cortisol levels .
2.Waking Up 2-3am (Stressed)
If you frequently awaken between two and three in the morning and discover that your mind is really busy, this is a symptom that you have too much cortisol in your body. Your brain may be overthinking and attempting to solve issues and create plans while you should be sleeping, making it very difficult for you to fall asleep again. Before You realised what was going on, Cortisol regulates your circadian rhythm, which keeps you awake since your body is in fight-or-flight mode and impacts your sleep.
Related : What is Visceral Body Fat? How to Reduce Visceral Fat
3. High Blood Pressure
You may be aware that stress can increase the hormone cortisol, which in turn raises blood pressure (hypertension). If your body or brain perceives a threat, it will produce cortisol to constrict your arteries and adrenaline to increase blood flow and provide you with quick energy. This enables you to defend yourself against an approaching predator, like a lion, or to flee from it. This is completely natural, but if you experience prolonged stress for extended periods of time, your blood vessels are put under pressure and your blood pressure remains high, increasing your risk of heart disease and stroke.
4.Cold Sores
Cold sores are painful, itchy, tingly blisters that develop on the lips and gums surrounding the mouth. They frequently split and hurt, especially when you’re eating. You may have observed that they frequently happen when you are depressed or have just experienced stress. When cortisol levels are balanced, it keeps your immune system in good functioning order and suppresses viruses like hsv so that they don’t harm your body. However, these viruses can emerge from remission and create a cold sore if you just experienced a cortisol surge due to stress if you aren’t getting enough sleep. Other illnesses like the common cold and the flu have the same effect. Cortisol is produced excessively in response to too much stress and this lowers your immunity.
5.Breathing Problems (Asthma, COPD )
Cortisol aids in controlling inflammation throughout the body, particularly in the lungs and respiratory system. Unfortunately, cortisol resistance develops if you have too much of it for too long. In your cells, cortisol essentially loses its ability to function correctly as it should. The lungs frequently get severely irritated as a result, and the tiny bronchial tubes may begin to thicken and become mucus-filled. Asthma and COPD are long-term lung disorders and breathing issues brought on by this.
6. Anxiety
Anxiety is a state in which you feel unpleasant, anxious, or agitated all the time, as if there are issues you need to address but not enough time to do so. You will find a way to worry even when there is nothing to worry about. This is anxiety, which is brought on by persistently elevated cortisol levels. Your sympathetic nervous system, which is always prepared for attack or defence, keeps your muscles tense, which can lead to persistent aches and pains in your muscles, joints, and notably the area around your shoulders and throat over time.
7.Acid Reflux
High amounts of cortisol and stress may be the cause of your persistent heartburn, acid reflux, and searing chest pain. Your digestive system is partially turned off by cortisol, allowing your energy to be directed toward attack or defence. Over time, however, the excessive cortisol can inhibit the normal creation of bile, enzymes, and stomach acid, leading to an acid reflux flare-up. (This is why doctors frequently relate stress to acid reflux)
8. Additional Signs of high cortisol
• You get dizzy when you stand up too quickly.
• You’re a diabetic or prediabetic, because high levels of cortisol can raise blood sugars.
• You suffer with stomach ulcers.
• You suffer with restless legs, because the cortisol is causing nerve problems.
• You have hiccups very often. because of how cortisol is affecting your diaphragm muscle.
• You have hot flashes during or after menopause, because your adrenal glands are weak.
• You have brain fog, because cortisol is involved with brain function and memory.
• You have rosacea on this skin, because of how cortisol is constricting blood vessels.
• You have purple stretch marks on the skin, especially around our belly because cortisol
is causing your skin to lose its elasticity .You have more than 1 or 2 colds/infections
a year, because cortisol is weakening your immunity.