What are the common symptoms of high cortisol?
A person who is on a long -term corticosteroid drug or has a pituitary tumor, adrenal hyperplasia or adrenal tumor may suffer from symptoms of high cortisol. Cortisol levels usually grow when the body is questioned by physical or psychological stress, infection or other event that tightens the body sources. As a stress hormone, cortisol increases blood sugar; suppresses the immune system; And it promotes carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism. The symptoms of high levels of cortisol are secondary to these actions or are exaggerated body reactions to these heights. Such symptoms include changes in skin and hair, poorly controlled blood sugar, weight gain, high risk of infections, endocrine abnormalities and increased heart rate and blood pressure.
The axis of Hypothalamus-hypophase-nadledvin (HPA) controls cortisol secretion. Because the hypothalamus excludes the hormone releasing corticotropin (CRH), CRH stimulates the pituitary gland to secrete the adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). When ACTH is released into the blood, it is transferred to the adrenal glands, where it stimulates the bark or the farthest layer to cortisol production.
High cortisol levels are present in the blood shortly after waking up, in preparation for the voltage of the day. The lowest levels are present during the night, several hours after sleeping to support relaxation. Any abnormality in the HPA axis, loss of daily pattern of cortisol release or intake of external sources of cortisol, such as hydrocortisone, can lead to symptoms of high cortisol and cushing syndrome.
If a person has a long time of elevated cortisol levels, symptoms of excess cortisol are manifested. The common non -specific symptoms caused by excessive activation of the sympathetic nervous system include fatigue, weakness, increased thirst and urine frequency, irritability and depression. Another common symptom is weight gain due to increasedMetabolism of fat and carbohydrates. Increased fat storage often occurs in the abdomen, causing a person susceptible to cardiovascular complications.
Insomnia often also occurs, due to the disruption of a normal daily pattern. In addition, a person with chronic high levels of cortisol may suffer from high blood pressure and increased blood glucose, increasing the risk of heart attack and diabetes mellitus. The sympathetic nervous system is also chronically activated. Therefore, it could also experience a lower sexual desire.
Cushing syndrome is a disorder composed of the constellations of the symptoms of high cortisol. Symptoms of Cushing syndrome include abdominal obesity, round face or "lunar face" and "buffalo hump" or increased fat pillows along the neck and upper back, although they have relatively thin arms and legs. The skin becomes thin and fragile and leading bruises and poor wound healing. For Cushing's syndrome, the skin is unique in the skin called the purple striae. This is a purple blackVented or vision stretch marks that commonly occur on the abdomen, chest, face, neck and thighs.
A woman with Cushing syndrome could experience hirsutism or excessive hair growth above the lips and along the middle line of her body. She could also experience irregular menstruation. A man with Cushing syndrome could reduce libido or erectile dysfunction. Therefore, people with high cortisol or cushing syndrome often have difficulty getting pregnant or suffering from infertility.