Cortisol is a hormone released by the adrenal glands that control the stress levels in your body. Due to the very nature of Cortisol hormone production, your body has the highest level of Cortisol in the morning, while it continues to fall through the day leading to be the lowest at night. If you were to test your Cortisol hormone level in the morning and if it comes out to be between six to twenty three mcg/Dl (micro grams per deciliter) it is considered to be normal. However, if the test result shows a number over this range, you may be experiencing abnormal Cortisol levels.

Major Factors Affecting Cortisol Levels
Cortisol levels get affected due to many reasons. Studies have found that your daily stress levels are linked to the Cortisol levels in your body. Stress is the MAIN stimulus for production of Cortisol. Elevated levels of Cortisol can also be induced due to intake of specific medicines. If you are on birth control pills or taking estrogen supplements, your Cortisol levels may very well be higher than the normal range. Besides this, for those of you who take medicines having androgens and/or phenytoin may experience lower Cortisol levels.

Now, Cortisol levels may vary during the day depending on your lifestyle. Besides this Cortisol levels also change during the day for people who may be suffering from various medical conditions such as:

Cortisol Hormone Level Testing

1. Abnormal ACTH levels
2. Clinical depression
3. Psychological stress
4. Hypoglycemia
5. Illness
6. Fever
7. Trauma
8. Surgery
9. Fear
10. Pain
11. Physical exertion
12. Experiencing extreme temperatures

Lifestyle Factors Affecting Cortisol Levels
Unfortunately, many individuals don’t take good care of their health. They often develop habits that can be detrimental to their body’s health, which can lead to lack of proper mental health as well. Some of the main lifestyle reasons that can affect the levels of Cortisol hormone in your body during the day include:

1. Excess Caffeine intake. It’s best to consume coffee before 12:00pm every day as the Cortisol levels are at their peak during this duration.

2. Insomnia or sleep deprivation. Since Cortisol levels fall to their lowest after 10:00pm, your inability to sleep well at night on a regular basis, could trigger elevated levels of Cortisol hormone.
3. Prolonged sessions of exercise. Extensive and continuous sessions of physical exercise during the day have been known to elevate levels of Cortisol in your body. Your body releases higher amounts of Cortisol in order to maintain the level of blood glucose in your blood. However, eating a balanced and nutritious diet has proven to be beneficial in stabilizing Cortisol hormone levels.

4. Hypo-estrogenism in post-menopausal females. Hypo-estrogenism as well as intake of melatonin supplements has been known to elevate Cortisol levels in women who have already experience menopause.

5. Commuting long distances regularly. It has also been observed that commuting distances that require a lot of effort (long distances especially) can lead to increased levels of Cortisol.

Fortunately, even if you suffer from elevated levels of Cortisol during the day, help is at hand. Try to relax as much as possible, listen to soothing music, pamper your body with regular massages, laugh and keep a positive outlook towards life, and switch caffeine for black tea to regulate your Cortisol levels!

Posted under Hormones
Tags: birth control, birth control pills, caffeine intake, cortisol levels, estrogen supplements, health, hormone level, hormone levels, hormone production, Hormones, Menopause, psychological stress, Stress, uti.