Cortisol

Overview:

Cortisol is produced by the adrenal glands under instruction from the pituitary. It helps regulate blood sugar, blood pressure, the immune response and the body's handling of stress. Cortisol follows a strong daily rhythm, usually peaking in the early morning and falling through the day, so the timing of the sample is central to interpreting the result. Persistently high cortisol is seen in Cushing's syndrome and low cortisol in adrenal insufficiency, but a single measurement rarely settles either question. Acute illness, shift work, pregnancy and steroid medications all affect levels, and abnormal results are normally followed by more specific testing.

Categories:

Stress & Cortisol, Hormone, Healthy Aging

Biomarkers:

1 biomarker