High cortisol levels: symptoms and causes

Posted By Suborna Fermi Posted on Feb 14, 2024

High cortisol levels can result from stress and various other underlying health conditions. People with high cortisol levels may experience a range of symptoms, like excessive fatigue, acne, and weight gain.

Everyone experiences high cortisol levels from time to time because the levels usually vary throughout the day. This is actually your body's defense mechanism for potential threats or dangers. However, if your body constantly produces too much cortisol, it may indicate the presence of underlying health conditions like hypercortisolism or Cushing syndrome. Read on to learn about its symptoms, causes, and treatment.

What is cortisol?

Cortisol is a steroid hormone that your adrenal gland produces, and the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis manages how much your body needs to release cortisol. The majority of your body's cells have cortisol receptors. The functions of cortisol include:

• Manages blood glucose levels
• Reduces inflammation
• Regulates metabolism
• Controls sleep-wake cycle
• Regulates blood pressure

Cortisol is very important for health; your body continuously checks cortisol levels to maintain steady levels. However, too high cortisol levels may cause several uncomfortable symptoms.

What are the symptoms of high cortisol levels?

The symptoms of high cortisol levels can appear throughout the whole body. Also, the symptoms usually vary from person to person depending on what is raising the cortisol levels. The general symptoms include:

• Severe fatigue
• Headache
• Acne
• Weight gain, especially in the upper back and in the face
• Easy bruising
• Thinning of the skin
• Flushed face
• High blood pressure
• Muscle weakness
• Irritability

What are the causes of high cortisol levels?

Having abnormally high levels of cortisol for a longer period of time is usually considered Cushing syndrome. The primary causes of high cortisol levels include:

• Pituitary gland problems: The pituitary gland, often known as “master gland," is located at the base of the brain and regulates many body functions by releasing necessary hormones. Therefore, problems in the pituitary gland can cause under- or over-production of certain hormones. Pituitary conditions, such as hyperpituitarism, benign pituitary tumors, and cancerous pituitary tumors, can increase cortisol levels.
• Adrenal gland tumor: The adrenal gland is located above the kidneys. Adrenal tumors can be cancerous or non-cancerous, and both conditions can increase the levels of several hormones, including cortisol.
• Medicinal side effects: Some medicines can cause increased cortisol levels. Some studies have found a connection between oral contraceptives and cortisol levels. On the other hand, corticosteroids used to treat asthma, arthritis, and some types of cancer can also increase cortisol levels.

When should I see a doctor?

If you suspect you have high cortisol levels, then you need to go for a doctor's consultation and medical tests. Generally, high cortisol levels cause non-specific symptoms, which means several conditions can cause high cortisol levels.

If you are having symptoms that might be due to high cortisol levels, then your doctor would recommend certain clinical tests, including a blood test. You can find a cortisol test in thyrocare blood test packages.

Having high cortisol levels for a longer period of time can impact your health negatively and increase your risk of developing various illnesses. That is why it will be a wise decision to go for a thyrocare full body checkup once a year to monitor your overall health.