(NewsNation) — Cortisol is a steroid hormone also known as the stress hormone that is produced by the adrenal glands. It also helps regulate blood sugar and inflammation among other functions.
People will usually have high cortisol from time to time, and levels can vary throughout the day. If your body makes too much cortisol, however, it can indicate underlying health issues.
High cortisol symptoms
There are a range of symptoms associated with high cortisol, depending on what has caused the increase in your cortisol levels, according to Healthline. Some of the general signs and symptoms related to too much cortisol include:
- weight gain, mostly around the face or abdomen
- acne
- irritability
- headache
- difficulty concentrating
- flushed face
- severe fatigue
Causes of high cortisol levels
There are different reasons as to why cortisol levels can be too high, including stress, issues with the pituitary gland, tumors on the adrenal gland and side effects with certain medications like corticosteroids.
If you think you may have high cortisol, it’s best to contact a doctor to conduct a blood test. If it’s found that you do have high cortisol, a doctor can work with you to figure out an underlying cause and come up with a treatment to help lower levels.