Cortisol; This important hormone is formed in the adrenal gland and is secreted in response to stress.It is a vital hormone that promotes recovery after stressful events.
- Increases fuel availability via glucose conversion into glycogen
- Proteins and fats are converted into glucose. The brains remain insured for supply
- Is anti-inflammatory
- Increases the effectiveness of adrenaline and noradrenaline
- Stimulates cardiac action
- Promotes muscle activity
All of these effects facilitate recovery after stressful events. Yet, the chronic and aggressive stressors of our time, such as: time pressure, competition, unnatural surroundings (concrete, noise, artificial light, pollution), excessive mental stimulation (media and telecommunications) for an excess of stress.These reinforce our emotions. Work-related pressure causes the physiology of our body to change.Disrupts our biological integrity and our physiological balance. Even our life expectancy is falling.Chronic stress is an acute problem, it affects our resistance.
Thus (excessive) chronic stress increases the cortisol level. This physiological change is the cause of many problems:
- Certain areas in the brain (hypophysis, hypothalamus) decrease the production of testosterone (in the testicles).
- Muscles and other skinny tissues are broken down
- Capture and stacking of body fat
- Being resistant to insulin, too high blood sugar levels, insufficient insulin production, fat and cholesterol levels, and high blood pressure. All of this is called metabolic syndromeor syndrome Xand can cause type II diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
- Inhibition of certain reactions of the immune system
- Too low bone mass or even osteoporosis
- Cortisol has an effect on the brain region – the hippocampus – which plays a central role in reading and memory
- Depression and insomnia
- Despite these possible harmful effects, cortisol production is essential. Excessive chronic stress can cause adrenal fatigue and cause a cortisol deficiency, resulting in adrenal dysfunction.
This inability to release sufficient cortisol in stress is accompanied by fatigue, lethargy, irritability and inability to effectively fight the stressor. Reduced cortisol production by the adrenal gland is considered to be the cause of various diseases such as: chronic fatigue syndrome, inflammatory diseases and autoimmune diseases.