Why does our body make cortisol when we're stressed?
Cortisol, often called the stress hormone, is something we've all heard about, right? It's super common these days because stress is everywhere, and when we talk about stress, cortisol always comes up. But why does our body make cortisol when we're stressed?
HEALTH
Cortisol, often called the stress hormone, is something we've all heard about, right? It's super common these days because stress is everywhere, and when we talk about stress, cortisol always comes up. But why does our body make cortisol when we're stressed?
Well, when we're in stressful situations, our body needs a lot of energy to keep up. This energy helps us think clearly and do physical tasks at our best. And where does this energy come from? It's from sugar or glucose that's already in our body.
Here's how it works: When we're stressed, our body sends a signal to the hypothalamus (a part of our brain) to release a hormone called CRH corticotropin releasing hormone. This hormone tells the pituitary gland (another small gland in our brain) to release ACTH, which then travels through our bloodstream and tells the adrenal glands (located on top of our kidneys) to make and release cortisol into the bloodstream.
So, what does cortisol do? Its main job is to increase the amount of glucose in our blood to match the extra energy our body needs during stress. It does this by breaking down proteins and fats to make glucose (a process called gluconeogenesis) and by breaking down stored glucose (glycogen) to release more glucose into the bloodstream (glycogenolysis).
Aside from its main job, cortisol also has other roles:
It helps reduce inflammation in our body, which can be helpful during times of stress.
It can increase our blood pressure and heart rate, which helps get more oxygen to our organs when we're stressed.
It can make us more alert and focused mentally, so we can deal with challenges quickly.
It affects how our kidneys balance water and electrolytes (like sodium), helping maintain our blood volume and pressure.
During acute stress, cortisol levels rise as part of the body's fight-or-flight response. This surge in cortisol helps mobilize energy reserves and ensures that glucose is readily available for vital functions, such as fueling the brain, muscles, and other organs during the stress response.
While acute increases in cortisol during stress are beneficial for energy mobilization, chronic elevation of cortisol levels (as seen in chronic stress or conditions like Cushing's syndrome) can lead to dysregulation of glucose metabolism. Prolonged exposure to high cortisol levels can contribute to insulin resistance, impaired glucose tolerance, and increased risk of developing metabolic disorders such as type 2 diabetes.