Are you always feeling weak and tired? Are you suffering from gastrointestinal problems like vomiting and diarrhea? Do you have hyperpigmentation on some parts of your skin? Have you had significant unexplained weight loss? It’s possible that you suffer from low cortisol and fatigue, problems that can be resolved with cortisol replacement.

What Is Cortisol and What Does it Do?

Cortisol refers to the naturally occurring hormone produced by the adrenal glands. The adrenal glands are located on top of the kidneys. This hormone controls blood sugar levels, blood pressure, and circulation. It also plays an essential role in the body’s response to stress, both emotional and physical.

Some of cortisol’s vital responsibilities include:

• Maintenance of blood pressure level
• Maintenance of heart function
• Inhibition of immune system’s inflammation response
• Balancing of insulin effects in sugar breakdown for energy
• Regulation of the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins

The normal level of cortisol is from six to 23 mcg/dL (micrograms per deciliter). The number can rise and drop throughout the day and so, usually, the cortisol level is measured at the beginning of the day.

Certain conditions can impair the body’s ability to produce cortisol. Pituitary or adrenal gland abnormalities, for example, can cause the cortisol level to drop. When the cortisol deficiency is quite serious, there’s a need to replace it with a synthetic form of the hormone, which is a procedure called cortisol replacement therapy.

Low Cortisol Levels and Adrenal Fatigue

Adrenal Fatigue is a more commonly occurring condition due to modern lifestyles that are filled with stressful situations: high-pressure jobs, not having a job, economic duress, as well as personal relationship issues place pressure on the Adrenal glands. The adrenal glands respond by pumping out Cortisol as a solution to handle stress. The more stress, the more Cortisol the adrenals shoot out, until, after a period of time, they are exhausted, at which point the Adrenal glands are running on empty and cannot produce sufficient amounts of Cortisol to maintain a healthy standard for the body. This condition, ‘adrenal fatigue’, ‘adrenal burnout’ leaves one tired in the morning, and wired at night. This vicious cycle has one unable to sleep at night and unable to wake easily in the morning, tired much of the day and feeling unwell.

Be On The Lookout For Signs Of Cortisol Deficiency