Stress is a natural response of the body to situations experienced as threatening or that require a very, very quick response in general. However, beyond the elements of stress visible to the naked eye, such as an accelerated pulse or muscle tension, there is a whole series of very complex hormonal processes responsible for, in the first place, us being able to be stressed in certain situations. that life poses to us. And among all these hormones involved, there is one that stands out above all the others: cortisol.
As with the hormones that our body uses to function, cortisol is not in itself a substance that harms us. However, if certain circumstances exist, exposing ourselves too much to this hormone can lead to problems. Therefore, in this article we will talk about the effects that having too high cortisol has on our body that is, when it is much more present in our blood than one would expect.
Cortisol, also known as the “stress hormone” is a steroid hormone that is responsible for regulating the body in stress situations
It is a key substance that, in addition to playing a fundamental role in states of stress, also regulates blood pressure and has functions in glucose metabolism, insulin release and the inflammatory response.
As a hormone, we can better understand cortisol by seeing it as a molecule that once it is released into our bloodstream from certain glands in the body, it is moved through the circulatory system until it reaches certain cells that capture it and experience a certain reaction. because of that. If we now broaden the focus and see how there are thousands of cortisol molecules “sailing” in the blood at the same time, and that they can reach many different parts of the body, we will get an idea of the complexity of their functioning. However, in summary we could say that Cortisol causes the body to shift all its priorities to the most absolute short-termism, leaving processes with medium and long-term benefits in the background and focusing on what is necessary to react quickly to the demands of the present moment. When the body releases a lot of cortisol, it is because we have entered a kind of state of emergency.
In moments when we experience a real or imagined threat, the body prepares to respond in two ways: through the confrontation reaction against that threat or through avoidance or escape from it Cortisol is responsible for controlling these responses to stressful situations in which the person experiences a state of tension and attention to the immediate; It is in these cases when the adrenal glands react by releasing cortisol as a physiological response.
What are the main effects of having high cortisol?
As we have seen, cortisol is an important hormone that has proven to be key throughout human history and since before our birth as a species, since facing any threat directly meant the difference between death or survival.
However, high levels of cortisol are also related to a wide variety of negative aspects and diseases, as we will see below. Let’s see, then, what the effects of high cortisol are.
1. Emotional instability
Emotional instability is one of the first consequences of high levels of cortisol in the body, and these They manifest themselves in greater irritability and a tendency to experience anxiety more or less suddenly
An excess of cortisol makes the person more irritated during the day, which means that they face different problems with less control of their emotions and interact in an uncompromising way with other people, taking any problem, unforeseen event or new situation badly. that I must face.
This results in more conflict with everyone throughout the day, which in turn generates more stress and a greater propensity to be hot-headed, irritated, or sad.
A high level of cortisol, It also causes blood sugar levels to rise suddenly which can in turn cause a series of serious health diseases.
One of the main diseases that can be caused by this sudden high level of blood sugar is hyperglycemia, caused by the stimulation of the liver to produce more glucose by cortisol.
In the long run, hypoglycemia can cause harmful symptoms for the body such as weakness, blurred vision, shortness of breath, abdominal pain, and nausea or vomiting.
3. Increase in blood pressure
As we have indicated, cortisol plays a specific role in the control and management of arterial blood flow in the human body, which is why high levels of the stress hormone can cause us to have higher blood pressure.
This is related, in turn, to a greater propensity to be stressed during the day and to experience any situation that arises with greater stress, making it difficult for us to control our emotions and impulses.
4. Cognitive alterations
Excess cortisol also causes cognitive alterations in some of the most important mental functions, the ability to concentrate and memory being the most affected. Above all, it is striking that when this hormone is present in high quantities in our body, we tend to create fewer memories, or memorize fewer important details When, in addition, we suffer a very high cortisol “peak” at a specific moment linked to strong stress (for example, in a traffic accident), it is common that minutes later we do not remember anything.
This usually means that people affected by this problem have difficulties carrying out their daily activities.
5. Decreased bone density
Decreased bone density, also known as osteoporosis, is a direct effect of a high level of cortisol in the body when it is maintained for a long time, and consists of a decrease in the absorption of calcium in the body
Osteoporosis is a severe deficiency that can lead to a series of problems, such as the tendency to break bones regularly, as they become porous and less resistant.
6. Decrease in muscle tissue
In addition to affecting the bones, elevated cortisol also affects the muscles or muscle tissue, since they are noticeably decreased the higher the level of this hormone is. Ultimately, cortisol puts priority on rapid metabolism so that the body has a lot of energy available to be “burned” quickly, and that involves getting rid of valuable resources when creating muscle.
That is why it is important to keep in mind that the more stressed we are, the more risk we run of losing part of our muscle tissue and the weaker we may become.
7. Weight gain
Another important effect that high cholesterol levels can have on people’s bodies is a rapid increase in body weight although this does not have to be due only to biological processes: being very stressed usually gives rise to a false feeling of hunger, or emotional hunger.
Are you looking for psychological assistance?
If you are interested in having professional psychological assistance, I invite you to contact me.
My name is Thomas Saint Cecilia and I am a psychologist specialized in cognitive-behavioral psychology; I can assist you in person or online by video call.
