How to Reduce Cortisol Production in the Body

Stress causes adrenal and pituitary glands to release cortisol.

The stress of modern life may overwork adrenal glands. Designed to pour "fight or flight" adrenaline into our blood streams in physically dangerous conditions, our adrenals can't discern whether a saber-toothed tiger or an angry co-worker causes rapid breathing, elevated pulse and respiration.

Cortisol and other corticosteroids naturally occur in the body. Cortisol increases occur when the pituitary gland signals the release of ACTH, adrenocorticotropic hormone. Excess cortisol may indicate adrenal/pituitary problems.

Things You'll Need

• Physical examination by your doctor
• Cortisol test, if indicated
• Stress reduction techniques
• Dietary eliminations
• Vitamin and herbal supplementation, if indicated

Instructions

Diagnosis and Treatment of Elevated Cortisol

1. 

   Stress, depression, injury and heavy physical activity can increase cortisol levels.

   A physical examination provided by your M.D. or naturopathic physician determines your state of wellness. Your medical team takes vital signs, and records weight, height and heart rate. She evaluates:

   --If you have gained significant weight since your last physical--more than 5 percent over your last weight record--your doctor will ask about what lifestyle changes, if any, caused weight gain. She will then counsel you about how to manage weight.

   --A physical exam and blood work. A complete blood analysis checks proteins, circulating blood fats, sugar and hormone levels. High blood fats called triglycerides may point to elevated cortisol levels.

   The body releases more cortisol during periods of pregnancy, obesity, medications-use, hyperthyroidism, emotional stress, injury and illness and heavy physical labor. Your physician will consider these issues in examination.

   Diabetes also affects cortisol levels and metabolic changes. If elevated glucose and other symptoms present, such as weight loss/gain, blurred vision or increased thirst, your doctor will counsel and treat the underlying condition. She will recommend physical exercise, dietary changes and methods to test and adjust insulin levels to control high blood sugars.

   High cortisol levels will prompt your doctor to test for possible adrenal or pituitary illness.

2. 

   "Burnout" caused by life's stresses may be cured with rest and relaxation.

   Additional tests to determine the reasons for elevated cortisol help your doctor define a treatment plan.

   --For example, constant stress on the job creates "burnout." Your doctor may recommend restructuring work hours or even changing jobs. She will recommend taking rest and relaxation periods. She will most definitely recommend a higher quality diet, because eating highly refined, fried and processed foods creates nutritional stress.

   --Your doctor will also evaluate all medicines you take. For example, birth control pills, other hormones or cortisone use impact cortisol levels. Some diuretics like Novo-Spiroton, Aldactazide, Spiractin, Spirotone, Verospiron, Berlactone and Aldactone affect cortisol levels.

   --Your doctor will explain whether your cortisol levels are elevated or of serious concern. Cushing's Disease, a serious condition, causes unusual fat storage in the back, facial roundness, fatigue, high blood pressure and elevated blood sugar. Treatment includes medication, radiation, and surgery.

   --Pituitary tumors also cause highly elevated cortisol levels. Treatment of tumors requires medication, surgery and/or radiation therapies.

3. 

   Higher quality foods help people with elevated cortisol.

   Doctors determine that most people with elevated cortisol are not gravely ill. Lifestyle changes, such as exercise, nutritional supplementation--if vitamins and omega-3 fats levels are too low--and a higher quality diet help many people to regulate high cortisol levels.

   Vitamin C, natural soy products and soy-derived phospholipids--from 100 to 200 mg per day, fatty fish--or omega-3 supplementation, and black and green teas have clinically reduced cortisol levels in medically conducted studies.

1. 

Tips & Warnings

• Healthy diet, stress reduction, and reasonable work-life balance assist most people in maintaining health.

• Always consult your doctor about fatigue, unexplained weight gain or loss, or memory changes.

• A medical diagnosis is necessary before proper treatment and healing may begin. Never self-treat any illness or injury.

• Supplements, like vitamins, herbs and over-the-counter preparations, are medicines. Never take supplements without your doctor's advice to include these supplements in proper dosage to your regimen.

References

• MD Consult: Cortisol production rate
• Lab Tests Online: test for possible adrenal
• Medicine Net: illness
• Web MD: cortisol levels
• "The Better Brain Book"; D. Permutter, M.D.: lifestyle changes

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• "Diabetes: Splanchnic cortisol production occurs in humans:"; R. Basu et al; 2004
• "Molecular Endocrinology: T-type Ca2+ Channels, Cortisol Projection"; Enyeart et al; 1993
• "The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology: mt1 Melantonin Receptor..."; Torres-Farfan et al; 2003
• "The Endocrine System"; Joy Hinson; 2007
• "AJP: Endocrinology and Metabolism: Enhanced Cortisol Production..."; 2008