Confusion between high and low cortisol levels and diagnostic difficulties
Even if a 24- hour salivary cortisol test shows an abnormal result, the actual symptoms may not necessarily match typical high or low cortisol levels. Some people experience symptoms of both, making diagnosis even more difficult.
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Typical symptoms of high cortisol
The classic manifestation of high cortisol is Cushing's syndrome, which includes:
- Waist obesity, limb muscle atrophy
- Round face, insomnia
- Blood sugar problems, gluteal muscle atrophy
- Acne, allergies, low vitamin D levels
- Hyperactive thinking, osteoporosis, etc.
Typical symptoms of low cortisol
Low cortisol levels are associated with Addison's disease, and symptoms include:
- Underweight, darkened skin
- vitiligo, weakened immunity
- Intense craving for salt, extreme fatigue
Rare extreme diseases
Both Cushing's disease and Addison's disease are rare illnesses, with the former occurring in about three cases per million people per year and the latter in about one case per 10,000 people. Most people do not fall into either of these extreme categories.
The Latent Problems of Cortisol: Subclinical State
Many people are in a subclinical state that is difficult to detect, and blood or saliva tests may not be able to detect it early. This change occurs gradually and does not turn into disease overnight.
Cortisol resistance: similar to insulin resistance
Cortisol receptors may become "degraded" due to prolonged high-concentration stimulation, preventing cortisol from functioning properly; this is known as cortisol resistance. In this situation, the adrenal glands continue to secrete cortisol, but the body cannot effectively receive the signals, resulting in the coexistence of high and low cortisol symptoms.
Endocrine system disorder
When cortisol signals cannot be transmitted back to the hypothalamus and pituitary gland, the shutdown mechanism fails, and the adrenal glands continue to secrete cortisol, creating a vicious cycle.
How to improve cortisol resistance
The primary task is to identify and minimize the sources of stress. Stress reduction can be aided by exercise, dietary adjustments, nutritional supplements, and massage.
Nutritional recommendations
Cortisol resistance involves glucocorticoid receptor function. The study mentions certain drugs that act as receptor agonists , stimulating receptor responses, but with a high risk of side effects. In contrast, natural plants such as ginseng may have similar effects, but their effectiveness is limited if the root cause of stress is not addressed.
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Conclusion: The key lies in stress reduction.
If you're confused about whether you have high or low cortisol, the most important thing isn't to immediately categorize it, but to focus on identifying the sources of stress and actively reducing them. This is the fundamental way to improve cortisol-related issues.
YouTube source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRrIlsT7T44
YouTube Column: Dr. Berger in Chinese Health knowledge
