Total Cortisol

High levels of cortisol in your body could indicate that your body is under a lot of stress, either physically or emotionally. This could be due to a variety of reasons such as a stressful lifestyle, lack of sleep, or even certain medications like corticosteroids. It could also be a sign of a medical condition like Cushing's syndrome, which is a disorder that occurs when your body produces too much cortisol over a long period. Other potential causes could be a tumor in the adrenal gland or pituitary gland, which can lead to an overproduction of cortisol. High cortisol levels can also be a result of heavy drinking or malnutrition. It's important to note that while these could be potential causes, high cortisol levels are not definitive proof of any specific condition or issue.

Symptoms of high levels of cortisol could include rapid weight gain, particularly around the face and upper body, thinning skin that bruises easily, muscle weakness, mood swings, increased thirst and urination, high blood pressure, and in women, irregular menstrual cycles.

Low levels of cortisol could mean that your adrenal glands, the small organs above your kidneys, aren't producing enough of this important hormone. This could be due to a condition called Addison's disease, or possibly due to certain medications like steroids that can affect hormone production. It could also be a sign of adrenal insufficiency, where the adrenal glands aren't functioning properly. Low cortisol levels might also be caused by a pituitary gland issue, as this gland sends signals to the adrenal glands to produce cortisol. External factors like chronic stress or illness could also potentially lower cortisol levels. In essence, low cortisol levels could indicate that your body's natural alarm system isn't working as well as it should be, which could affect various body functions like stress response, blood sugar regulation, inflammation reduction, memory formulation, and the balance of water and salts in your body.

Symptoms of low levels of cortisol could include fatigue, weight loss, muscle weakness, low blood pressure, mood swings, and skin changes.