Dr. Yoshi's Blog

Cortisol – The Stress Hormone to Keep in Check

Who hasn’t dealt with stress? With approaching deadlines, frantic schedules, and a multitude of tasks that need to get done, stress has become an unavoidable part of our days and even our nights. While occasional stress may not affect your well-being, regular stressful episodes can eventually begin to take a toll on your health if not properly managed. Every time we become stressed, our body reacts by producing and releasing cortisol, also known as the stress hormone, into the bloodstream. Studies show that high levels of this hormone can produce serious health problems and increase the chances of dying from heart disease. Are you at risk? Yoshi Rahm, DO, an osteopathic physician from Glendale, CA, discusses the symptoms associated with increased cortisol levels and provides tips to help keep your stress and health in check.

How can increased cortisol levels affect your health?

If you have trouble sleeping during the night, difficulty recovering after exercise, or excessive cravings after 5 p.m., you might be experiencing the effects of high cortisol levels, which result when the body is under intense stress. Is cortisol completely bad for your health? “No,” says Dr. Rahm. “A small rise in cortisol levels is normal. That is your body's natural response to stress. In fact, normal cortisol levels actually help to strengthen the heart muscle and control blood pressure and blood sugar levels,” he notes. According to Dr. Rahm, a normal cortisol level should peak in the morning hours between 3 a.m. and 7 a.m. and then steadily decline throughout the day. It becomes dangerous when the body experiences chronic stress, because over time, these levels increase above optimal range, and can put you at risk for developing sleeping, memory and digestive problems, as well as serious mental and physical problems. Symptoms may include:

●       Fatigue

●       Anxiety

●       Depression

●       Irritability

●       Weight gain

●       Increased blood pressure

●        Difficulty recovering from exercise

If you suffer from these symptoms, Dr. Rahm recommends visiting your physician for proper diagnosis and treatment.

How can you keep your stress and cortisol levels at a healthy level?

“It starts with proper nutrition, hydration, a balanced exercise routine, and plenty of sleep,” says Dr. Rahm. To help regulate your body’s cortisol levels and maintain good health, Dr. Rahm recommends:

1.      Avoiding toxins such as cigarette smoke, chewing tobacco, and caffeinated beverages like coffee and tea.

2.      Avoiding sugar and reducing starchy carbohydrates in your diet.

3.      Routine daily exercise, which helps ultimately reduce resting cortisol levels; however, make sure to limit extreme heart activity, such as intense training exercise, to 40 minutes, since that’s when cortisol levels peak.

4.       Implementing recovery based exercise, such as walking, Pilates or yoga to regulate cortisol output.

5.      Getting around 7-8 hours of uninterrupted sleep a night, ideally from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.

6.      Practicing relaxation techniques, such as meditation.

“If you’re suffering with stress symptoms on a daily basis, it is important to work with your physician to determine a stress management strategy, says Dr. Rahm. “Most of the time, a few key lifestyle changes are all it takes to reduce stress and improve your health.”

Staying stress-free and healthy

Stress may be unavoidable, but it is not impossible to manage. “Taking steps to implement better nutrition, exercise, and lifestyle changes into your weekly schedule can help regulate your stress and cortisol levels,” says Dr. Rahm. “Stress is a part of life, but with the guidance of your physician and stress management techniques, you can begin to take control of stress and your cortisol levels before they control you.”

Preventive medicine is just one aspect of care osteopathic physicians provide. DOs are fully licensed to prescribe medicine and practice in all specialty areas, including surgery. DOs are trained to consider the health of the whole person and use their hands to help diagnose and treat their patients.

Medical Disclaimer: Information provided in this blog is for informational purposes only. The information is a result of years of practice and experience by Yoshi Rahm, DO. However, this information is NOT intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other healthcare professional, or any information contained on or in any product label or packaging.

Do not use the information provided in this blog for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing medication or other treatment. Always speak with your physician or other healthcare professional before taking any medication or nutritional, herbal or homeopathic supplement, or using any treatment for a health problem. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem, contact your health care provider promptly. Do not disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking professional advice because of something you have read in this blog.

Information provided in this blog and the use of any products or services related to this blog by you DOES NOT create a doctor-patient relationship between you and Yoshi Rahm, DO. or any other physician featured in this blog. Information and statements regarding dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.