# Cortisol - Author: **Cleveland Clinic** - Document Tags: [[cortisol]] - [URL link](https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/22187-cortisol)  ## Highlights - Cortisol is a glucocorticoid hormone that your adrenal glands produce and release. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01hmny82fjxev3zgj9x6f5w0zt)) --- - Glucocorticoids are a type of steroid hormone. They suppress inflammation in all of your bodily tissues and control metabolism in your muscles, fat, liver and bones. Glucocorticoids also affect sleep-wake cycles. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01hmny8cky501apn86k0y4fvbp)) --- - plays many important roles, including: • Regulating your body’s [stress](https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/11874-stress) response. • Helping control your body’s use of fats, proteins and carbohydrates, or your [metabolism](https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/21893-metabolism). • Helping control your sleep-wake cycle. - Note: High metabolism, high stress, late sleep/wake cycle ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01hmny9m44bx57852gf3h69x9n)) --- - Almost all tissues in your body have glucocorticoid receptors. Because of this, cortisol can affect nearly every organ system ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01hmnyc1rzp0d82x5953pt0em2)) --- - During times of stress, your body can release cortisol after releasing its “fight or flight” hormones, such as adrenaline, so you continue to stay on high alert - Note: So related to fight or flight response triggered by Adderall? ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01hmnycy4hv81f56b3jf28ecjw)) --- - In short spurts, cortisol can boost your immunity by limiting inflammation. However, if you have consistently high levels of cortisol, your body can get used to having too much cortisol in your blood, which can lead to inflammation and a weakened immune system ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01hmnyehg090qk68hpqzmh7rvd)) --- - The exact way in which cortisol regulates blood pressure in humans is unclear. However, elevated levels of cortisol can cause high blood pressure, and lower-than-normal levels of cortisol can cause low blood pressure ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01hmnyewsvxmjysmap03vts120)) --- - Under regular circumstances, you have lower cortisol levels in the evening when you go to sleep and peak levels in the morning right before you wake up. This suggests that cortisol plays a significant role in the initiation of wakefulness and plays a part in your body’s circadian rhythm. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01hmnyg3kx5npjctt5bzeqd17p)) --- - • 6 a.m. to 8 a.m.: 10 to 20 micrograms per deciliter (mcg/dL). • Around 4 p.m.: 3 to 10 mcg/dL. - Note: Was this part of my other blood tests? ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01hmnyj6ywa18112y6bkpx2jg3)) --- - Experiencing abnormally high levels of cortisol (hypercortisolism) for an extended period of time is usually considered [Cushing’s syndrome](https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/5497-cushings-syndrome), which is a rare condition ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01hmnykwgh0y4dmwpkwgv8bqng)) --- - Symptoms of lower-than-normal cortisol levels, or adrenal insufficiency, include: • [Fatigue](https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/21206-fatigue). • Poor appetite. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01hmnyn6pzs771asv075c0zpp6)) ---