{"id":36823,"date":"2025-04-15T07:00:23","date_gmt":"2025-04-15T07:00:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/updates-www.mccdn.io\/vitals\/?p=36823"},"modified":"2025-10-08T21:26:44","modified_gmt":"2025-10-08T21:26:44","slug":"breaking-down-the-truth-about-cortisol","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/updates-www.mccdn.io\/vitals\/breaking-down-the-truth-about-cortisol\/","title":{"rendered":"Breaking down the truth about cortisol","gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"text"}]},"content":{"rendered":"

You\u2019re scrolling on social media and see a post that says, \u201cIf you have the following symptoms, you need to lower your cortisol levels.\u201d<\/p>\n

Those symptoms include bloating \u2014 especially in the face \u2014 fatigue, acne or weight gain. The confusing part is that these symptoms can be caused by many things, not just one hormone.<\/p>\n

Your tiredness or skin conditions might be more about lifestyle and stress than a health problem, says Nabonita Barua, MD<\/a>, with MultiCare Endocrinology Specialists in Tacoma<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople are fatigued for a lot of reasons,\u201d adds Carol Wysham, MD<\/a>, with MultiCare Rockwood Clinic Endocrinology and Diabetes Education<\/a>. \u201cPeople want a reason for it that is easy to explain and fix \u2026 and there are plenty of people out there who will feed on that and give them an unnecessary test or treatment plan.\u201d<\/p>\n

Public conversations like this come and go, adds Dr. Wysham. In the 1980s, it was low blood sugar, and in the 1990s, yeast infections. Social media can make these conversations seem even louder and more confusing these days.<\/p>\n

Resist the urge to jump to conclusions based on a few things you heard online. Dr. Wysham and Dr. Barua recommend tracking your symptoms and bringing concerns to your primary care provider.<\/p>\n

To help you understand, we broke down what you need to know about cortisol.<\/p>\n

What is cortisol?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Cortisol, also known as the fight-or-flight hormone, is produced in the adrenal gland. It helps your body respond to stress and fight infection, says Dr. Barua. It also helps regulate salt, water and blood pressure, adds Dr. Wysham.<\/p>\n

Because it\u2019s involved in so many important processes, cortisol can have a significant impact on life-sustaining functions and overall quality of life.<\/p>\n

What causes cortisol abnormalities?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The best way to find out what\u2019s causing your symptoms and check your cortisol levels is to talk to your provider and complete any tests they recommend.<\/p>\n

A blood test will be the first step, although cortisol can be tricky to measure, Dr. Wysham warns. Cortisol is released in bursts and is highest in the morning. A single cortisol test may not be enough to determine your normal range. So, you may need to have multiple blood draws or do salivary tests throughout the day to track levels.<\/p>\n

If tests show abnormal levels, your doctor or other health care provider will request imaging of the adrenal and pituitary glands.<\/p>\n","protected":false,"gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"html"}]},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

You\u2019re scrolling on social media and see a post that says, \u201cIf you have the following symptoms, you need to lower your cortisol levels.\u201d Those symptoms include bloating \u2014 especially in the face \u2014 fatigue, acne or weight gain. The confusing part is that these symptoms can be caused by many things, not just one […]<\/p>\n","protected":false,"gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"html"}]},"author":115,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[39,127,99],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-36823","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-behavioral-health","category-healthy-living","category-primary-care"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nBreaking down the truth about cortisol - MultiCare Vitals<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Those symptoms include bloating \u2014 especially in the face \u2014 fatigue, acne or weight gain. 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