
High Cortisol Levels Can Lead to An Array of Health Problems – Here Are Simple Ways to Lower Your Stress Hormone

Your senses suddenly wake up from sleep when you hear a weird noise late at night or you also almost instantly jump out of the way when a bike is approaching your way – these responses are possible because of cortisol, a naturally produced hormone in our bodies that is in charge of stress and how we react to it.
How Cortisol Works
Known as the ‘fight or flight’ hormone, cortisol is released by the brain when it senses a threat, causing you to decide whether to run from or address a conflict. However, responding to a stressor may result in heavy and rapid breathing, increased heart rate, and tensed muscles.
Ideally, after you have addressed the issue, your cortisol levels should go back to its normal state. While this response is a big factor in helping us survive on a daily basis, some people don’t return to their pre-threat phase.
This means that their cortisol levels remain elevated. Chronic cases, or if prolonged, can result in depression, chronic fatigue, decreased immune system function, digestive issues, and weight gain.
Get Quality, Sufficient Sleep
More often than not, we think that sleeping is just our body’s way of resting, but little did we know that this is the time when our systems do the restoration of the different parts. Experts advise to get at least seven hours at night but anything less than the recommended prompts cortisol production.

Stock-Asso/Shutterstock — Sleeping is the body’s way of restoring and recharging
Sleep deprived people were found to have high levels of cortisol, a study said. The brain needs seven hours a day to complete the sleep cycle and those who have variations can result in chronic stress.
Relax and Meditate
There’s nothing that can regulate your cortisol levels better than by knowing how to handle stressors. You can’t really control external factors that may be problematic for you but you can manage how your body reacts.

Fizkes/Shutterstock — Meditation can help you manage stress
Relaxation, yoga, meditation, deep breathing, and so many others are just great ways to lower cortisol levels, neurologist Dalia Lorenzo said. In other words, if you are feeling stressed, try your best to practice these activities.
Check What You Eat
Contrary to popular opinion, what we eat also has an effect on how we handle threats. If we have high cortisol levels, our brain is tricked into thinking that we should consume sweets and fatty foods.
When the cortisol level is heightened, the tendency is that we choose comfort foods rather than healthy ones, which, in turn, increases the hormones even more. Avoid fast food, soda, fruit juice, chips, cookies, and candies when you’re stressed.
Spend Time with Your Pet

VK Studio/Shutterstock — Caring for pets takes away your thoughts from stressful things
Apart from relaxing, one effective way to relieve stress is by caring for a pet. For some people, it can be therapeutic to hold and hug their cuddly friends, thereby reducing cortisol.
More in Mental Health
-
`
Is Humor An Important Life Skill?
According to Mark Twain, humor is the greatest boon of mankind. It helps us to erase all the hard feelings to...
December 10, 2020 -
`
Here Is How You Can Schedule Relaxing Techniques Into Your Regime!
Hustling and getting busy with life is great. But it would help if you also give yourself some time to relax...
December 9, 2020 -
`
Here’s How COVID-19 Pandemic Might Affect Health Insurance Coverage
The COVID-19 crisis is having a disastrous effect on the planet’s population. Thousands across the world have fallen prey to the...
December 8, 2020 -
`
Say Goodbye To Morning Fatigue With These Super-Foods!
It’s quite common to feel exhausted when you wake up in the morning, but did you know that this is one...
December 7, 2020 -
`
Still Not Sold to the Idea of Getting Health Insurance? Here Are Six Reasons to Convince You to Get One!
Health insurance is critical, no matter how we deny it. Though, for some reason, this could be a financial burden due...
December 4, 2020 -
`
How Swarovski’s Heiress is Making it on Her Own in the World of Sustainable Fashion
Despite the stereotype that’s sometimes portrayed in the media, not all heirs are undeservedly entitled or unwilling to put in the...
December 3, 2020 -
`
Expecting a Baby Soon? Get Ready for the Baby Train with Financial Planning and Health Insurance
Being an adult comes with many responsibilities. You have to pay bills, make ends meet, and when it finally comes down...
December 2, 2020 -
`
Everything You Wanted To Know About Health Maintenance Organizations
People who want to secure their medical coverage may discover several health insurance providers out there in the marketplace, Health Maintenance...
December 1, 2020 -
`
The Biggest Sins Of Private Health Insurance
The idea of competition is deep-rooted in the economic system of the United States. It is so widespread within the system...
November 27, 2020
You must be logged in to post a comment Login