Endocrinologist with 23 years of experience - about the most important hormone in our body
If without testosterone a person can live for decades, badly, but live, then without cortisol it won't last even a few hours.
Why do we need cortisol
It is produced in the adrenal glands and is the main adaptogen, that is, the substance that contributes to better adaptation of the body to changing environmental conditions. Therefore, it is also called stress hormone: When we are in a difficult situation, the adrenal glands release cortisol, which helps us to survive.
In addition, he:
- Provides the body with energy. To do this, it controls and stimulates the process of glucose production in the liver, and then monitors the level of glucose in the blood.
- Monitors the level of blood pressure.
- Protects against various infections.
Which leads to exhaustion
How can we save the production of such an important hormone?
Well first try it in time go to sleep.
In the morning, cortisol is the most, and we wake up sleeping, full of strength and vigor. By the evening, his concentration tends to a minimum, in order to make room for another hormone - melatonin.
If we overcame ourselves and continued to be awake when we wanted to sleep, then the level of cortisol rises again, the sleep goes away and we continue our activity further.
If staying awake at night becomes the norm, the body adjusts to this regime, but this does not mean that everything goes without consequences. For the body, this situation is stressful and it will slowly but surely deplete the adrenal glands, constantly spurring the synthesis of cortisol.
Considering that we are not only disrupting the rhythms of sleep and wakefulness, but also by consuming an excessive amount of simple carbohydrates, alcohol, various kinds of stimulants, we live in conditions of constant noise (one of the negative factors of urbanization), etc., all this early or late will lead to exhaustion, the so-called state of Adrenal fatique or "adrenal fatigue".
Your Doctor Pavlova
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