Function

• Cortisol is a hormone that is the most prevalent in the morning just after you wake and the least in the evening before you go to bed. It's commonly associated with stress because it is secreted when the body finds itself in a compromising situation that evokes the "fight or flight" response. In this manner, cortisol can be a very helpful hormone that allows our bodies to respond swiftly to dangers and everyday stresses. When an individual is consistently stressed, however, cortisol can take its toll on the body.
  
  

Treatments

• Cortisol occurs naturally in the body, but it can also be manufactured. When cortisol is made artificially it is called hydrocortisone, which is used as an immune system suppressant. This drug is typically administered after a patient has a severe allergic reaction to something he has eaten or otherwise come into contact with. After suppressing the immune system with hydrocortisone, the body is enable to continue processing the allergy-inducing item, which reduces its effects on the body and can prevent the person from entering into anaphylaxis. In addition to allergies, hydrocortisone can also be used to treat gout and Addisonian disease, which occurs when the body does not produce enough steroid hormones naturally.
  
  

Positive Effects of Cortisol

• Cortisol performs many important functions that not only allow the body to react properly to stress but also keep the body in good working order. It acts as a regulator of blood pressure as well as of the secretion and metabolism of glucose and insulin in times of stress. Essentially, cortisol allows the body to prepare to face off or run from a threat by regulating, increasing and halting bodily functions that will either help or hinder the fight against stress.
  
  

Negative Effects of Cortisol

• People who are chronically over-stressed will experience the prolonged effects of cortisol, which is not a good thing. Maintaining abnormally high levels of cortisol in the body due to stress can lead to lower bone density and muscle mass, hypertension, blood sugar instability, increased belly fat and a weakened immune system, all of which can leave your body vulnerable to other sicknesses.
  
  

Preventing Prolonged Cortisol Effects

• The easiest way to combat stress is with relaxation, which will keep cortisol at normal levels. Various stress management strategies can be utilized to fight stress, including yoga, pilates, deep breathing, closing one's eyes, listening to soothing music, writing thoughts in a journal and meditation. Individuals who experience abnormally high levels of stress and who are unable to relax once the immediate fight-or-flight risk vanishes should talk to their doctors about ways to lower stress and, therefore, cortisol levels.