Content

• Steps
• Warning

Cortisol is a hormone produced naturally in the adrenal glands. Cortisol controls metabolism, regulates blood pressure and helps the immune system function properly, so it is important to maintain normal cortisol levels in the body. Cortisol deficiency is a serious condition and can be a sign that the adrenal glands are not working well. Read on to see how this article teaches you how to increase your cortisol to a normal level.

Steps

Part 1 of 3: Know if you have low cortisol

1. 

   Notice if you have symptoms of cortisol deficiency. Many people worry about cortisol levels too highElevated cortisol levels can lead to weight gain, fatigue, and more severe symptoms. However, too low cortisol levels are equally harmful. If your adrenal glands are damaged, or if you have fatigue adrenal syndrome, your body may not be able to produce enough cortisol to regulate your blood pressure and keep your immune system working properly. The following are common symptoms of cortisol deficiency:
   • Weight loss and loss of appetite
   • Low blood pressure
   • Fainting and fainting
   • Tired
   • Lack of energy even at rest
   • Vomiting, nausea, and abdominal pain
   • Craving for salt
   • Hyperpigmentation (dark spots on the skin)
   • Muscle weakness or pain
   • Uneasiness and depression
   • Heart beat fast
   • Tired
   • Loss of body hair and decreased libido in women

2. 

   
   
   Get a cortisol level test. If you suspect that your cortisol is too low, make an appointment with your doctor to test your cortisol levels. This test requires a blood sample sent to a lab to check your cortisol levels. Cortisol usually peaks in the morning, lower in the afternoon and evening. In some cases, your doctor will order two tests on the same day to compare your morning and evening cortisol levels. Based on a comparison with normal cortisol levels, your doctor will determine if your cortisol level is low or if you have Addison's disease (primary adrenal insufficiency).
   • There are several types of cortisol tests, including saliva, blood, and urine tests. In addition, your doctor may also test for other hormones such as TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone test), free T3 and T4, total thyroxine, DHEA, and 17-HP to determine cortisol levels.
   • The "normal" range may vary from laboratory to laboratory, but in general, the morning average in adults or children ranges from 5–23 mcg / dL, or 138–635 nmol / L. Average afternoon levels in adults or children ranged from 3–16 mcg / dL or 83–441 nmol / L.
   • You should see your doctor to test your cortisol instead of trying it yourself at home. The saliva test kits advertised online are not as reliable as the blood samples analyzed in the lab.
   • There are many factors that affect the test result, so you may need to test more than once. For example, if you are stressed, pregnant, taking certain medications, or if you exercise right before a blood sample is taken, the level of cortisol in your blood may be affected.

3. 

   
   
   Determine the cause of low cotisol levels. Once your doctor has determined that you have low cortisol, the next step will be to find out what is influencing the production of cortisol in your adrenal glands. The doctor will recommend a treatment based largely on the cause of the problem.
   • Tired adrenal glands This occurs when the body loses its ability to cope with daily stress, poor diet, lack of sleep, or emotional trauma, and the adrenal glands become overloaded and inefficient.
   • Primary adrenal insufficiency, or Addison's disease, occurs when the adrenal glands are damaged and are not working properly to produce cortisol. This condition can be caused by autoimmune diseases, tuberculosis, adrenal infection, adrenal cancer or bleeding adrenal glands.
   • Secondary adrenal insufficiency This occurs when the pituitary (the gland responsible for producing the adrenal stimulating hormone) becomes diseased.The adrenal glands may remain normal but are not producing enough cortisol because they do not receive enough stimulation from the pituitary gland. Secondary adrenal insufficiency can also occur when a person on corticosteroid medication stops taking it suddenly.
   advertisement

Part 2 of 3: Use of cortisol deficiency treatments

1. 

   
   
   Start with a healthy lifestyle. The first step to helping balance and maintaining cortisol levels is to have a healthy lifestyle. This can include everything from adjusting your sleep patterns to changing your diet. Here are some ways to help you lead a healthy life and start improving your cortisol levels:
   • Avoid stress
   • Go to bed and wake up at the same time every day, even weekends
   • Avoid caffeine and alcohol
   • Exercise and sports
   • Practice yoga, meditation, and positive visualization
   • Eat avocado, fatty fish, nuts, olive oil, and coconut oil
   • Stay away from sugars, processed foods, and frozen foods in the microwave

2. 

   Use cortisol replacement therapy. The most common method that Western doctors treat cortisol deficiency is the use of hormone replacement therapy. If your cortisol level is so low that you need synthetic replacement therapy, your doctor will prescribe a class of oral corticosteroid drugs, such as hydrocortisone, prednisone, or cortisone acetate. Taking prescription drugs every day will help the body increase cortisol production.
   • You will need to have regular cortisol levels tested while on hormone replacement therapy to make sure the level of cortisol in your body is neither too high nor too low.
   • The oral corticosteroid class of drugs has a variety of side effects such as weight gain, mood swings, and other unpleasant symptoms. Talk to your doctor about ways to reduce side effects.

3. 

   Ask your doctor about cortisol injections. If your cortisol levels get very low, you are in danger of having a stressful situation. Cortisol helps the body cope with stress, and without it, your body can go into a coma. Your doctor can teach you how to give cortisol in an emergency. When the stressful situation increases, you will give yourself cortisol injections so that your body can handle the crisis without shutting down.

4. 

   Treat potential problems. Hormone replacement therapy can treat symptoms but may not address potential problems that prevent your body from producing enough cortisol. Talk to your doctor about options that can help return your adrenal glands to normal.
   • If you have irreversibly damaged adrenal glands, or if you have a chronic condition that causes adrenal insufficiency, continuous hormone replacement therapy may be the optimal option.
   • However, if the cause of the cortisol deficiency is related to secondary factors such as pituitary disease, cancer, tuberculosis, or hemorrhage, there are other treatment options to help restore cortisol production. normalization of the body.
   advertisement

Part 3 of 3: Treating low cortisol levels with natural methods

1. 

   Deal with stress. If cortisol is low but not to the point of hormone replacement therapy, it's still important to keep your life as low as possible. When you know how to handle and reduce stress in your life, the cortisol level in your body will gradually increase instead of being produced all at once in a highly stressful situation. The more stressed you are, the quicker your cortisol will drop.
   • Try using stress management techniques like journaling, yoga, or meditation to train your body to consistently produce cortisol and keep it normal.

2. 

   Maintain a regular sleep routine. Your body produces cortisol naturally during sleep, so you should get 6-8 hours of sleep each night and try to go to bed at the same time each night.
   • Creates a quiet environment free of light and noise for deep sleep and helps boost cortisol levels.

3. 

   Eat a balanced diet. Foods high in sugar and refined flour can cause cortisol levels to spike or drop to abnormally low levels. Eat whole grains, fruits and vegetables to help increase cortisol to healthy levels.

4. 

   Eat grapefruit. Grapefruit and citrus fruits help break down enzymes that interfere with cortisol production. Adding grapefruit to a regular diet can support the adrenal glands to boost cortisol production.

5. 

   Try a licorice supplement. Licorice contains glycyrrhizin, a substance that inhibits an enzyme that breaks down cortisol in the body. The inactivation of this enzyme will gradually increase cortisol levels. Licorice is considered a very effective herb in increasing cortisol levels.
   • Look for licorice supplements in the form of tablets or capsules at health and supplement stores.
   • Avoid taking licorice candy as a supplement. The glycyrrhizin content in licorice candy isn't enough to help.

6. 

   Eat foods high in iron. This can help boost energy if you are constantly tired.
   • You can take iron supplements if you need to increase your energy levels.
   advertisement

Warning

• Consult your doctor or pharmacist before changing your diet or taking any over-the-counter medications or supplements designed to increase cortisol levels. They can determine if these supplements are interacting with medications you're taking.
• Licorice also lowers testosterone levels, so don't overdose. The main thing is to keep balance.