Could high cortisol levels really explain all our health problems? No, warns Dr Christophe de Jaeger, specialist in human senescence, who warns against this real “drift”.
Cortisol, a solution to all ills?
In recent months, it’s impossible to miss it: on Instagram, TikTok or YouTube, cortisol is everywhere. “How to regulate your cortisol to lose weight”“Signs of too high cortisol… Viral publications on this famous hormone are multiplying at great speed. And behind these promises of “hormonal regulation” there are many benefits: reducing this level would make it possible to reduce stress, boost energy or even reshape your silhouette. Result: a general enthusiasm which sometimes borders on hormonal panic.
But what is it really? First, let’s recall the key role of cortisol: it is an essential hormone produced by the adrenal glands which helps the body to react to stress. During an anxiety attack, or a simple peak of stress, it allows the release of a certain dose of sugar to meet a high demand for energy. But that’s not all: it also regulates the metabolism of carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, ions and water to limit any too sudden variation in the physiological balance of the body.
Finally, it also plays a role in inflammation, blood pressure regulation, muscle function, bone growth and participates in the regulation of sleep and the immune system.
A cortisol level that is too high or too low can therefore indeed pose a problem, but it is not responsible for all our ills as some posts lead us to believe.
Cortisol and health: what does our expert think of this trend?
According to Dr Christophe de Jaeger, a French geriatrician and researcher specializing in the aging of the human body, this trend constitutes a “drift from social networks“.
“We have been talking about cortisol for several months. While it is a biological reality – cortisol is the stress hormone – we are going to establish it as a solution to all ills, and propose a certain number of related methods, some of which are completely crazy,” warns the practitioner.
And if these false promises work so much, it is above all because they reassure. People can convince themselves by saying “There, I was sure, it’s my cortisol!”
Cortisol is a very important element of well-being, which can increase in a number of situations, the doctor would like to remind. “It prepares our body for fight or flight. For example, during a stressful situation – such as a conflict at the office – cortisol levels rise, heart rate increases, blood pressure and blood sugar rise. And as this “cocktail” is not used, it ends up being stored as fat“, underlines the researcher.
On the other hand, when the body lacks cortisol, significant fatigue is felt. However, there is no question here of self-diagnosis. “Adrenocortical exhaustion, chronic fatigue… are all medical elements that deserve to be evaluated, studied and put into context to offer the person the best possible solution, depending on their condition,” indicates the de Jaeger.
Decrease or increase in cortisol levels: real medical causes
When cortisol is really the cause, it concerns well-identified medical situations, far from the shortcuts often conveyed on social networks. These disorders are accompanied by precise clinical signs, which can only be interpreted in the light of a true diagnosis.
We can cite, for example, Cushing’s disease, which manifests itself by weight gain, sometimes obesity, purple stretch marks on the abdomen and thighs, characteristic hematomas, as well as the famous “buffalo hump” on the back of the neck. “Conversely, insufficient cortisol secretion can be observed, as in Addison’s disease, from which President Kennedy suffered in particular,” notes the geriatrician.
“But in either case, we are dealing with pure medicine, which requires a precise diagnosis. What I regret today is to see individuals exposed, on Facebook, Linkedin or more widely on the Internet, to a multitude of false solutions to real problems, and allowing themselves to be seduced by the simplicity of a concept which, at best, is useless and, at worst, can prove dangerous.” concludes Dr Christophe de Jaeger.