Cortisol Functions
The adrenal glands, which produce cortisol, are small glands adjacent to the kidneys. Among the important functions of cortisol in the body are roles in the regulation of blood pressure and cardiovascular function as well as regulation of the body's use of proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. Whenever a person is subjected to any stress kind of stress, whether physical (such as illness, trauma, surgery, or temperature extremes) or psychological, the secretion of cortisol in the body increases. This, i.e. the secretion of cortisol, leads to a breakdown of muscle protein, leading to release of amino acids, which are the ‘building blocks’ of protein, into the bloodstream.
The liver to synthesize glucose for energy, in a process called gluconeogenesis, then uses these amino acids. So the brain will have more glucose for energy, this process raises the blood sugar level. Simultaneously, the other body tissues reduce the use of glucose for deriving energy. Fatty acids, an energy source from fat cells, for use by the muscles, are also released on account of Cortisol. These energy-directing processes, when taken together, prepare the human body to interact with stressors and make sure that adequate energy sources reach the brain.
For controlling cortisol secretion and regulating the amount of cortisol in the bloodstream, the body has an elaborate feedback system. The pituitary gland produces and secretes a hormone known as adrenocorticotrophin, or ACTH. It is a small gland at the base of the brain. When ACTH is secreted, it acts as a signal for the adrenal glands to produce more cortisol and also leads to greater secretion of the hormone.
The pituitary gland releases ACTH upon receiving signals from the hypothalamus of the brain in the form of the hormone CRH, or corticotropin-releasing hormone. The levels of the regulatory hormones ACTH and CRH increase almost immediately after a stressful event, leading to nearly an instant increase in cortisol levels. A negative feedback system operates on the pituitary gland and hypothalamus. When cortisol is present in adequate or excess amounts, this alerts these areas to reduce the output of ACTH and CRH, respectively, in order to reduce cortisol secretion when adequate levels are present.
Recommended: Fastest Way To Permanent Weight Loss
|