Hypercortisol Overview
Hypercortysol is a steroid hormone, or glucocorticoid, produced by the adrenal gland. It is used for increasing blood sugar, suppress the immune system and aid in fat, protein and carbohydrate metabolism. Hypercortisol also decreases bone formation and used to treat a variety of different diseases. The release of hypercortisol is controlled by the hypothalamus, a part of the brain. The second layer comprising the outer cortex that produces adrenal gland and the adrenal gland produces hypercortisol. The main functions of hipercortisol in the body are increasing blood sugar through gluconeogenesis, suppressing the immune system and aiding in fat, protein, and carbohydrate metabolism. It suppresses the immune system by muting the white blood cells. Hypercortisol also prevent the release of substance in body that causes inflammation.
The amount of hypercortisol present in the blood undergoes diurnal variation and peaks the level in the early morning around 8 a.m. and reaches the lowest level at midnight around 4 a.m., or three to five hours after the onset of sleep. The level of normal baseline hypercortisol is different in some countries. In the Australia, the baseline level is 200-650nmol/L (nanomoles/liter). It is different from USA level. In the USA, the normal level of hypercortisol at a.m. level is around 4.0-22.0µg/dl (micrograms/deciliter) and 3.0-17.0µg/dl in the p.m. level. UK hospital also has different level of normal hypercortisol. In certain hospital, the baseline hypercortisol level is more than 150nmol/L. another hospital in UK set the hypercortisol normal level in reference range at 9 a.m. 200-600nmol/L.
Hypercortisol increases blood pressure by increasing the sensitivity of the vasculature to epinephrine and norepinephrine. It is also causes kidneys to produce hypotonic urine. Hypercortisol has anti inflammatory properties to reduce histamine secretion and stabilizing lysosomal membranes. Stabilize lysosomal membranes preventing damage to healthy tissues. There are also potential links between hypercortisol, appetite and obesity.
The amount of hypercortisol present in the blood undergoes diurnal variation and peaks the level in the early morning around 8 a.m. and reaches the lowest level at midnight around 4 a.m., or three to five hours after the onset of sleep. The level of normal baseline hypercortisol is different in some countries. In the Australia, the baseline level is 200-650nmol/L (nanomoles/liter). It is different from USA level. In the USA, the normal level of hypercortisol at a.m. level is around 4.0-22.0µg/dl (micrograms/deciliter) and 3.0-17.0µg/dl in the p.m. level. UK hospital also has different level of normal hypercortisol. In certain hospital, the baseline hypercortisol level is more than 150nmol/L. another hospital in UK set the hypercortisol normal level in reference range at 9 a.m. 200-600nmol/L.
Hypercortisol increases blood pressure by increasing the sensitivity of the vasculature to epinephrine and norepinephrine. It is also causes kidneys to produce hypotonic urine. Hypercortisol has anti inflammatory properties to reduce histamine secretion and stabilizing lysosomal membranes. Stabilize lysosomal membranes preventing damage to healthy tissues. There are also potential links between hypercortisol, appetite and obesity.