Abnormal Cortisol Metabolism, Tissue Sensitivity to Cortisol in Glucose Intolerance
Cortisol is the body’s stress hormone. It was designed to produce a heightened state of awareness in our bodies when a predator was near. Unfortunately, in today’s high stress society, there are no predators to identify and our bodies can enter into a state of chronic stress with hypercortisolemia. This elevated cortisol, much like insulin, wreaks havoc on many aspects of physiology. Here we see additional confirmation that cortisol produces abnormal glucose metabolism (and hence increased insulin resistance), obesity and hypertension. Yes, stress does kill. Slowly…
JCEM — Abstracts: Andrews et al. 87 (12): 5587