Cortisol Variations and Symptoms in Intersitial Cystitis
This is really a neat article relating dysregulation in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis with increased symptoms in interstitial cysistis. IC is a painful condition of the bladder that has eluded anything even closely resembling a bandage, let alone a cure.
Now this article finds that patients with lowered morning cortisol had greater symptoms. Cortisol is the body’s natural anti-inflammatory and may help contribute to pain supression in this condition. However, as with any chemical in the body, too much can also be as bad as too little. Regulation of the HPA axis could include stress management, exercise, avoidance of caffeine, alcohol and refined carbs and targeted nutritional supplementation.
Entrez-PubMed –