Cortisol
⤢ 3D
The body's primary glucocorticoid stress hormone, released on the HPA axis. It mobilizes glucose, sharpens alertness, and modulates immune and inflammatory responses; it follows a daily rhythm, peaking in the morning.
Too little may be associated with
Fatigue, low blood pressure, salt craving, and poor stress tolerance (as in adrenal insufficiency / Addison’s disease).
Too much may be associated with
Weight gain, high blood sugar and pressure, muscle loss, thinning skin, anxiety and poor sleep (as in Cushing’s syndrome or chronic stress).
Informational only — not medical advice.
Organ systems
Stimuli that influence it
Substances
- Alcohol (↑)(HARMFUL)
- Caffeine (↑)
- Ashwagandha (↓)
- CBD (↓)
- Phosphatidylserine (↓)
- Rhodiola (↓)
Behaviors
- Aerobic exercise (↑)
- Cold exposure (↑)
- High-intensity interval training (HIIT) (↑)
- Deep breathing (↓)
- Meditation (↓)
- Nature exposure (↓)
- Progressive muscle relaxation (↓)
- Quality sleep (↓)
- Yoga (↓)
Functions
- Blood Pressure Regulation
- Emotional Regulation
- Homeostasis
- Hormone Regulation
- Stress Response
- Wakefulness
Dysfunctions
Books (17)
A Primate's Memoir
Aware
Behave: The Biology of Humans at Our Best and Worst
Brainstorm
Determined: A Science of Life Without Free Will
How Emotions Are Made: The Secret Life of the Brain
Mindsight
Protocols: An Operating Manual for the Human Body
Psychological Trauma
Seven and a Half Lessons About the Brain
The Body Keeps the Score
The Boy Who Was Raised as a Dog
The Developing Mind
The Whole-Brain Child
What Happened to You?
Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams
Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers
Podcasts
- Huberman Lab
Stanford neuroscientist Andrew Huberman on physiology, stress, sleep, and self-regulation.
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Research (60)
- Addison Disease Munir et al. (2026) PubMed ↗
- Addison Disease (Nursing) Munir et al. (2026) PubMed ↗
- Cushing Syndrome(Archived) Chaudhry et al. (2026) PubMed ↗
- Physiology, Cortisol Sharma et al. (2026) PubMed ↗
- Plasma levels of adrenaline, noradrenaline, dopamine, serotonin, and cortisol in sarcopenia: comparison with non-sarcopenic individuals and the impact of resistance exercise and nutrition interventions Chang et al. (2025) Full text ↗ PubMed ↗
- Breastfeeding: The Multifaceted Impact on Child Development and Maternal Well-Being Purkiewicz et al. (2025) Full text ↗ PubMed ↗
- The Chronobiological and Neuroprotective Mechanisms of Resveratrol in Improving Sleep Zhu et al. (2025) Full text ↗ PubMed ↗
- Mucuna pruriens, a Possible Treatment for Depressive Disorders Mata-Bermudez et al. (2024) Full text ↗ PubMed ↗
- Erectile Dysfunction in Adolescents and Young Adults Pantazis et al. (2024) Full text ↗ PubMed ↗
- Volunteer Engagement within Equine Assisted Services Vincent et al. (2024) Full text ↗ PubMed ↗
- Accidental Cushing Syndrome Kousoula et al. (2024) Full text ↗ PubMed ↗
- Effects of MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD on self-experience Bessel (2024) Full text ↗ PubMed ↗
- Breastfeeding and Postpartum Depression: A Review of Relationships and Potential Mechanisms Henshaw (2023) Full text ↗ PubMed ↗
- A standardized Ashwagandha root extract alleviates stress, anxiety, and improves quality of life in healthy adults by modulating stress hormones: Results from a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study Majeed et al. (2023) Full text ↗ PubMed ↗
- Skin-to-skin contact-An effective intervention on pain and stress reduction in preterm infants Pavlyshyn et al. (2023) Full text ↗ PubMed ↗
Links
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