Anxiety and Cortisol
February 1st, 2012
Cortisol is commonly known as the ‘stress hormone’. Although people associate cortisol with stress, and it is highly related, it does exactly the opposite of what most people believe. The hormone is actually released to reduce physical symptoms of anxiety. It’s released in response to anxiety, stress and panic, and its job is to bring the physical levels down; lower the heart rate, reduce the levels of adrenaline in the blood stream, and stimulate vasodilation. Like anything else, the effect is not purely beneficial. Cortisol, while reducing the physical symptoms and anxiety, is actually extremely detrimental to the organism. It literally destroys internal organs (albeit at an extremely slow pace) and has been shown to reduce the size of the hippocampus leading to memory loss and reduced capacity for learning. Stay relaxed and keep your levels down!
Entry Filed under: Health and Fitness