In today's modern and hectic life, we all sometimes experience fatigue, weakness and strange lethargy after waking up in the morning, which people generally ignore as the result of work stress or incomplete sleep at night. But have you ever noticed that after waking up in the morning, when you look at your face in the mirror, it appears swollen, puffy or round compared to normal days? If this has started happening to you frequently, then it is not just dehydration or simple fatigue, but it is a very big and serious sign that the level of 'Cortisol' i.e. stress hormone in your body has crossed the dangerous limit. According to medical experts and health experts, when the level of cortisol in the blood increases by more than 20 mcg/dL (micrograms per deciliter), many negative changes start occurring within the body and metabolism, which are very important to be identified in time. Let us know in detail that when this stress hormone increases in the body, which five major and shocking symptoms appear and how these can be avoided. Imbalance of cortisol hormone in the body and the main reasons for its increase Cortisol is a natural stress hormone which is produced by the adrenal glands of our body. Under normal circumstances, this hormone works to provide energy to our body, control blood pressure and help in staying awake. But when a person becomes victim of excessive mental stress, anxiety, physical fatigue, unhealthy lifestyle like consumption of junk food and staying awake all night, then the production of cortisol in the body starts becoming more than necessary. Cortisol that remains at high levels for a long time destroys our entire metabolic system, as a result of which fat starts accumulating in the body, immunity becomes weak and many types of serious diseases gradually begin to occur. First symptom: The face looks swollen and abnormally round after waking up in the morning. When the level of cortisol in the body crosses the figure of 20 mcg/dL, its first and most obvious effect is visible on the skin and texture of our face. Puffiness and increased roundness of the face, especially around the eyes, after waking up in the morning is a sign that the body is retaining excessive amounts of water and sodium. In medical language, this condition is often associated with a condition like 'Moon Face'. Even if you didn't drink much salt or water at night, if your face feels heavy and swollen every morning, it is a clear evidence that your body's stress hormones have gone out of control and you need to pay immediate attention to your lifestyle. Second symptom: Rapid increase in stubborn fat around the stomach without eating much. Increased cortisol is not limited to the face only, but it also causes rapid increase in visceral fat in other parts of the body, especially in the lower abdomen and waist. Normally, when people diet or exercise to lose weight, fat decreases from the entire body, but due to cortisol imbalance, a mountain of fat starts accumulating mainly near the stomach. This hormone signals the body to store energy as fat to cope with future stress. This is the reason that despite many efforts, belly fat does not reduce and the shape of the body starts becoming ugly. Third symptom: Insomnia and persistent fatigue even after going to bed at night. This is a very strange and paradoxical situation that is often seen in people with increased cortisol. Even after battling extreme fatigue and mental stress throughout the day, when it is time to sleep at night, there is such a whirlwind of thoughts in the mind that sleep is far away from the eyes. This is called the state of 'wired but tired' – that is, the body is completely tired from inside but the mind remains highly active and excited. Cortisol completely disrupts our body's natural circadian rhythm (biological clock), due to which deep and quality sleep is not possible and the energy level in the body is felt at zero when we wake up in the morning. Fourth symptom: Mood swings, increased anger and anxiety over small things. There is a direct and deep connection between mental health and hormonal balance. When cortisol levels increase excessively, it affects the levels of neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine in our brain. As a result, the person's nature becomes very irritable, he starts getting angry at every thing, and symptoms like restlessness, nervousness or depression start appearing without any apparent reason. Even small problems start appearing like mountains and mental peace is completely disturbed. Loss of interest in work and weak ability to focus are also a major result of this hormonal imbalance. Fifth symptom: Strong desire to eat sweets again and again and sudden feeling of weakness. Increased cortisol also destabilizes the blood sugar level of our body. When stress hormone levels are high, the body suddenly feels the need for a lot of energy, due to which the brain sends strong signals to repeatedly eat sweets, chocolate, junk food or a diet rich in carbohydrates. This is called 'emotional eating' or sugar cravings. Apart from this, due to frequent fluctuations in sugar levels, it also becomes common to feel sudden dizziness, tremors in hands and legs and feeling of extreme weakness during the day. Surefire Ways to Control Cortisol Levels Naturally If you are struggling with all these symptoms and want to control the increasing levels of cortisol in your body, then you have to make some positive changes in your daily routine. First of all, improve your sleeping pattern and get at least 7 to 8 hours of deep sleep at night. Immediately reduce caffeine, alcohol and excessive sugar intake, as these things increase cortisol further. Do meditation, pranayam (like Anulom-Vilom and Bhramari) or deep breathing exercises for at least 20 to 30 minutes every morning or evening. Include green leafy vegetables, magnesium and foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids in your diet. If the symptoms are very serious, then consult a good doctor or endocrinologist and get your hormonal test done, so that you can take steps towards a healthy and stress-free life in time.
