Cortisol is a hormone produced by your adrenal glands that is needed to help you react to stressful situations, especially those requiring a "fight or flight" reaction. Cortisol gives you a quick burst of energy, lowers your sensitivity to pain, and increases your attention and memory.
After a crisis passes levels of cortisol return to normal when you sleep, relax, exercise, and laugh. The problem comes when a constant state of stress doesn't allow your body to get rid of the hormone.
Over time, high levels of cortisol will:
- Increase belly fat
- Raise risk of heart attack and stroke
- Raise blood pressure and blood sugar
- Decrease ability to heal
- Decrease bone density
- Interfere with brain and thyroid function
During Heart Month allow your body to catch up with your busy life and lower your cortisol level. Fortunately simple strategies to allow your body to recharge are very effective in lowering your cortisol levels.
Find more tips and strategies in Eliz's new book The Busy Woman's Guide to a Healthy Heart or on her award winning blog at www.EmbraceYourHeart.com.