Why is cortisol considered a vital biomarker, and what are the health implications of its abnormal levels?

Label:chem

Topic
Cortisol is a steroid hormone produced by the adrenal gland and plays a crucial role in regulating various bodily functions. Abnormal levels of cortisol can indicate underlying health issues impacting the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis.
Answer
Cortisol is considered a reliable biomarker because it is a steroid hormone that helps maintain glucose levels, blood pressure, and metabolism, and is also known as the "stress biomarker" due to its increased release during stressful events. Prolonged elevated levels of cortisol can lead to serious conditions like Cushing's syndrome, with symptoms including obesity, cardiovascular complications, osteoporosis, fat tissue deposits, and purple striae. Conversely, insufficient cortisol production may indicate damaged adrenal glands and lead to Addison's disease, characterized by severe hypotension, hypovolemia, unintentional weight loss, persistent vomiting, and fatigue.
Return to Home Chemical List
Knowledge you may be interested in
Which compounds have the ability to induce luciferase activation? What compounds were used to treat Idiopathic Short Stature (ISS)? What specific compounds were analyzed in blood samples to determine plasma ET and S-ET concentrations? Why is ergothioneine considered a geroprotective compound, and how does it benefit aging organisms like Drosophila melanogaster? How does Ergothioneine improve healthspan and physical performance in aged animals? How does Ergothioneine's stability compare to other thiols and antioxidants in organisms? Why does Ergothioneine primarily exist in its thione form under physiological conditions? What are the primary antioxidant mechanisms of Ergothioneine (ERG)? Why is Ergothioneine considered a valuable compound? What compounds were used as soft monomers in the preparation of the aqueous emulsion acrylic adhesive? What compounds were used as hard monomers? And what compounds were used as hydrophilic functional monomers? What materials were used in the fabrication of the nanoporous anodic alumina (NAA) biosensor? Why is titanium dioxide (TiO2) used in various applications? Why is methylene blue (MB) dye contamination in wastewater a significant concern? What are the demonstrated effects of BPC 157, and how might it improve the clinical management of COVID-19? What is the amino acid sequence and molecular weight of BPC 157? What are its known pharmacological effects? How does BPC 157 counteract disturbances within the dopamine system? What are the beneficial effects of GIP? What are the effects of Tirzepatide treatment on body weight and tumor growth in obese and lean Lkb1 fl/fl p53 fl/fl mice? What is tirzepatide, and what are its demonstrated effects on weight reduction in clinical trials? What is Tirzepatide and what are its approved uses in the United States?