Recognizing the Signs and Symptoms of High Cortisol

Cortisol tends to get a bad rap. After all, it’s known as the “stress hormone” because it’s a steroid hormone that helps the body regulate when faced with stressful situations.

But how do you know if your cortisol levels really are too high? And what are the symptoms of high cortisol?

Social media might have you thinking that face puffiness — being touted as “cortisol face” or “moon face” — is the tell tale sign. TikTok videos revealing posters’ cortisol faces and moon faces have racked up hundreds of thousands of views. But experts want to set the facts straight.

First of all, know that the right amount of cortisol in the body helps regulate inflammation and helps us not get sick when we come in contact with bacteria or a virus, says Jeannette M. Bennett, PhD, an associate professor of psychological science at the University of North Carolina in Charlotte. “It really keeps the immune system in check.”

Cortisol can also help with metabolism control, regulating blood pressure and blood sugar, and managing your sleep-wake cycle. And when it comes to acutely stressful situations, cortisol helps the body respond more efficiently to potential dangers.

“A classic example is a life-threatening situation, like encountering a bear,” says Nia Fogelman, PhD, associate research scientist at the Yale Stress Center in New Haven, Connecticut. Cortisol helps give us the energy to fight or flee from the stressor — whether that’s a bear or a pressing deadline.

Sometimes, however, diseases do cause cortisol levels to be either too high or too low. For example, Cushing’s syndrome is a serious but rare condition due to too much cortisol. Addison’s disease is a result of too little cortisol produced by the adrenal glands. And secondary adrenal insufficiency is too little cortisol as a result of the pituitary gland not working properly.

Read on to discover common signs and symptoms of high cortisol and how you can get your levels tested.