But is that actually true?

As so often, reality is more nuanced. Cortisol plays an important role in our body, but it rarely tells the whole story.

Cortisol is much more than a stress hormone

Cortisol is often labelled the "stress hormone", but that doesn't really do it justice.

Your adrenal glands produce cortisol and use it for all kinds of important processes. It helps your body keep blood sugar levels stable, release energy from food, regulate blood pressure and keep the immune system working properly. Cortisol also plays an important role in your sleep-wake rhythm and makes sure you wake up alert in the morning.

Without cortisol, we simply couldn't function properly.

Your body normally keeps your cortisol levels well balanced

Your body regulates cortisol production very precisely through cooperation between the brain and the adrenal glands. Cortisol follows a natural day-night rhythm.

In the early morning, the amount of cortisol rises. This helps you get going. The level then gradually falls, so that in the evening you can prepare for rest and sleep again.

Your body also temporarily produces extra cortisol when you face a challenge. Think of an important presentation, an intensive workout or an exciting event. That's a healthy response. Once the situation has passed, the amount of cortisol normally falls again.

So why do so many people experience stress symptoms?

Our stress system is designed to help us temporarily during challenging situations. Modern life, however, often asks something different of us.

Many women combine a busy job with a family, social commitments and a full diary. Meanwhile, they sleep less well, move less than they'd like and are exposed to stimuli almost all day long.

For your body, it makes little difference whether the stress comes from a work deadline, a sleepless night or an emotionally difficult period. The stress system responds to all of these situations.

That doesn't automatically mean your cortisol is constantly too high. But long-term strain can make it harder for your stress and recovery system to stay in balance.

Does cortisol affect your weight?

Yes, but probably less directly than is often thought.

Long-term stress can make you hungrier, especially for energy-dense food. Stress can also affect the way your body stores fat and how sensitive you are to insulin.

Yet in practice, we rarely see cortisol as the only cause of weight gain.

People who are under pressure for a long time often sleep less, move less, recover less well and sometimes find it easier to reach for quick, high-calorie food. It's often precisely this combination that explains why their weight changes.

Not every symptom points to a cortisol problem

Tiredness, sleep problems, difficulty concentrating, mood swings and weight gain are regularly linked to cortisol.

Although cortisol can certainly play a role in these, these symptoms don't automatically mean your cortisol levels are abnormal.

The same symptoms can also be caused by hormonal changes, iron deficiency, thyroid problems, poor sleep, mental strain or other medical conditions.

Don't forget the nervous system

When we talk about cortisol, we're actually also talking about the nervous system.

Your autonomic nervous system constantly regulates processes such as your heart rate, breathing, blood pressure and stress responses. When you have little room to recover for a long time, it can feel as though your body is permanently switched "on".

Perhaps you recognise this. You're tired, but you can't relax. Your mind stays busy, you sleep restlessly and you feel tense more quickly than before.

In situations like this, it's often not just about cortisol. It's about the balance of the whole stress and recovery system. That's why lifestyle measures that support the nervous system can be at least as important as any lab values.

Is it worth having your cortisol measured?

Doctors use cortisol testing when they suspect a condition of the adrenal glands or pituitary gland. For the much larger group of people struggling with tiredness, sensitivity to stress or weight gain, things are different.

Many commercial tests give the impression that they can detect "cortisol problems" or even "adrenal fatigue". However, the scientific evidence for this is limited. A single measurement never tells the whole story.

Cortisol changes constantly throughout the day. Sleep, food, exercise, illness and even nerves around having blood taken can affect the result. What's more, hormones never work in isolation; they work together with the nervous system, the immune system, your sleep and your lifestyle. A single lab value can never fully capture that complexity.

What can you influence yourself?

When stress plays an important role in your symptoms, supporting your stress and recovery system often achieves more than focusing solely on a lab value.

Enough sleep, regular exercise, a healthy diet and moments of relaxation help your body recover better. Social contact, walks in nature or relaxation techniques such as breathing exercises or mindfulness can also contribute to a more resilient stress system.

The goal isn't to get your cortisol as low as possible. After all, you need cortisol to stay healthy. The goal is a body that can switch well between effort and relaxation.

The key message

Cortisol plays an essential role in your health. It helps your body release energy, cope with stress and function well. At the same time, cortisol rarely explains on its own why you're tired, sleeping badly or struggling to lose weight.

That's why at Flouria we prefer to look at the bigger picture. We bring together hormones, lifestyle, sleep, stress and the nervous system. Because it's precisely how these work together that determines how you feel and where the best opportunities lie to improve your health.