Cortisol, Serum (Morning Sample) near me in Mysore

Cortisol is a hormone secreted by the adrenal glands that help in the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. It also plays a regulatory role in maintaining blood sugar levels, water balance of the body. It is also essential in the maintenance of a healthy immune system. Cortisol mainly remains bound to proteins, and only a small portion remains free and metabolically active.

Level of cortisol hormone rises and falls during the course of a day following a diurnal pattern (sleeping/rotational pattern). These levels are highest in the early morning, drops slowly throughout the day reaching its lowest around midnight, and again rises slowly through the night to reach its highest early next morning. This diurnal pattern of cortisol secretion is maintained by the hypothalamus in the brain and pituitary gland located just below the brain. Fall in the blood cortisol levels affects the production of Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone (CRH) from the hypothalamus. CRH stimulates the pituitary gland to secrete Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (ACTH), which in turn stimulates the production of cortisol from the adrenal glands to increase cortisol levels in the blood. Cortisol levels are regulated by a feedback mechanism. When cortisol levels rise to the required levels it stops the secretion of CRH which generates from the hypothalamus. This, in turn, stops ACTH secretion from the pituitary, thereby stopping cortisol secretion from the adrenal glands. Symptoms associated with increased or decreased levels of cortisol hormone appear when this feedback mechanism is disturbed due to diseases or lifestyle.