What Does Cortisol Mean?
Cortisol is your primary stress hormone. Chronically elevated cortisol is associated with weight gain, poor sleep, anxiety, and metabolic problems.
What Cortisol Measures
Cortisol is made by the adrenal glands in a daily rhythm — highest in the morning, lowest around midnight. It mobilizes energy, regulates inflammation, and modulates the stress response. Persistent elevation usually reflects chronic stress, sleep disruption, or, rarely, an adrenal disorder.
Normal Ranges
Morning (8 AM)6–18 mcg/dL
Late afternoon (4 PM)2–9 mcg/dL
Elevated morning> 18 mcg/dL
Suppressed< 3 mcg/dL
Reference ranges may vary slightly by lab. Always use the range provided on your specific test report.
What Affects Your Cortisol Level
- Chronic psychological stress
- Poor or short sleep
- Irregular sleep schedule (shift work, jet lag)
- Excess caffeine, especially after noon
- Alcohol
- Blood-sugar swings
- Cushing's syndrome (rare — but the textbook cause of pathological elevation)