Definition

Noun: 1. A steroid hormone produced by the adrenal cortex: Cortisol is a glucocorticoid hormone, often called the "stress hormone," that plays a crucial role in the body's response to stress. It helps regulate a wide range of processes throughout the body, including metabolism and the immune response. 2. A pharmaceutical agent: Cortisol is also used as a medication (under brand names like Hydrocortisone) to reduce inflammation and treat conditions such as allergies, skin disorders, and adrenal insufficiency.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Biological Hormone):
  • Chronic stress can lead to elevated levels of cortisol in the bloodstream.
  • The body's natural cortisol levels typically peak in the early morning.
• Noun (Medication):
  • The doctor prescribed a cortisol cream to treat the skin inflammation.
  • Patients with Addison's disease often require cortisol replacement therapy.

Advanced Usage

• "Cortisol awakening response (CAR)": The natural surge in cortisol levels that occurs in the first 30-45 minutes after waking up.
  • Researchers are studying the cortisol awakening response as a marker of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis health.
• "Cortisol rhythm" or "diurnal cortisol rhythm": The natural 24-hour cycle of cortisol secretion, which is normally highest in the morning and lowest at night.
  • Shift work can disrupt the body's natural cortisol rhythm.

Variants and Related Words

• Hydrocortisone (n): The pharmaceutical name for synthetic cortisol, commonly used in medications.
  • Hydrocortisone is the active ingredient in many over-the-counter anti-itch creams.
• Corticosteroid (n): A broader class of steroid hormones that includes cortisol, or medications that mimic them.
  • Prednisone is a potent corticosteroid used to suppress an overactive immune system.

Synonyms

• Hydrocortisone (specifically for its pharmaceutical use).
• Glucocorticoid (refers to the class of hormones to which cortisol belongs).

Related Phrases and Compounds

• Cortisol level: The measured amount of cortisol in the blood, saliva, or urine.
  • The test showed her cortisol levels were abnormally low.
• Cortisol secretion: The process by which the adrenal glands release cortisol.
  • The pituitary gland signals for cortisol secretion in response to stress.

Noun

1. an adrenal-cortex hormone (trade names Hydrocortone or Cortef) that is active in carbohydrate and protein metabolism